• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.457-463
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• 1998

An expression vector, pUC19N6-luc, containing nuclear matrix attachment region(MAR) isolated from Misgurnus mizolepis liver and control expressino vector, pUC19-luc, were constructed. After these vectors were transferred into CHSE-214 cell line by electroporation, the expression rate of luckferase gens, copy number of vectors and chromosome integration of vectors were analyzed by using assay of luciferase activity, PCR and Southern blotting. While the expression pattern of luciferase gene of pUC19-luc was shown in typicla transient ecpression pattern, that of pUC19N6-luc was highly increased at the 5 days after transfectrion. Although the cope number of pUC19N6-luc vector was higher than that of pUC19-luc vector, these vectors were integrated into chromosome at the same time point in the transfected CHSE-214 cells. In conclusion, the increase of luciferase gene expression of pUC19N6-luc was resulted from not the maintaining of the high copy number but the formation of transcription-favorable structure by MAR effect after chromosomal integration.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.19
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• pp.8429-8433
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• 2014

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are believed to be particularly important and a reliable marker of malignancy. However, the prognostic significance of CTCs detected in patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is still unclear. We therefore aimed to assess the prognostic relevance of CTCs using a meta-analysis. We searched PubMed for relevant studies and statistical analyses were conducted to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using fixed or random-effect models according to the heterogeneity of included studies. A total of 7 papers covering 440 SCLC patients were combined in the final analysis. The meta-analysis revealed that CTCs were significantly associated with shorter overall survival (HR=1.9; 95%CI: 1.19-3.04; Z=2.67; P<0.0001) and progression-free survival (HR=2.6; 95%CI: 1.9-3.54; Z=6.04; P<0.0001). The results thus suggest that the presence of CTCs indicates a poor prognosis in patients with SCLC. Further well-designed prospective studies are required to explore the clinical applications of CTCs in SCLC.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.124-129
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• 2005

Resveratrol, a phytoalexin found at high levels in grapes and in grape products such as red wine, has been reported to possess a wide range of biological and pharmacological activities including anti-oxident, anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic, and anti-carcinogenic effects, but its molecular mechanism is poorly understood. In this study, we examined the effects of resveratrol on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced growth inhibitory activity and cell growth-regulatory gene products in astroglioma C6 cells to elucidate its possible mechanism for anti-cytotoxicity. It is shown that LPS induced time-dependent growth inhibition and morphological changes of C6 cells, which were recovered by pre-treatment with resveratrol. The anti-proliferative effect of LPS was associated with the induction of tumor suppressor p53 and cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitor p21 (WAF1/CIP1) expression assessed by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis in time-dependent manner in C6 cells. In addition, the pro-apoptotic Bax expression was also up-regulated in LPS-treated C6 cells without alteration of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL expression. However, resveratrol significantly inhibited LPS-induced p53, p21 and Bax levels, suggesting that the modulation of p53, p21 and Bax levels could be one of the possible pathways by which resveratrol functions as anti-cytotoxic agent.

• BMB Reports
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 2018

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is commonly caused by a mutation in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and subsequent aberrant EGFR signaling with uncontrolled kinase activity. A deletion mutation in EGFR exon 19 is frequently observed in EGFR gene mutations. We designed a DNAzyme to suppress the expression of mutant EGFR by cleaving the mutant EGFR mRNA. The DNAzyme (named Ex19del Dz) specifically cleaved target RNA and decreased cancer cell viability when transfected into gefitinib-resistant lung cancer cells harboring EGFR exon 19 deletions. The DNAzyme decreased EGFR expression and inhibited its downstream signaling pathway. In addition to EGFR downregulation, Ex19del Dz containing CpG sites activated Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) and its downstream signaling pathway via p38 kinase, causing an immunostimulatory effect on EGFR-mutated NSCLC cells. Thus, dual effects of this DNAzyme harboring the CpG site, such as TLR9 activation and EGFR downregulation, leads to apoptosis of EGFR-mutated NSCLC cells.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.155-162
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• 2011

Background: Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) recognizes double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) and induces inflammation. In this study we attempted to ascertain if there are endogenous host molecules controlling the production of cytokines and chemokines. Two candidates, ribosomal protein L19 and L22, were analyzed to determine if they influence cytokine production followed by TLR3 activation. In this study we report that L19 acts upon production of IP-10 or IL-8 differently in glioblastoma cells. Methods: L19 or L22 was transfected into HEK293-TLR3, A549 or A172 cells. After treatment with several inhibitors of NF-${\kappa}B$, PI3K, p38 or ERK, production of IL-8 or IP-10 was measured by ELISA. siRNA was introduced to suppress expression of L19. After Vesicular stomatitis virus infection, viral multiplication was measured by western blot. Results: L19 increased ERK activation to produce IL-8. In A172 cells, in which TLR3 is expressed at endosomes, L19 inhibited interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) activation and IP-10 production to facilitate viral multiplication, whereas L19 inhibited viral multiplication in A549 cells bearing TLR3 on their cell membrane. Conclusion: Our results suggest that L19 regulates TLR3 signaling, which is cell type specific and may be involved in pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases and chronic inflammatory diseases.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.90-98
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• 2023

The human eye, constantly exposed to solar radiation, can be damaged by UV radiation. In particular, ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced damage plays an important role in retinal degeneration and cell aging. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of the methanol extract of Oxya chinensis sinuosa (OCM), an edible insect known for its high protein content (64.2%), and various pharmacological effects, on human retinal pigment epithelial cells. ARPE-19 cells were treated with OCM and subsequently UVB irradiated. Our results showed that OCM effectively attenuates UVB-induced cell damage by reducing MAPK phosphorylation (JNK and p38 MAPK). Additionally, OCM increased the phosphorylation of Akt, and cell cycle regulators, including p21 and p27, in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, OCM treatment increased ARPE-19 cell proliferation by activating the S6K1/S6 pathway. This study suggests that OCM prevents UVB-induced retinal cell damage by increasing cell proliferation via ROS reduction, suggesting its potential as a functional therapeutic superfood against retinal cell damage.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.123-130
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• 2006

1,4-Naphthoquinones are widely distributed in nature and many clinically important antitumor drugs containing a quinone moiety, such as anthracyclines, mitoxantrones and saintopin, show excellent anticancer activity. In this study, 2- or 6-substituted 5,8-dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (DMNQ) and 5,8-dihydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (DHNQ) derivatives were synthesized, and their cytotoxic activity against L1210 and P388 cancer cells was examined. Their antitumor activity was also assessed in mice bearing S-180 cells in the peritoneal cavity. In comparison with the DMNQ derivatives, the DHNQ derivatives exhibited more potent bioactivities than the DMNQ derivatives against both L1210 and P388 cells in vitro and S-180 cells in vivo. The $ED_{50}$ values of the DHNQ derivatives against P388 cells were in the range of 0.18-1.81 ${\mu}g/mL$ whereas those of the DMNQ derivatives were in the range of 0.26-40.41 ${\mu}g/mL$. The T/C ($\%$) values of the DHNQ derivatives, 8, 17, 18, 19, and 20, were found to be comparable to or even better than that of adriamycin. It was also observed that the 2-substituted derivatives (8, 19, 20) showed better antitumor activity than the 6-substituted derivatives (7, 17, 18) in the mice bearing S-180 cells in the peritoneal cavity.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.8-13
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• 1981

The content of sulfhydryl compounds in Chlorella cells during the life cycle in the synchronous culture is determined spectrophotomatically at 250nm(pH7.0) using p-CMB as SH-reagent. The changes in the content of-SHl compounds and protein in Chlorella cells is measured during the life cycle in connection with cell division and analyzed. 1) The amounts of total ninhydrin reactive substance increased with growth of cells but increased the more at the $L_4$ stage(cytokinesis stage) than at the $L_2$ stage (nuclear division stage). 2) The sulfhydryl content of Chlorella cells increased strikingly at the $L_2$ stage and decreased markedly at the $L_4$ stage. 3) The amounts of values -SH/protein showed a peak at the $L_2$ stage. The increase of the amount of total-SH compounds of cells during the nuclear division period was considered to be caused by the weighty roles of protein-SH groups for the formation of nuclear division apparatus and for the enzyme activity.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.363-366
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• 2014

Zinc is considered to be involved in maintaining healthy vascular condition. Atherosclerotic calcification of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) occurs via the mechanism of cell death; therefore, cell viability is a critical factor for preventing VSMC calcification. In this study, we tested whether zinc affected VSMC viability under both normal physiological non-calcifying (0 mM P) and atherosclerotic calcifying conditions (3 and 5 mM P), since VSMC physiological characters change during the VSMC calcification process. The study results showed that an optimal zinc level ($15{\mu}M$) restored the decreased VSMC viability which was induced under low zinc levels (0 and $1{\mu}M$) and calcifying conditions (3 and 5 mM P) at 9 and 15 days culture. This zinc-protecting effect for VSMC viability is more prominent under atherosclerotic calcifying condition (3 and 5 mM P) than normal condition (0 mM P). Also, the increased VSMC viability was consistent with the decreased Ca and P accumulation in VSMC cell layers. The results suggested that zinc could be an effective biomineral for preventing VSMC calcification under atherosclerotic calcifying conditions.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.65-73
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• 2023

Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a significant visual disease that induces impaired vision and irreversible blindness in the elderly. However, the effects of ginseng berry extract (GBE) on the retina have not been studied. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the protective effects of GBE on blue light (BL)-induced retinal damage and elucidate its underlying mechanisms in human retinal pigment epithelial cells (ARPE-19 cells) and Balb/c retina. Methods: To investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of GBE on retinal damage in vitro, we performed cell viability assay, pre-and post-treatment of sample, reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and western immunoblotting using A2E-laden ARPE-19 cells with BL exposure. In addition, Balb/c mice were irradiated with BL to induce retinal degeneration and orally administrated with GBE (50, 100, 200 mg/kg). Using the harvested retina, we performed histological analysis (thickness of retinal layers), qRT-PCR, and western immunoblotting to elucidate the effects and mechanisms of GBE against retinal damage in vivo. Results: GBE significantly inhibited BL-induced cell damage in ARPE-19 cells by activating the SIRT1/PGC-1α pathway, regulating NF-kB translocation, caspase 3 activation, PARP cleavage, expressions of apoptosis-related factors (BAX/BCL-2, LC3-II, and p62), and ROS production. Furthermore, GBE prevented BL-induced retinal degeneration by restoring the thickness of retinal layers and suppressed inflammation and apoptosis via regulation of NF-kB and SIRT1/PGC-1α pathway, cleavage of caspase 3 and PARP, and expressions of apoptosis-related factors in vivo. Conclusions: GBE could be a potential agent to prevent dry AMD and progression to wet AMD.