• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.963-968
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• 2013

Objective: To study the effect of the antagomiR-27a inhibitor on glioblastoma cells. Methods: The miR-27a expression level in specimens of human glioblastoma and normal human brain tissues excised during decompression for traumatic brain injury was assessed using qRT-PCR; The predicted target gene of miR-27a was screened out through bioinformatics databases, and the predicted gene was verified using genetic report assays; the effect of antagomiR-27a on the invasion and proliferation of glioma cells was analyzed using MTT assays and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) labeling. A xenograft glioblastoma model in BALB-c nude mice was established to detect the effect of antagomiR-27a on tumour growth. Results: qRT-PCR results showed that miR-27a significantly increased in specimens from glioblastoma comparing with normal human brain tissues. Th miR-27a inhibitor significantly suppressed invasion and proliferation of glioblastoma cells. FOXO3a was verified as a new target of miR-27a by Western blotting and reporter analyzes. Tumor growth in vivo was suppressed by administration of the miR-27a inhibitor. Conclusion: MiR-27a may be up-regulated in human glioblastoma, and antagomiR-27a could inhibit the proliferation and invasion ability of glioblastoma cells.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.489-498
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• 2004

Recent studies have demonstrated that human periodontal ligament cells express receptor activation of nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ ligand (RANKL) which enhances the bone resorbing activity of osteoclasts differentiated from hematopoietic preosteoclasts. The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of p38 MAPK and JNK kinase upon regulating RANKL and OPG in response to $IL-1{\beta}$(l ng/ml) in rat periodontal ligament cells. Soluble RANKL was measured by immunoassay. The effects of p38 MAPK on RANKL and OPG expression was determined by RT-PCR. The results were as follows: 1. Periodontal ligament cells which stimulated by $IL-1{\beta}$ increased soluble RANKL synthesis by dose-dependent pattern. 2. p38 MAP kinase inhibitor (SB203580) showed regulation of soluble RANKL expression by dose-dependent manners. 3. p38 MAP kinase inhibitor (SB203580) regulated the expression of RANKL, but it dose regulate the expresseion of OPG. 4. JNK (c-jun $NH_2-terminal$ kinase) inhibitor (PD98059) did not regulate mRANKL and mOPG. These results suggested that p38 MAPK play a significant role in RANKL gene expression.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.477-485
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• 2016

CG200745 is a novel inhibitor of histone deacetylases (HDACs), initially developed for treatment of various hematological and solid cancers. Because it is water-soluble, it can be administered orally. We hypothesized that the HDAC inhibitor, CG200745, attenuates cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-induced hypertensive rats. For establishment of hypertension, 40 mg/kg of DOCA was subcutaneously injected four times weekly into Sprague-Dawley rats. All the rats used in this study including those in the sham group had been unilaterally nephrectomized and allowed free access to drinking water containing 1% NaCl. Systolic blood pressure was measured by the tail-cuff method. Blood chemistry including sodium, potassium, glucose, triglyceride, and cholesterol levels was analyzed. Sections of the heart were visualized after trichrome and hematoxylin and eosin stain. The expression of hypertrophic genes such as atrial natriuretic peptide A (Nppa) and atrial natriuretic peptide B (Nppb) in addition to fibrotic genes such as Collagen-1, Collagen-3, connective tissue growth factor (Ctgf), and Fibronectin were measured by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Injection of DOCA increased systolic blood pressure, heart weight, and cardiac fibrosis, which was attenuated by CG200745. Neither DOCA nor CG200745 affected body weight, vascular contraction and relaxation responses, and blood chemistry. Injection of DOCA increased expression of both hypertrophic and fibrotic genes, which was abrogated by CG200745. These results indicate that CG200745 attenuates cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in DOCA-induced hypertensive rats.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.636-642
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• 2007

Background: CpG DNA plays an important role in immune cell function. This study examined whether the temporal control of toll-like receptor (TLR)9 by CpG DNA can regulate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9). Methods and materials: Macrophages were cultured in the presence of 10% FBS. For the various MMP genes analysis, RT-PCR and real-time PCR were performed. In addition, zymography assay performed for the MMP activity. The phosphorylation assay did for the ERK1/2 and NF${\kappa}B$ activation, and luciferase promoter assay was for the NF${\kappa}B$ activity. Results: CpG DNA induced the mRNA expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, and MMP-13, but not of MMP-7, MMP-8, and MMP-12, in a time-dependent manner. Especially, the mRNA expression of MMP-9 was strongly induced by CpG DNA using real-time RT-PCR. The TLR9 inhibitor, chloroquine, suppressed CpG DNA-induced MMP-9 expression and its activity. Moreover, CpG DNA induced the phosphorylation of ERK and the inhibition of ERK by U0126 suppressed CpG DNA-induced MMP-9 expression and its activity. CpG DNA stimulated $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$ degradation and luciferase activity. In addition, pretreatment of SN-50, the inhibitor of NF${\kappa}B$, strongly blocked the CpG DNA-induced MMP-9 expression and activity. Conclusion: These observations suggest that CpG DNA may play important roles in the activation of macrophages by regulating the production of MMP-9 via the sequential TLR9-ERK-NF${\kappa}B$ signaling pathway.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.320-326
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• 2015

The clinical benefits of oncogenic BRAF inhibitor therapies are limited by the emergence of drug resistance. In this study, we investigated the role of a negative regulator of the MAPK pathway, Spry2, in acquired resistance using BRAF inhibitor-resistant derivatives of the BRAF-V600E melanoma (A375P/Mdr). Real-time RT-PCR analysis indicated that the expression of Spry2 was higher in A375P cells harboring the BRAF V600E mutation compared with wild-type BRAF-bearing cells (SK-MEL-2) that are resistant to BRAF inhibitors. This result suggests the ability of BRAF V600E to evade feedback suppression in cell lines with BRAF V600E mutations despite high Spry2 expression. Most interestingly, Spry2 exhibited strongly reduced expression in A375P/Mdr cells with acquired resistance to BRAF inhibitors. Furthermore, the overexpression of Spry2 partially restored sensitivity to the BRAF inhibitor PLX4720 in two BRAF inhibitor-resistant cells, indicating a positive role for Spry2 in the growth inhibition induced by BRAF inhibitors. On the other hand, long-term treatment with PLX4720 induced pERK reactivation following BRAF inhibition in A375P cells, indicating that negative feedback including Spry2 may be bypassed in BRAF mutant melanoma cells. In addition, the siRNA-mediated knockdown of Raf-1 attenuated the rebound activation of ERK stimulated by PLX4720 in A375P cells, strongly suggesting the positive role of Raf-1 kinase in ERK activation in response to BRAF inhibition. Taken together, these data suggest that RAF signaling may be released from negative feedback inhibition through interacting with Spry2, leading to ERK rebound and, consequently, the induction of acquired resistance to BRAF inhibitors.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.163-169
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• 2009

Lovastatin (also known as Mevinolin, Mevacor, and Monacolin K), an inhibitor of the HMG-CoA reductase produced by Aspergillus terreus and other fungi, is used to reduce serum cholesterol levels in human beings. It is derived biosynthetically from two polyketides. One of these is a nonaketide that undergoes cyclization at a hexahydronaphthalene ring system, and the other is a simple diketide, 2-methylbutyrate. Two primer pairs were designed based on the amino acid sequences of lovastatin polyketide synthase and lovastatin diketide synthase for the PCR screening of lovastatin-producing strains. Among the seven selected strains, SJ-2 evidenced the highest level of lovastatin production in both liquid and solid cultures. Soybeans with SJ-2 were treated via 1 hour of heat shock at $30^{\circ}C$ for the mass production of lovastatin. The heat-treated soybeans were inoculated on rice bran and the koji extract was obtained after 15 days of incubation. It yielded the highest level of lovastatin production among the strains, and also evidenced 75% inhibition activity against HMG-CoA reductase. We developed an efficient PCR screening method for lovastatin-producing strains, using lovastatin biosynthesis genes.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.275-283
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• 2007

Objective: This study was performed to investigate the expressions of endometriosis related genes in shed endometrial tissues from menstrual blood of patients with or without endometriosis. Methods: The shed endometrial tissues were collected on 2$^{nd}$ or 3$^{rd}$ day of menstrual cycle with Wallace catheter in patients with endometriosis (n=16) and without endometriosis (n=26). The mRNA expressions of twelve kinds of endometriosis related genes were compared between two groups using semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Results: The collected shed endometrium was confirmed by histological observation. Expressions of telomerase, c-kit and aromatase mRNA were not detected by RT-PCR in shed endometrial tissues. The mRNA expressions of apoptosis related genes (fas, fas ligand, bcl-2, bax), stem cell factor, estrogen receptor-$\alpha$/$\alpha$, endometriosis protein-I and secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor gene were similar between shed endometrial tissues with endometriosis and without endometriosis. Conclusion: We could not find the difference of mRNA expressions of tested endometriosis related genes between shed endometrial tissues with or without endometriosis by semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis. It may be related to the dynamical changes of gene expressions in the endometrium with menstrual cycle.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Pathology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.139.1-139
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• 2003

Tissues from woody plant contain higher amount of phenolic compounds and polysaccharides, which give inhibitory effects on reverse transcriptase and/or Taq ploymerase. The common multiple-step protocols using several additives to inhibit polyphenoic compounds during nucleic acid extraction are time consuming and laborious. Sodium sulfite (Na$_2$SO$_3$) was used as inhibitor of polyphenolic oxidases in extraction buffer and compare it's effect between commercial RNA extraction kit and small-scale double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) extraction by RT-PCR. During nucleic acid extraction procedure, addition of 0.5％-1.5％ (w/v) sodium sulfite to Iysis buffer or STE buffer resulted in lighter color change than extracts without sodium sulfite and improve the RT-PCR detection. When commercial RNA extraction kit used, optimal concentration of sodium sulfite were variable according to the host plant. However, using dsRNA as RT-PCR template, 1.5％ sodium sulfite in STE buffer improves the detection of both viruses and unspecific amplifications were reduced significantly, Furthermore, when viruses existed at low titers in host plant, small-scale dsRNA extractions were very reliable.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.291-293
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• 2009

The low virus titer in woody plant tissues and the presence of inhibitor compounds such as polyphenols, tannins and polysaccharides are common difficulties that compromise purification of plant viroids from their woody hosts. A simple, reliable method of RNA isolation using CF11 cellulose column on a microcentrifuge tube scale for detecting Apple scar skin viroid (ASSVd) in apple was developed. Total RNA extracted from leaf, woody bark and the fruit skin was used for reverse transcription. RT-PCR products could be detected from RNA prepared from dormant woody bark, fruit skin and fresh leaves with both the CF11 cellulose column method and NucliSens extractor in February, August and November. Meanwhile, with the RNeasy kit RT-PCR, products were detected only in leaves and not from bark or fruit skin. The PCR product, about 330 base pairs, was analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis. The CF11 cellulose column method was effective for detecting ASSVd. The method enabled the processing of a large numbers of samples of dormant woody bark, leaf and fruit skin of apple.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.142-146
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• 2004

Woody plant tissues contain great amounts of phenolic compounds and polysaccharides. These substances inhibit the activation of reverse transcriptase and/or Taq polymerase in RT-PCR. The commonly used multiple-step protocols using several additives to diminish polyphenolic compounds during nucleic acid extraction are time consuming and laborious. In this study, sodium sulfite was evaluated as an additive for nucleic acid extraction from woody plants and the efficiency of RT-PCR assay of commercial nucleic acid extraction kits and small-scale dsRNA extraction was compared. Sodium sulfite was used as an inhibitor against polyphenolic oxidases and its effects were compared in RNA extraction by commercial extraction kit and small-scale double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) extraction method for RT-PCR. During nucleic acid extraction, addition of 0.5%-1.5%(w/v) of sodium sulfite to lysis buffer or STE buffer resulted in lighter browning by oxidation than extracts without sodium sulfite and improved the RT-PCR detection. When commercial RNA extraction kit was used, optimal concentrations of sodium sulfite were variable according to the tested plant. However, with dsRNA as RT-PCR template, sodium sulfite 1.5% in STE buffer improved the detection efficiency of Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV) and Apple stem grooving virus (ASGV) in fruit trees, and reduced the unspecific amplifications signi-ficantly. Furthermore, when viruses existed at low titers in host plant, small-scale dsRNA extractions were very reliable.