• BMB Reports
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• 제51권6호
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• pp.274-279
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• 2018

Mitochondria are crucial organelles that generate cellular energy and metabolites. Recent studies indicate that mitochondria also regulate immunity. In this review, we discuss key roles of mitochondria in immunity against pathogen infection and underlying mechanisms, focusing on discoveries using Caenorhabditis elegans. Various mitochondrial processes, including mitochondrial surveillance mechanisms, mitochondrial unfolded protein response ($UPR^{mt}$), mitophagy, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, contribute to immune responses and resistance of C. elegans against pathogens. Biological processes of C. elegans are usually conserved across phyla. Thus, understanding the mechanisms of mitochondria-mediated defense responses in C. elegans may provide insights into similar mechanisms in complex organisms, including mammals.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.158-172
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• 2017

Nigella sativa (N. sativa, family Ranunculaceae) is a medicinal plant that has been widely used for centuries throughout the world as a natural remedy. A wide range of chemical compounds found in N. sativa expresses its vast therapeutic effects. Thymoquinone (TQ) is the main component (up to 50%) in the essential oil of N. sativa. Also, pinene (up to 15%), p-cymene (40%), thymohydroquinone (THQ), thymol (THY), and dithymoquinone (DTQ) are other pharmacologically active compounds of its oil. Other terpenoid compounds, such as carvacrol, carvone, 4-terpineol, limonenes, and citronellol, are also found in small quantities in its oil. The main pharmacological characteristics of this plant are immune system stimulatory, anti-inflammatory, hypotensive, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, anti-cancer, hypoglycemic, anti-tussive, milk production, uricosuric, choleretic, anti-fertility, and spasmolytic properties. In this regard, we have searched the scientific databases PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar with keywords of N. sativa, anti-cancer, apoptotic effect, antitumor, antioxidant, and malignancy over the period from 2000 to 2017. The effectiveness of N. sativa against cancer in the blood system, kidneys, lungs, prostate, liver, and breast and on many malignant cell lines has been shown in many studies, but the molecular mechanisms behind that anti-cancer role are still not clearly understood. From among the many effects of N. sativa, including its anti-proliferative effect, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis induction, ROS generation, anti-metastasis/anti-angiogenesis effects, Akt pathway control, modulation of multiple molecular targets, including p53, p73, STAT-3, PTEN, and $PPAR-{\gamma}$, and activation of caspases, the main suggestive anti-cancer mechanisms of N. sativa are its free radical scavenger activity and the preservation of various anti-oxidant enzyme activities, such as glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and glutathione-S-transferase. In this review, we highlight the molecular mechanisms of apoptosis and the anti-cancer effects of N. sativa, with a focus on its molecular targets in apoptosis pathways.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• 제33권2호
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• pp.81-93
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• 2007

Purpose: Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a relatively rare tumor that arises in glandular tissues of the head and neck region and sometimes has a protracted clinical course with perineural invasion and delayed onset of distant lung metastasis. Treatment failure of salivary ACC is most often associated with perineural and hematogenous tumor spread. However, very little has been known about the cellular and molecular mechanisms of perineural invasion and hematogenous distant metastasis of parotid ACC. This study was designed to develop an orthotopic tumor model of parotid adenoid cystic carcinoma in athymic nude mice. Experimental Design: A melanoma cell line was injected into the parotid gland of athymic mice to determine whether such implantation was technically feasible. A parotid ACC cell line was then injected into the parotid gland or the subcutaneous tissue of athymic mice at various concentrations of tumor cells, and the mice were thereafter followed for development of tumor nodule. The tumors were examined histopathologically for perineural invasion or regional or distant lung metastasis. We used an oral squmous cell carcinoma cell line as control. Results: Implantation of tumor(melanoma) cell suspension into the parotid gland of nude mice was technically feasible and resulted in the formation of parotid tumors. A parotid ACC cell line, ACC3 showed no significantly higher tumorigenicity, but showed significantly higher lung metastatic potential in the parotid gland than in the subcutis. In contrast, mucosal squmous cell carcinoma cell line doesn’t show significantly higher lung metastatic potential in the parotid gland than in the subcutis. The ACC tumor established in the parotid gland seemed to demonstrate perineural invasion of facial nerve, needs further study. Conclusion: An orthotopic tumor model of salivary ACC in athymic nude mice was successfully developed that closely recapitulates the clinical situations of human salivary ACC. This model should facilitate the understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of tumorigenisis and metastasis of salivary ACC and aid in the development of targeted molecular therapies of salivary ACC.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제32권8호
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• pp.1084-1094
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• 2019

Objective: The aim of this study was to select the candidate genes affecting meat quality and preliminarily explore the related molecular mechanisms in the Mashen pig. Methods: The present study explored genetic factors affecting meat quality in the Mashen pig using RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq). We sequenced the transcriptomes of 180-day-old Mashen and Large White pigs using longissimus dorsi to select differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Results: The results indicated that a total of 425 genes were differentially expressed between Mashen and Large White pigs. A gene ontology enrichment analysis revealed that DEGs were mainly enriched for biological processes associated with metabolism and muscle development, while a Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes analysis showed that DEGs mainly participated in signaling pathways associated with amino acid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, and skeletal muscle differentiation. A MCODE analysis of the protein-protein interaction network indicated that the four identified subsets of genes were mainly associated with translational initiation, skeletal muscle differentiation, amino acid metabolism, and oxidative phosphorylation pathways. Conclusion: Based on the analysis results, we selected glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase 1, malate dehydrogenase 1, pyruvate dehydrogenase 1, pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4, and activator protein-1 as candidate genes affecting meat quality in pigs. A discussion of the related molecular mechanisms is provided to offer a theoretical basis for future studies on the improvement of meat quality in pigs.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제50권2호
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• pp.113-124
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• 2024

Background: The increasing need to minimize animal testing has sparked interest in alternative methods with more humane, cost-effective, and time-saving attributes. In particular, in silico-based computational toxicology is gaining prominence. Adverse outcome pathway (AOP) is a biological map depicting toxicological mechanisms, composed of molecular initiating events (MIEs), key events (KEs), and adverse outcomes (AOs). To understand toxicological mechanisms, predictive models are essential for AOP components in computational toxicology, including molecular structures. Objectives: This study reviewed the literature and investigated previous research cases related to AOP and in silico methodologies. We describe the results obtained from the analysis, including predictive techniques and approaches that can be used for future in silico-based alternative methods to animal testing using AOP. Methods: We analyzed in silico methods and databases used in the literature to identify trends in research on in silico prediction models. Results: We reviewed 26 studies related to AOP and in silico methodologies. The ToxCast/Tox21 database was commonly used for toxicity studies, and MIE was the most frequently used predictive factor among the AOP components. Machine learning was most widely used among prediction techniques, and various in silico methods, such as deep learning, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics, were also utilized. Conclusions: We analyzed the current research trends regarding in silico-based alternative methods for animal testing using AOPs. Developing predictive techniques that reflect toxicological mechanisms will be essential to replace animal testing with in silico methods. In the future, since the applicability of various predictive techniques is increasing, it will be necessary to continue monitoring the trend of predictive techniques and in silico-based approaches.

• Molecular Medicine Reports
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.1911-1918
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• 2019

Traditional herbal medicines are being increasingly used worldwide to treat cancer. Radix Sophorae Flavescentis (RSF) is a Chinese herb, which has numerous pharmacological properties, including anti-tumour effects. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms underlying RSF-induced apoptosis in human gastric cancer cells (AGS cells). We found that RSF treatment (20-200 ㎍/ml) inhibited the proliferation of AGS cells and increased the sub-G1 phase ratio. RSF-induced cell death was associated with the downregulation of BCl-2 and upregulation of Bax. In addition to increasing the expression levels of apoptosis-mediating surface antigen FAS and Fas ligand, RSF also activated caspase-3; however, mitogen-activated protein kinase appeared to inhibit RSF-induced cell death. RSF also led to an increased production of reactive oxygen species. Based on these results, we propose that RSF could be a potential therapeutic agent for gastric cancer.

• 한국윤활학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국윤활학회 2002년도 proceedings of the second asia international conference on tribology
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• pp.49-50
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• 2002

Rapid advancements in analytical instrumentations and techniques in the last several decades offer an unprecedented opportunity to analyze the complex chemistry and probe the surfaces for chemical evidence. Recent developments in nanotechnology provide further ability to examine phenomena and mechanisms at the nanometer level. As a result of these advances, our understanding of the complex lubrication system has improved significantly. This paper will attempt to provide a molecular basis of how lubricant and additives function in lubrication.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.335-347
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• 2009

This review covers current developments in molecular-based studies of the structure and function of carboxylesterases. To allay the confusion of the classic classification of carboxylesterase isozymes, we have proposed a novel nomenclature and classification of mammalian carboxylesterases on the basis of molecular properties. In addition, mechanisms of regulation of gene expression of carboxylesterases by xenobiotics, and involvement of carboxylesterase in drug metabolism are also described.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제73권3호
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• pp.137-142
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• 2012

In the last several years, we have made slow but steady progress in understanding molecular biology of lung cancer. This review is focused on advances in understanding the biology of lung cancer that have led to proof of concept studies on new therapeutic approaches. The three selected topics include genetics, epigenetics and non-coding RNA. This new information represents progress in the integration of molecular mechanisms that to identify more effective ways to target lung cancer.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제39권1호
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• pp.40-45
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• 2016

Peroxiredoxins are highly conserved and abundant peroxidases. Although the thioredoxin peroxidase activity of peroxiredoxin (Prx) is important to maintain low levels of endogenous hydrogen peroxide, Prx have also been shown to promote hydrogen peroxide-mediated signalling. Mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling pathways mediate cellular responses to a variety of stimuli, including reactive oxygen species (ROS). Here we review the evidence that Prx can act as both sensors and barriers to the activation of MAPK and discuss the underlying mechanisms involved, focusing in particular on the relationship with thioredoxin.