• Journal of Veterinary Science
• /
• 제24권3호
• /
• pp.38.1-38.12
• /
• 2023

Background: Poor disease management and irregular vector control could predispose sheltered animals to disease such as feline Bartonella infection, a vector-borne zoonotic disease primarily caused by Bartonella henselae. Objectives: This study investigated the status of Bartonella infection in cats from eight (n = 8) shelters by molecular and serological approaches, profiling the CD4:CD8 ratio and the risk factors associated with Bartonella infection in shelter cats. Methods: Bartonella deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was detected through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting 16S-23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer gene, followed by DNA sequencing. Bartonella IgM and IgG antibody titre, CD4 and CD8 profiles were detected using indirect immunofluorescence assay and flow cytometric analysis, respectively. Results: B. henselae was detected through PCR and sequencing in 1.0% (1/101) oral swab and 2.0% (1/50) cat fleas, while another 3/50 cat fleas carried B. clarridgeiae. Only 18/101 cats were seronegative against B. henselae, whereas 30.7% (31/101) cats were positive for both IgM and IgG, 8% (18/101) cats had IgM, and 33.7% (34/101) cats had IgG antibody only. None of the eight shelters sampled had Bartonella antibody-free cats. Although abnormal CD4:CD8 ratio was observed in 48/83 seropositive cats, flea infestation was the only significant risk factor observed in this study. Conclusions: The present study provides the first comparison on the Bartonella spp. antigen, antibody status and CD4:CD8 ratio among shelter cats. The high B. henselae seropositivity among shelter cats presumably due to significant flea infestation triggers an alarm of whether the infection could go undetectable and its potential transmission to humans.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• 제31권4호
• /
• pp.434-445
• /
• 2023

We investigated whether FTY-720 might have an effect on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis through inhibiting TGF-β1 pathway, and up-regulating autophagy. The pulmonary fibrosis was induced by bleomycin. FTY-720 (1 mg/kg) drug was intraperitoneally injected into mice. Histological changes and inflammatory factors were observed, and EMT and autophagy protein markers were studied by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. The effects of bleomycin on MLE-12 cells were detected by MTT assay and flow cytometry, and the related molecular mechanisms were studied by Western Blot. FTY-720 considerably attenuated bleomycin-induced disorganization of alveolar tissue, extracellular collagen deposition, and α-SMA and E-cadherin levels in mice. The levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 cytokines were attenuated in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, as well as protein content and leukocyte count. COL1A1 and MMP9 protein expressions in lung tissue were significantly reduced. Additionally, FTY-720 treatment effectively inhibited the expressions of key proteins in TGF-β1/TAK1/P38MAPK pathway and regulated autophagy proteins. Similar results were additionally found in cellular assays with mouse alveolar epithelial cells. Our study provides proof for a new mechanism for FTY-720 to suppress pulmonary fibrosis. FTY-720 is also a target for treating pulmonary fibrosis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• 제27권4호
• /
• pp.383-398
• /
• 2023

Dihydroaustrasulfone alcohol (DA), the synthetic precursor of a natural compound (austrasulfone) isolated from the coral species Cladiella australis, has shown cytotoxic effects against cancer cells. However, it is unknown whether DA has antitumor effects on nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). In this study, we determined the antitumor effects of DA and investigated its mechanism of action on human NPC cells. The MTT assay was used to determine the cytotoxic effect of DA. Subsequently, apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) analyses were performed by using flow cytometry. Apoptotic and PI3K/AKT pathway-related protein expression was determined using Western blotting. We found that DA significantly reduced the viability of NPC-39 cells and determined that apoptosis was involved in DA-induced cell death. The activity of caspase-9, caspase-8, caspase-3, and PARP induced by DA suggested caspase-mediated apoptosis in DA-treated NPC-39 cells. Apoptosis-associated proteins (DR4, DR5, FAS) in extrinsic pathways were also elevated by DA. The enhanced expression of proapoptotic Bax and decreased expression of antiapoptotic BCL-2 suggested that DA mediated mitochondrial apoptosis. DA reduced the expression of pPI3K and p-AKT in NPC-39 cells. DA also reduced apoptosis after introducing an active AKT cDNA, indicating that DA could block the PI3K/AKT pathway from being activated. DA increased intracellular ROS, but N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a ROS scavenger, reduced DA-induced cytotoxicity. NAC also reversed the chances in pPI3K/AKT expression and reduced DA-induced apoptosis. These findings suggest that ROS-mediates DA-induced apoptosis and PI3K/AKT signaling inactivation in human NPC cells.

• 치위생과학회지
• /
• 제23권4호
• /
• pp.264-270
• /
• 2023

Background: Resin-based dental materials release residual monomers or other substances from incomplete polymerization into the oral cavity, thereby causing adverse biological effects on oral tissue. 10-Methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate (10-MDP), an acidic monomer containing dihydrogen phosphate and methacrylate groups, is the most commonly used component of resin-based dental materials, such as restorative composite resins, dentin adhesives, and resin cements. Although previous studies have reported the cytotoxicity and biocompatibility in various cultured cells, the effects of resin monomers on cellular aging have not been reported to date. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of the resin monomer 10-MDP on cellular senescence and inflamm-aging in vitro. Methods: After stimulation with 10-MDP, MC3T3-E1 osteoblast-like cells were examined for cell viability by WST-8 assay and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by flow cytometry. The protein and mRNA levels of molecular markers of aging were determined by western blotting and RT-PCR analysis, respectively. Results: Treatment with 0.05 to 1 mM 10-MDP for 24 hours reduced the survival of MC3T3-E1 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The intracellular ROS levels in the 10-MDP-treated experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group. 10-MDP at a concentration of 0.1 mM increased p53, p16, and p21 protein levels. Additionally, an aging pattern was observed with blue staining due to intracellular senescence-associated beta-galactosidase activity. Treatment with 10-MDP increased the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and IL-8, however their expression was decreased by mitogen-activated-protein-kinase (MAPK) inhibitors. Conclusion: Taken together, these results suggest that the exposure of osteoblast-like cells to the dental resin monomer 10-MDP, increases the level of cellular senescence and the inflammatory response is mediated by the MAPK pathway.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• 제21권4호
• /
• pp.31.1-31.16
• /
• 2021

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related death globally. The classification of advanced GC (AGC) according to molecular features has recently led to effective personalized cancer therapy for some patients. Specifically, AGC patients whose tumor cells express high levels of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) can now benefit from trastuzumab, a humanized monoclonal Ab that targets HER2. However, patients with HER2^negative AGC receive limited clinical benefit from this treatment. To identify potential immune therapeutic targets in HER2^negative AGC, we obtained 40 fresh AGC specimens immediately after surgical resections and subjected the CD45⁺ immune cells in the tumor microenvironment to multi-channel/multi-panel flow cytometry analysis. Here, we report that HER2 negativity associated with reduced overall survival (OS) and greater tumor infiltration with neutrophils and non-classical monocytes. The potential pro-tumoral activities of these cell types were confirmed by the fact that high expression of neutrophil or non-classical monocyte signature genes in the gastrointestinal tumors in The Cancer Genome Atlas, Genotype-Tissue Expression and Gene Expression Omnibus databases associated with worse OS on Kaplan-Meir plots relative to tumors with low expression of these signature genes. Moreover, advanced stage disease in the AGCs of our patients associated with greater tumor frequencies of neutrophils and non-classical monocytes than early stage disease. Thus, our study suggests that these 2 myeloid populations may serve as novel therapeutic targets for HER2^negative AGC.

• International Journal of Oncology
• /
• 제55권1호
• /
• pp.320-330
• /
• 2019

The aim of this study was to investigate the underlying mechanisms responsible for the anticancer effects of lupeol on human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MTT assay and Trypan blue exclusion assay were used to evaluate the cell viability. DAPI staining and flow cytometric analysis were used to detect apoptosis. Molecular docking and western blot analysis were performed to determine the target of lupeol. We found that lupeol suppressed the proliferation and colony formation of NSCLC cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, lupeol increased chromatin condensation, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage, sub-G1 cell populations, and the proportion of Annexin V-positive cells, indicating that lupeol triggered the apoptosis of NSCLC cells. Notably, lupeol inhibited the phosphorylation of epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR). A docking experiment revealed that lupeol directly bound to the tyrosine kinase domain of EGFR. We observed that the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), a downstream molecule of EGFR, was also dephosphorylated by lupeol. Lupeol suppressed the nuclear translocation and transcriptional activity of STAT3 and downregulated the expression of STAT3 target genes. The constitutive activation of STAT3 by STAT3 Y705D overexpression suppressed lupeol-induced apoptosis, demonstrating that the inhibition of STAT3 activity contributed to the induction of apoptosis. The anticancer effects of lupeol were consistently observed in EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-resistant H1975 cells (EGFR L858R/T790M). Taken together, the findings of this study suggest that lupeol may be used, not only for EGFR TKI-naïve NSCLC, but also for advanced NSCLC with acquired resistance to EGFR TKIs.

• 대한한의학방제학회지
• /
• 제32권2호
• /
• pp.181-191
• /
• 2024

Objective : Inulae Flos(IF) has been used to treat arthritis, sever furuncle, fear and palpitation, vomiting, stroke, asthma and cough in Korean Medicine. Although the anticancer activity of IF has been reported, the molecular mechanism is still not well understood. In this study, we investigated the growth inhibitory activity of an ethanol extract of IF in HT-1080 human fibrosarcoma cells and its underlying mechanisms using two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) cell culture system. Methods : HT-1080 cells were cultured with IF for 9 days in 3D cell culture. To check an inhibition of cell prolifelation by IF, MTT assay was performed. DNA contents were measured using flow cytometry. Western blotting was used to evaluate the regulation of cell cycle- and autophagy-related proteins. Acridine orange staining was performed to confirm autophagy, and DCF-DA staining was performed to confirm the occurrence of ROS. Results : IF controlled a spheroid formation and decreased a cell viability in 3D cell culture. IF-induced cell proliferation inhibition was associated with a distinct increase of S and G2/M phase cell distribution in 2D cell cultre. In addition, IF significantly induced autophagy and generated reactive oxygen species(ROS). Interestingly, IF-induced cell cycle arrest and autophagy were recovered after pre-treatment of N-acetyl-L-cysteine, ROS scavenger. Conclusion : Our results indicate that IF induced ROS-mediated cell cycle arrest and autophagy and it may potentially useful for human fibrosarcoma treatment.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• 제45권2호
• /
• pp.183-191
• /
• 2002

목 적 : 본 연구에서는 임상적으로 XLA로 진단받고 현재 치료 중인 한가족 3명 환아의 가계를 대상으로 말초혈액 단핵구의 Btk 단백질 발현과 Btk 유전자 변이를 분석하고자 하였다. 방 법 : 환아 말초혈액 단핵구의 Btk 발현도를 항 Btk 항체를 이용한 유세포계측을 통해 분석하고 PCR-SSCP 및 직접 염기서열 분석에 의해 Btk 유전자 변이를 분석하였다. 결 과 : 유세포 계측 및 PCR-SSCP에 의하여 가계내의 환자 3명 및 보인자 4명을 확인하였으며 환아들의 단핵구의 Btk 발현도를 조사한 결과 2.7% 미만으로 건강인에 비해 매우 유의한 감소를 나타내었다. 유전자 변이 분석 결과 Btk 유전자 exon 3에서 점돌연변이($T{\rightarrow}C$)가 발견되어 61번째 아미노산의 치환이 일어난 과오돌연변이를 확인할 수 있었다. 동일한 유전형을 지닌 3명의 환아들은 임상적으로 매우 다양한 표현형을 나타내었다. 특히 환아들의 혈청 IgG level이 낮을수록 임상 양상은 심한 소견을 보였다. 결 론 : 본 연구 결과를 종합해 볼 때 임상적으로 XLA로 진단된 환아와 가족에 대한 항 Btk 항체를 이용한 유세포계측 및 PCR-SSCP 방법은 XLA 환아 및 보인자의 진단에 매우 유용하며 신속하게 적용될 수 있는 기법으로 생각된다. 또한 분자유전학 기법을 이용하여 환아의 유전자 변이를 검색한 결과 Btk의 PH 도메인 내 한개의 과오돌연변이를 검색하여 XLA를 최종 확진할 수 있었다.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• 제45권3호
• /
• pp.302-310
• /
• 2002

목 적: 본 연구에서는 임상적으로 XLA로 진단받고 현재 치료 중인 국내 환아 세가족의 네명의 환아와 모친 등을 대상으로 말초혈액 단핵구의 Btk 단백질 발현과 Btk 유전자 변이를 분석하고자 하였다. 방 법: 말초혈액 단핵구의 Btk 발현도를 항 Btk 항체를 이용한 유세포측정을 통해 분석하고 직접 염기서열 분석에 의해 Btk 유전자 변이를 분석하였다. 결 과 : 환아들의 B 림프구의 발현은 2.1% 미만으로 정상인에 비해 매우 저하되어 있었으며 유세포 측정에 의한 환아 단핵구 유래 Btk 단백질 발현도 1.0% 이하로 정상인에 비해 매우 감소되었다. 유전자 변이 분석 결과 XLA 가족 1과 3에서는 각각 intron 18과 intron 1의 짜집기 공여 위치 부위에서 1개의 점 돌연변이가 발견되었으며 cDNA상 짜집기 오류 현상을 야기하였다. 그리고 XLA 가족 2의 경우 exon 10을 포함하는 980 bp의 유전자 결손(intron 9＋191T부터 intron 10-215C까지)이 발견되었으며 세계적으로 처음 보고되는 새로운 유전자 변이였다. 또한 가족 2의 경우 가족 중 환아에서 만 Btk 단백질 결핍 및 유전자 변이를 진단하여 국내 XLA의 환아 중 최초의 산발적인 발병 양상을 확인하였다. 결 론: 본 연구 결과를 종합해 볼 때 임상적으로 XLA로 진단된 환아와 가족에 대한 항 Btk 항체를 이용한 유세포측정 방법은 XLA 환아 및 보인자의 진단에 매우 유용한 방법으로 생각된다. 또한 분자유전학 기법을 이용하여 Btk의 noncoding region을 포함한 광범위한 유전자 영역의 염기서열 분석을 시행한 결과 새로운 1개의 유전자 결손 및 2개의 점돌연변이에 의한 짜집기 오류를 확인하여 XLA를 최종 확진할 수 있었다.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
• /
• 제43권2호
• /
• pp.107-111
• /
• 2009

목적: 저자 들은 주 우울증 환자들의 뇌 혈류 SPECT을 정상 대조군과 비교하여, 기존에 보고된 주 우울증 환자들의 소견과 어떤 차이가 있는 지 알아보고자 하였다. 대상과 방법: DSM-IV criteria로 주 우울증인 환자들 중에서 4주 이상 모든 정신과적 약물을 중지시킨 12명(남: 7, 녀: 5, 나이 범위: $19{\sim}52$세, 평균 나이: $29.3{\pm}9.9$세)과 자발적으로 지원한 정상 대조군 14명(남: 8, 녀: 6, 나이 범위: $19{\sim}53$세, 평균 나이: $31.4{\pm}9.2$세)을 대상으로 하였다. Tc-99m ECD 주사 후 SPECT 영상을 얻은 후, 주 우울증 환자군과 정상 대조군에서의 국소 뇌 혈류 패턴을 비교하였다. 결과: 정상인 대조군에 비해서, 주 우울증 환자들은 우측 후두엽의 설상 회와 방추상 회, 좌측 후두엽의 설상 회와 설전부, 그리고 좌측 측두엽의 상측두 회의 국소 뇌 혈류가 의미있게 증가하였다. 또한 우측 뇌교, 좌측 전두엽의 내측 전두회, 좌측 변연계의 대상 회, 우측 전두엽의 대상 회, 우측 변연계의 대상 회에서는 대조군에 비해 주 우울증 환자에서 국소 뇌 혈류가 의미있게 감소하였다. 결론: 주 우울증 환자군의 Tc-99m ECD뇌 혈류 SPECT 소견은 기존의 보고와 큰 차이가 없었으며, 우측 뇌교와 대상 회 그리고 좌측 내측 전두 회에서 특정적인 국소 뇌 혈류 감소 소견이 있었다.