• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.258-265
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• 2016

In metastatic breast cancer, the acquisition of malignant traits has been associated with the increased rate of cell growth and division, mobility, resistance to chemotherapy, and invasiveness. While screening for the key regulators of cancer metastasis, we observed that neurotrophin receptor TrkB is frequently overexpressed in breast cancer patients and breast cancer cell lines. Additionally, we demonstrate that TrkB expression and clinical breast tumor pathological phenotypes show significant correlation. Moreover, TrkB expression was significantly upregulated in basal-like, claudin-low, and metaplastic breast cancers from a published microarray database and in patients with triple-negative breast cancer, which is associated with a higher risk of invasive recurrence. Interestingly, we identified a new TrkB-regulated functional network that is important for the tumorigenicity and metastasis of breast cancer. We demonstrated that TrkB plays a key role in regulation of the tumor suppressors Runx3 and Keap1. A markedly increased expression of Runx3 and Keap1 was observed upon knockdown of TrkB, treatment with a TrkB inhibitor, and in TrkB kinase dead mutants. Additionally, the inhibition of PI3K/AKT activation significantly induced Runx3 and Keap1 expression. Furthermore, we showed that TrkB enhances metastatic potential and induces proliferation. These observations suggest that TrkB plays a key role in tumorigenicity and metastasis of breast cancer cells through suppression of Runx3 or Keap1 and that it is a promising target for future intervention strategies for preventing tumor metastasis and cancer chemoprevention.

• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.8
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• pp.511-515
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• 2009

Downstream of Bid (DOBI) known as Pus10, has been identified as a modulator of TRAIL-induced cell death using RNAi library screening. The crystal structure of DOBI has revealed that it is a crescent-shaped protein containing the pseudouridine synthase catalytic domain and a THUMP-containing domain. Here, we demonstrated that DOBI is expressed in various tissues such as heart and lung, and is also expressed in various tumor cells such as HeLa and A549. Although ectopic expression of DOBI does not promote TRAIL death signaling in HeLa cells, knock-down of DOBI expression using shRNA inhibited TRAIL death signaling. DOBI is cleaved into a 54 kD cleaved DOBI during cell death, and the recombinant DOBI protein can be directly cleaved by caspases-3, or -8 in vitro. Together, these data suggest that the cleaved DOBI may acquire a new function, possibly by cooperating with tBid in the mitochondrial event of cell death caused by TRAIL.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.71-76
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• 2006

We have investigated biological responses to radiofrequency (RF) radiation in in vitro and in vivo models. By measuring the levels of heat shock proteins as well as the activation of mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs), we could not detect any differences upon RF exposure. In this study, we used more sensitive method to find the molecular responses to RF radiation. Jurkat, human T-Iymphocyte cells were exposed to 1763 MHz RF radiation at an average specific absorption rate (SAR) of 10 W/kg for one hour and harvested immediately (R0) or after five hours (R5). From the profiles of 30,000 genes, we selected 68 differentially expressed genes among sham (S), R0 and R5 groups using a random-variance F-test. Especially 45 annotated genes were related to metabolism, apoptosis or transcription regulation. Based on support vector machine (SVM) algorithm, we designed prediction model using 68 genes to discriminate three groups. Our prediction model could predict the target class of 19 among 20 examples exactly (95% accuracy). From these data, we could select the 68 biomarkers to predict the RF radiation exposure with high accuracy, which might need to be validated in in vivo models.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.128-134
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• 2016

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients who underwent radiation therapy with or without targeted molecular therapy for the treatment of spinal metastasis from renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Materials and Methods: A total of 28 spinal metastatic lesions from RCC patients treated with radiotherapy between June 2009 and June 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Thirteen lesions were treated concurrently with targeted molecular therapy (concurrent group) and 15 lesions were not (nonconcurrent group). Local control was defined as lack of radiographically evident local progression and neurological deterioration. Results: At a median follow-up of 11 months (range, 2 to 58 months), the 1-year local progression-free rate (LPFR) was 67.0%. The patients with concurrent targeted molecular therapy showed significantly higher LPFR than those without (p = 0.019). After multivariate analysis, use of concurrent targeted molecular therapy showed a tendency towards improved LPFR (hazard ratio, 0.13; 95% confidence interval, 0.01 to 1.16). There was no difference in the incidence of systemic progression between concurrent and nonconcurrent groups. No grade ${\geq}2$ toxicities were observed during or after radiotherapy. Conclusion: Our study suggests the possibility that concurrent use of targeted molecular therapy during radiotherapy may improve LPFR. Further study with a large population is required to confirm these results.

• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.114-119
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• 2023

Liver fibrosis is caused by chronic liver damage and results in the aberrant accumulation of extracellular matrix during disease progression. Despite the identification of the HAT enzyme p300 as a major factor for liver fibrosis, the development of therapeutic agents targeting the regulation of p300 has not been reported. We validated a novel p300 inhibitor (A6) on the improvement of liver fibrosis using two mouse models, mice on a choline-deficient high-fat diet and thioacetamide-treated mice. We demonstrated that pathological hall-marks of liver fibrosis were significantly diminished by A6 treatment through Masson's trichrome and Sirius red staining on liver tissue and found that A6 treatment reduced the expression of matricellular protein genes. We further showed that A6 treatment improved liver fibrosis by reducing the stability of p300 protein via disruption of p300 binding to AKT. Our findings suggest that targeting p300 through the specific inhibitor A6 has potential as a major therapeutic avenue for treating liver fibrosis.

• Annals of Laboratory Medicine
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.604-606
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• 2018

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.445-452
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• 2016

Background: Red ginseng and ginsenosides have shown plethoric effects against various ailments. However, little is known regarding the effect of red ginseng on morphine-induced dependence and tolerance. We therefore investigated the effect of red ginseng extract (RGE) and biotransformed ginsenosides Rh2, Rg3, and compound K on morphine-induced dependence in mice and rats. Methods: While mice were pretreated with RGE and then morphine was injected intraperitoneally, rats were infused with ginsenosides and morphine intracranially for 7 days. Naloxone-induced morphine withdrawal syndrome was estimated and conditioned place preference test was performed for physical and psychological dependence, respectively. Western blotting was used to measure protein expressions. Results: Whereas RGE inhibited the number of naloxone-precipitated jumps and reduced conditioned place preference score, it restored the level of glutathione in mice. Likewise, ginsenosides Rh2, Rg3, and compound K attenuated morphine-dependent behavioral patterns such as teeth chattering, grooming, wet-dog shake, and escape behavior in rats. Moreover, activated N-methyl-D-aspartate acid receptor subunit 1 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase in the frontal cortex of rats, and cultured cortical neurons from mice were downregulated by ginsenosides Rh2, Rg3, and compound K despite their differential effects. Conclusion: RGE and biotransformed ginsenosides could be considered as potential therapeutic agents against morphine-induced dependence.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.536-543
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• 2023

Phytoceramide (Pcer) is found mainly in plants and yeast. It can be neuroprotective and immunostimulatory on various cell types. In this study, the therapeutic effect of Pcer was explored using the carrageenan/kaolin (C/K)-induced arthritis rat model and fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS). Pcer treatment (1, 10, and 30 mg/kg/day) were given to the arthritic rats for 6 days after disease induction. Weight distribution ration (WDR), knee thickness, squeaking score, serum levels of proinflammatory mediators, and histological analysis were measured and performed to evaluate arthritic symptoms in the rat model. In interleukin (IL)-1β-stimulated FLS, proinflammatory mediators were measured after Pcer (1-30 µM) treatment. Arthritic symptoms in rats with Pcer treatment were significantly decreased at days 4 to 6 after C/K arthritis induction. Inflammation in the knee joints were also significantly decreased in rats with Pcer treatment. Furthermore, in IL-1β-stimulated FLS, the expressions of proinflammatory mediators were also inhibited by Pcer. As shown by the results, Pcer has anti-arthritic effects in the C/K rat model and in synovial cells, suggesting that Pcer has the potential to be a useful agent in arthritis treatment.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.108-112
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• 2016

Molecular imaging with the radiolabeled RGD peptides for ${\alpha}_v{\beta}_3$ integrin has been an increasing interest for tumor diagnosis and the treatment monitoring. Recently, $^{64}Cu$-NODAGA-gluco-E[c(RGDfK)]$_2$ was developed for quantification of ${\alpha}_v{\beta}_3$ integrin and its biological properties was elucidated. To better understand the molecular process in vivo, we performed the kinetic analysis for the $^{64}Cu$-NODAGA-gluco-E[c(RGDfK)]$_2$. After preparation of a radiotracer, dynamic PET images were obtained in the U87MG xenograft mice for 60 min (n = 6). Binding potential values were estimated from the 3-tissue compartment model, reference Logan and simplified reference tissue model. In the early time frame (0-20 min), the liver, kidney, intestine, urinary bladder and tumor were visualized but these uptakes were diminished as time went by. The tumors showed a good contrast at 40 min after administration. $^{64}Cu$-NODAGA-gluco-E[c(RGDfK)]$_2$ showed the 2-fold uptake in the tumor compared with that in the muscle. The parametric maps for binding values also provide the higher tumor-to-background contrast than the static images. A binding value obtained from the 3-tissue compartment model was comparable to other modeling methods. From these results, we conclude that $^{64}Cu$-NODAGA-gluco-E[c(RGDfK)]$_2$ may be a promising PET radiotracer for the evaluation of angiogenesis.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2000

탁리소독음이 옹저에 있어 항염증 효과를 살펴보고자 NO의 농도, 세포 생존도, iNOS의 표현 및 $TNF-{\alpha}$의 농도를 실험한 결과, NO의 농도는 현저하게 감소하였고 세포 생존도는 탁리소독음에 의하여 영향을 받지 않았으며 iNOS의 표현에 있어서 iNOS의 고도가 현저하게 낮아졌고 $TNF-{\alpha}$의 농도는 현저한 변화가 없었다. 이상을 살펴볼 때 탁리소독음이 옹저에 있어 항염증효과가 있음을 알 수 있었다. 또한 탁리소독음이 충분히 대식세포의 역할을 대신하며 이 이외의 신호경로가 염증기전에 작용한 것으로 생각되며 많은 연구가 요할 것으로 사료된다.