• BMB Reports
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• v.57 no.9
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• pp.381-387
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• 2024

The nucleus, a highly organized and dynamic organelle, plays a crucial role in regulating cellular processes. During cell differentiation, profound changes occur in gene expression, chromatin organization, and nuclear morphology. This review explores the intricate relationship between nuclear architecture and cellular function, focusing on the roles of the nuclear lamina, nuclear pore complexes (NPCs), sub-nuclear bodies, and the nuclear scaffold. These components collectively maintain nuclear integrity, organize chromatin, and interact with key regulatory factors. The dynamic remodeling of chromatin, its interactions with nuclear structures, and epigenetic modifications work in concert to modulate gene accessibility and ensure precise spatiotemporal control of gene expression. The nuclear lamina stabilizes nuclear shape and is associated with inactive chromatin regions, while NPCs facilitate selective transport. Sub-nuclear bodies contribute to genome organization and gene regulation, often by influencing RNA processing. The nuclear scaffold provides structural support, impacting 3D genome organization, which is crucial for proper gene expression during differentiation. This review underscores the significance of nuclear architecture in regulating gene expression and guiding cell differentiation. Further investigation into nuclear structure and 3D genome organization will deepen our understanding of the mechanisms governing cell fate determination.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.96-105
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• 2006

Molecular imaging has its root in nuclear medicine and gene therapy monitoring. Therefore, recent progress in the development of non-invasive imaging technologies, particularly nuclear medicine, should allow molecular imaging to play a major role in the field of gene therapy. These tools have recently been validated in gene therapy models for continuous quantitative monitoring of the location, magnitude, and time-variation of gene delivery and/or expression. This article reviews the use of radionuclide imaging technologies as they have been used in imaging gene delivery and gene expression for gene therapy applications. The studios published to date lend support that noninvasive imaging tools will help to accelerate pre-clinical model validation as well as allow for clinical monitoring of human gene therapy.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.237-242
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• 2006

Knowledge of molecular mechanisms governing malignant transformation brings new opportunities for therapeutic intervention against cancer using novel approaches. One of them is gene therapy based on the transfer of genetic material to an organism with the aim of correcting a disease. The application of gene therapy to the cancer treatment has led to the development of new experimental approaches such as suicidal gene therapy, inhibition of oncogenes and restoration of tumor-suppressor genes. Suicidal gene therapy is based on the expression in tumor cells of a gene encoding an enzyme that converts a prodrug into a toxic product. Representative suicidal genes are Herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase (HSV1-tk) and cytosine deaminase (CD). Especially, physicians and scientists of nuclear medicine field take an interest In suicidal gene therapy because they can monitor the location and magnitude, and duration of expression of HSV1-tk and CD by PET scanner.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.175-179
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• 2004

Molecular nuclear cardiac imaging has included Tc-99m Annexin imaging to visualize myocardial apoptosis, but is now usually associated with gene therapy and cell-based therapy. Cardiac gene therapy was not successful so far but cardiac reporter gene imaging was made possible using HSV-TK (herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase) and F-18 FHBG (fluoro-hydroxymethylbutyl guanine) or I-124 FIAU (fluoro-deoxyiodo-arabino-furanosyluracil). Gene delivery was performed by needic injection with or without catheter guidance. Tk expression did not last longer than 2 weeks in myocardium. Cell-based therapy of ischemic heart or failing heart looks promising, but biodistribution and differentiation of transplanted cells are not known. Reporter genes can be transfected to the stem/progenitor cells and cells containing these genes can be transplanted to the recipients using catheter-based purging or injection. Repeated imaging should be available and if promoter are varied to let express reporter transgenes, cellular (trans)differentiation can be studied. NIS (sodium iodide symporter) or D2R receptor genes are promising in this aspect.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.4251-4256
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• 2015

Background: Exposure to cigarette may affect human health and increase risk of a wide range of diseases including pulmonary diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, lung fibrosis and lung cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis induced by cigarettes still remain obscure even with extensive studies. With systemic view, we attempted to identify the specific gene modules that might relate to injury caused by cigarette smoke and identify hub genes for potential therapeutic targets or biomarkers from specific gene modules. Materials and Methods: The dataset GSE18344 was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and divided into mouse cigarette smoke exposure and control groups. Subsequently, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to construct a gene co-expression network for each group and detected specific gene modules of cigarette smoke exposure by comparison. Results: A total of ten specific gene modules were identified only in the cigarette smoke exposure group but not in the control group. Seven hub genes were identified as well, including Fip1l1, Anp32a, Acsl4, Evl, Sdc1, Arap3 and Cd52. Conclusions: Specific gene modules may provide better understanding of molecular mechanisms, and hub genes are potential candidates of therapeutic targets that may possible improve development of novel treatment approaches.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2000

The rapid progress of molecular genetic methods over the past two decades has necessitated the development of methods to detect and quantify genetic activity within living bodies. Reporter genes provide a rapid and convenient tool to monitor gene expression by yielding a readily measurable phenotype upon expression when introduced into a biological system. Conventional reporter systems, however, are limited in their usefulness for in vivo experiments or human gene therapy because of its invasive nature which requires cell damage before assays can be performed. This offers an unique opportunity for nuclear imaging techniques to develope a novel method for imaging both the location and amount of gene expression noninvasively. Current developments to achieve this goal rely on utilizing either reporter enzymes that accumulate radiolabeled substrates or reporter receptors that bind specific radioligands. This overview includes a brief introduction to the background for such research, a summary of published results, and an outlook for future directions.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.248.3-249
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• 2003

Objectives: Galatosylated PEI was synthesized and characterized for gene delivery to hepatocytes. It was modified by conjugating with hydrophilic PEG to improve in vivo circulation. And we studied the possibility as an imaging modality for monitoring of gene delivery using gal-PEI derivatives. Methods: The substitution values of galactose in PEI were calculated by resorcinol/sulfuric acid method and quantity of PEG was calculated by comparing NMR peak. Cytotoxicity was determined by MTT. (omitted)

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.143-151
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• 2004

Recent progress in the development of non-invasive imaging technologies continues to strengthen the role of molecular imaging biological research. These tools have been validated recently in variety of research models, and have been shown to provide continuous quantitative monitoring of the location(s), magnitude, and time-variation of gene expression. This article reviews the principles, characteristics, categories and the use of radionuclide reporter gene imaging technologies as they have been used in imaging cell trafficking, imaging gene therapy, imaging endogenous gene expression and imaging molecular interactions. The studios published to date demonstrate that reporter gene imaging technologies will help to accelerate pre-clinical model validation as well as allow for clinical monitoring of human diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.74-79
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• 2002

In addition to the well-established use of positron emission tomography (PET) in clinical oncology, novel roles for PET are rapidly emerging in the field of gene therapy. Methods for controlled gene delivery to living bodies, made available through advances in molecular biology, are currently being employed in animals for research purposes and in humans to treat diseases such as cancer. Although gene therapy is still in its early developmental stage, it is perceived that many serious illnesses could be treated successfully by the use of therapeutic gene delivery. A major challenge for the widespread use of human gene therapy is to achieve a controlled and effective delivery of foreign genes to target cells and subsequently, adequate levels of expression. As such, the availability of noninvasive imaging methods to accurately assess the location, duration, and level of transgene expression is critical for optimizing gene therapy strategies. Current endeavors to achieve this goal include methods that utilize magnetic resonance imaging, optical imaging, and nuclear imaging techniques. As for PET, reporter systems that utilize genes encoding enzymes that accumulate positron labeled substrates and those transcribing surface receptors that bind specific positron labeled ligands have been successfully developed. More recent advances in this area include improved reporter gene constructs and radiotracers, introduction of potential strategies to monitor endogenous gene expression, and human pilot studies evaluating the distribution and safety of reporter PET tracers. The remarkably rapid progress occurring in gene imaging technology indicates its importance and wide range of application. As such, gene imaging is likely to become a major and exciting new area for future application of PET technology.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.37-46
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• 1995

The amino acid analysis of polyhedrin protein and nucleotide sequence of polyhedrin gene in H. cunea nuclear polyhedrosis virus (HcNPV) genome have been studied. Polyhedrin had three polypeptide bands in SDS - polyactylamide gel electrophoresis. The major polypeptide had a molecular weight of 25 kd. The polyhedrin was composed of 17 different amino acids. HcNPV DNA was digested with EcoRI restriction enzyme and hybridized with ($\alpha^{32}P$) -labelled AcNPV polyhedrin gene cDNA. The polyhedrin gene was located on the fragment of EcoRI-H. The EcoRI - H fragment containing polyhedrin gene was cloned into the EcoRI site of pUC8 vector which was confirmed with southern blotting, and the recombinant plasmid containg polyhedrin gene was designated as hPE-H. The promoter region of polyhedrin genomic DNA was sequenced. The sequences identified as the TATA box was found at the 5' flanking region of the polyhedrin genomic DNA approximately -79 bp upstream from the transcriptional start site. But CAAT-like box was not shown near the TATA-like box in the polyhedrin gene. Four tandem repeats with the sequence 5' -CTAATAT-3' and 5'-TAAATAA-3' were found between -141 and -108 or -83 upstream and -52 bp downstream from the translation start site. About -141 bp region upstream from the translational start site was highly AT (78%) rich. The coding region for the polyhedrin starts and ends with ATG and TAA, respectively.