• BMB Reports
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.139-144
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• 2019

Breast cancer (BRC) is the most invasive cancer in women. Although the survival rate of BRC is gradually increasing due to improved screening systems, development of novel therapeutic targets for inhibition of BRC proliferation, metastasis and recurrence have been constantly needed. Thus, in this study, we identified overexpression of SETDB1 (SET Domain Bifurcated 1), a histone methyltransferase, in RNA-seq data of BRC derived from TCGA portal. In Gene Ontology (GO) analysis, cell migration-related GO terms were enriched, and we confirmed down-regulation of cell migration/invasion and alteration of EMT /MET markers after knockdown of SETDB1. Moreover, gene network analysis showed that SMAD7 expression is regulated by SETDB1 levels, indicating that up-regulation of SMAD7 by SETDB1 knockdown inhibited BRC metastasis. Therefore, development of SETDB1 inhibitors and functional studies may help develop more effective clinical guidelines for BRC treatment.

• International Journal of Molecular Medicine
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.2319-2328
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• 2019

Exosomes serve important functions in cell-to-cell communication and biological functions by serving as a delivery cargo shuttle for various molecules. The application of an improved delivery method for microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) may enhance their potential as a therapeutic tool in cardiac diseases. Thus, the present study investigated whether human peripheral blood-derived exosomes may be used as a delivery cargo system for miRNAs, and whether the delivery of miR-21 using a human peripheral blood derived-exosome may influence the degree of remodeling following myocardial infarction (MI). In H9C2 and HL-1 cells, miR-21 expression was successfully regulated by treatment with human peripheral blood derived-exosomes loaded with an miR-21 mimic or inhibitor compared with untreated cells. In addition, the mRNA and protein expression levels of SMAD family member 7 (Smad7), phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), which are involved in cardiac fibrosis, were associated with the uptake of miR-21 mimic- or inhibitor-loaded exosomes. Similarly, the in vivo mRNA and protein expression of Smad7, PTEN and MMP2 were altered following treatment with miR-21 mimic- or inhibitor-loaded exosomes. Furthermore, miR-21 mimic-loaded exosomes enhanced fibrosis, whereas miR-21 inhibitor-loaded exosomes reduced fibrosis in a mouse MI model. These results suggested that miRNA-loaded human peripheral blood derived-exosomes may be used as a therapeutic tool for cardiac diseases.

• BMB Reports
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2005

Transforming Growth Factor (TGF)-$\beta$ family, including TGF-$\beta$, bone morphorgenic protein (BMP), and activn, plays an important role in essential cellular functions such as proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, tissue remodeling, angiognesis, immune responses, and cell adhesions. TGF-$\beta$ predominantly transmits the signals through serine/threonine receptor kinases and cytoplasmic proteins called Smads. Since the discovery of TGF-$\beta$ in the early 1980s, the dysregulation of TGF-$\beta$/Smad signaling has been implicated in the pathogenesis of human diseases. Among signal transducers in TGF-$\beta$/Smad signaling, inhibitory Smads (I-Smads), Smad6 and Smad7, act as major negative regulators forming autoinhibitory feedback loops and mediate the cross-talking with other signaling pathways. Expressions of I-Smads are mainly regulated on the transcriptional levels and post-translational protein degradations and their intracellular levels are tightly controlled to maintain the homeostatic balances. However, abnormal levels of I-Smads in the pathological conditions elicit the altered TGF-$\beta$ signaling in cells, eventually causing TGF-$\beta$-related human diseases. Thus, exploring the molecular mechanisms about the regulations of I-Smads may provide the therapeutic clues for human diseases induced by the abnormal TGF-$\beta$ signaling.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.105-111
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• 2008

Radiotherapy is an important treatment for many malignant tumors, but there are recent reports that radiation may increase the malignancy of cancer cells by stimulating expression of type IV collagenases. In this study, we examined changes in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitors, such as the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1, TIMP-2 and RECK, in response to irradiation in Panc-1 pancreatic cancer cells. Irradiation increased RECK protein levels but not mRNA levels, whereas no significant changes were found in TIMP-1 and TIMP-2. The enhanced RECK protein levels were associated with an increase in MMP inhibitory activity. However, irradiation slightly but reproducibly increased the invasiveness of the Panc-1 cells. Like irradiation, treatment of Panc-1 cells with transforming growth factor $(TGF)-{\beta}1$ led to a 2-fold increase in RECK protein levels. Transient transfection with Smad3 also increased RECK protein levels, but transfection with Smad7 markedly reduced them. Stable expression of Smad7 and treatment with SB431542, an inhibitor of $TGF-{\beta}$ receptor I kinase, abolished $TGF-{\beta}1$- and radiation-mediated effects on RECK. Furthermore, irradiation increased levels of phosphorylated Smad3. We conclude that radiation post-transciptionally enhances RECK protein levels in Panc-1 cells, at least in part, via $TGF-{\beta}$ signaling, and that irradiation increases Panc-1 invasiveness via a mechanism that may not be linked to MMP-2 activity.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.2083-2087
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• 2014

Colorectal cancers remain to be a common cause of cancer-related death. Early-onset cases as well as those of various ethnic origins have aggressive clinical features, the basis of which requires further exploration. The aim of this work was to examine the expression patterns of $p15^{INK4b}$ and SMAD4 in colorectal carcinoma of different ethnic origins. Fifty-five sporadic colorectal carcinoma of Egyptian origin, 25 of which were early onset, and 54 cancers of Finnish origin were immunohistochemically stained with antibodies against $p15^{INK4b}$ and SMAD4 proteins. Data were compared to the methylation status of the $p15^{INK4b}$ gene promotor. $p15^{INK4b}$ was totally lost or deficient (lost in ${\geq}50%$ of tumor cell) in 47/55 (85%) tumors of Egyptian origin as compared to 6/50 (12%) tumors of Finnish origin (p=7e-15). In the Egyptian cases with $p15^{INK4b}$ loss and available $p15^{INK4b}$ promotor methylation status, 89% of cases which lost $p15^{INK4b}$ expression were associated with $p15^{INK4b}$ gene promotor hypermethylation. SMAD4 was lost or deficient in 25/54 (46%) tumors of Egyptian origin and 28/48 (58%) tumors of Finnish origin. 22/54 (41%) Egyptian tumors showed combined loss/deficiency of both $p15^{INK4b}$ and SMAD4, while $p15^{INK4b}$ was selectively lost/deficient with positive SMAD4 expression in 24/54 (44%) tumors. Loss of $p15^{INK4b}$ was associated with older age at presentation (>50 years) in the Egyptian tumors (p=0.04). These data show for the first time that $p15^{INK4b}$ loss of expression marks a subset of colorectal cancers and ethnic origin may play a role in this selection. In a substantial number of cases, the loss was independent of SMAD4 but rather associated with $p15^{INK4b}$ gene promotor hypermethylation and old age which could be related to different environmental exposures.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.245-253
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• 2024

We investigated to analyze total flavonoid content and fatty acid composition of Stachys sieboldii Miq root. In order to determine antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of fractions from S. sieboldii Miq. root, we conducted 1.1-Diphenyl-2-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-Azino-bis (3-ethylbenothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt radical cation (ABTS) assays for antioxidant and measured nitric oxide (NO) production induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in RAW 264.7 cells. In addition, we examined an inhibitory effect of fractions from S. sieboldii Miq. root on smad signaling induced by transforming growth factor (TGF) β. Among the fractions, n-butanol (n-BuOH) fraction showed the highest flavonoid content (16.67 mg/g), followed by n-Hexane, water and 85% aqueous methanol (85% aq. MeOH) fractions. The fatty acid composition of S. sieboldii Miq. root was in the following order : n-6 fatty acids (54.3%) > n-3 fatty acids (21.2%) > saturated fatty acids (19.7%) > n-9 fatty acids (3.6%). As a result of the antioxidant efficacy, the DPPH and ABTS assays showed that n-BuOH fraction had higher scavenging activity compared to other fractions. Inhibitory effect on NO production showed that all fractions decreased LPS-induced NO production, indicating an anti-inflammatory activity of S. sieboldii Miq. root. 85% aq. MeOH and water fractions showed a higher efficacy in inhibiting transforming growth factor (TGF) β induced smad signaling. From the results, it suggests that food processing products using S. sieboldii Miq. root will be developed as a functional food for promoting health.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.481-485
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• 2015

The present study determined the normal reference ranges for overall pelvic limb alignment of small-breed dogs. For this purpose, 60 cadaveric canine pelvic limbs from normal small-breed dogs (Maltese, Poodle, Shih Tzu, Yorkshire Terrier). A frontal full-limb radiograph of each pelvic limb was obtained, and mechanical tibiofemoral angle (mTFA), mechanical metatarsotibial angle (mMTTA), mechanical axis-femur angle (MAFA), and mechanical axis-metatarsus angle (MAMTA) were measured from each radiograph, along with mechanical deviation of the stifle (SMAD) and tarsal joints (TMAD). The 95% CI for radiographic values of all pelvic limbs were mTFA, 5.7-7.4; mMTTA, $-2.2--0.8^{\circ}$; MAFA, $3.5-4.5^{\circ}$; MAMTA, 1.0-2.0; SMAD, 2.1-2.7%; TMAD, 0.5-1.0%. There values varied among the breeds, except for mTFA. The reference ranges can be used for diagnosing pelvic limb deformities in small-breed dogs and for planning corrective osteotomies.

• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.65-70
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• 2023

Prominin-1 (PROM1), also called CD133, is a penta-span transmembrane protein that is localized in membrane protrusions, such as microvilli and filopodia. It is known to be expressed in cancer stem cells and various progenitor cells of bone marrow, liver, kidney, and intestine. Accumulating evidence has revealed that PROM1 has multiple functions in various organs, such as eye, tooth, peripheral nerve, and liver, associating with various molecular protein partners. PROM1 regulates PKA-induced gluconeogenesis, TGFβ-induced fibrosis, and IL-6-induced regeneration in the liver, associating with Radixin, SMAD7, and GP130, respectively. In addition, PROM1 is necessary to maintain cancer stem cell properties by activating PI3K and β-Catenin. PROM1-deficienct mice also show distinct phenotypes in eyes, brain, peripheral nerves, and tooth. Here, we discuss recent findings of PROM1-mediated signal transduction.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.41-44
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• 2015

Based on genome-wide association studies (GWAS) a linkage between several variants such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in intron 3 of SMAD7 (mothers against decapentaplegic homolog7) were, rs12953717, rs4464148 and rs4939827 has been noted for susceptibility to colorectal cancer (CRC). In this study we investigated the relationship of rs12953717 and rs4464148 with risk of CRC among 487 Iranian individuals based on a case-control study. Genotyping of SNPs was performed by PCR-RFLP and for confirming the outcomes, 10% of genotyping cases were sequenced with RFLP. Comparing the case and control group, we have found significant association between the rs4464148 SNP and lower risk of CRC. The AG genotype showed decreased risk with and odds ratio of 0.635 (adjusted OR=0.635, 95% CI: 0.417-0.967, p=0.034). There was no significant difference in the distribution of SMAD7 gene rs12953717 TT genotype between two groups of the population evaluated (adjusted OR=1.604, 95% CI: 0.978-2.633, p=0.061). On the other hand, rs12953717 T allele showed a statistically significant association with CRC risk (adjusted OR=1.339, 95% CI: 1.017-1.764, p=0.037). In conclusion, we found a significant association between CRC risk and the rs4464148 AG genotype. Furthermore, the rs12953717 T allele may act as a risk factor. This association may be caused by alternative splicing of pre mRNA. Although we observed a strong association with rs4464148 GG genotype in affected women, we did not detect the same association in CRC male patients.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.8
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• pp.401-406
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• 2022

Ahnak, a large protein first identified as an inhibitor of TGF-β signaling in human neuroblastoma, was recently shown to promote TGF-β in some cancers. The TGF-β signaling pathway regulates cell growth, various biological functions, and cancer growth and metastasis. In this study, we used Ahnak knockout (KO) mice that underwent a 70% partial hepatectomy (PH) to investigate the function of Ahnak in TGF-β signaling during liver regeneration. At the indicated time points after PH, we analyzed the mRNA and protein expression of the TGF -β/Smad signaling pathway and cell cycle-related factors, evaluated the cell cycle through proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunostaining, analyzed the mitotic index by hematoxylin and eosin staining. We also measured the ratio of liver tissue weight to body weight. Activation of TGF-β signaling was confirmed by analyzing the levels of phospho-Smad 2 and 3 in the liver at the indicated time points after PH and was lower in Ahnak KO mice than in WT mice. The expression levels of cyclin B1, D1, and E1; proteins in the Rb/E2F transcriptional pathway, which regulates the cell cycle; and the numbers of PCNA-positive cells were increased in Ahnak KO mice and showed tendencies opposite that of TGF-β expression. During postoperative regeneration, the liver weight to body weight ratio tended to increase faster in Ahnak KO mice. However, 7 days after PH, both groups of mice showed similar rates of regeneration, following which their active regeneration stopped. Analysis of hepatocytes undergoing mitosis showed that there were more mitotic cells in Ahnak KO mice, consistent with the weight ratio. Our findings suggest that Ahnak enhances TGF-β signaling during postoperative liver regeneration, resulting in cell cycle disruption; this highlights a novel role of Ahnak in liver regeneration. These results provide new insight into liver regeneration and potential treatment targets for liver diseases that require surgical treatment.