• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8579-8587
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• 2016

Background: The molecular mechanisms linking breast cancer progression and inflammation still remain obscure. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible association of angiopoeitin like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) and its regulatory factor, hypoxia inducible factor-$1{\alpha}$ (HIF-$1{\alpha}$), with the inflammatory markers nuclear factor kappa B/p65 (NF-${\kappa}B$/P65) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-$1{\beta}$) in order to evaluate their role in inflammation associated breast cancer progression. Materials and Methods: Angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) mRNA expressions were evaluated using quantitative real time PCR and its protein expression by immunohistochemistry. DNA binding activity of NF-${\kappa}B$/P65 was evaluated by transcription factor binding immunoassay. Serum levels of ANGPTL4, HIF-$1{\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ were immunoassayed. Tumor clinico-pathological features were investigated. Results: ANGPTL4 mRNA expressions and serum levels were significantly higher in high grade breast carcinoma ($1.47{\pm}0.31$ and $184.98{\pm}18.18$, respectively) compared to low grade carcinoma ($1.21{\pm}0.32$ and $171.76{\pm}7.58$, respectively) and controls ($0.70{\pm}0.02$ and $65.34{\pm}6.41$, respectively), (p<0.05). Also, ANGPTL4 high/moderate protein expression was positively correlated with tumor clinico-pathological features. In addition, serum levels of HIF-$1{\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ as well as NF-${\kappa}B$/P65 DNA binding activity were significantly higher in high grade breast carcinoma ($148.54{\pm}14.20$, $0.79{\pm}0.03$ and $247.13{\pm}44.35$ respectively) than their values in low grade carcinoma ( $139.14{\pm}5.83$, $0.34{\pm}0.02$ and $184.23{\pm}37.75$, respectively) and controls ($33.95{\pm}3.11$, $0.11{\pm}0.02$ and $7.83{\pm}0.92$, respectively), (p<0.001). Conclusion: ANGPTL4 high serum levels and tissue expressions in advanced grade breast cancer, in addition to its positive correlation with tumor clinico-pathological features and HIF-$1{\alpha}$ could highlight its role as one of the signaling factors involved in breast cancer progression. Moreover, novel correlations were found between ANGPTL4 and the inflammatory markers, IL-$1{\beta}$ and NF-${\kappa}B$/p65, in breast cancer, which may emphasize the utility of these markers as potential tools for understanding interactions for axes of carcinogenesis and inflammation contributed for cancer progression. It is thus hoped that the findings reported here would assist in the development of new breast cancer management strategies that would promote patients' quality of life and ultimately improve clinical outcomes. However, large-scale studies are needed to verify these results.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.21
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• pp.9313-9317
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• 2014

Fragile histidine triad (FHIT) is a suppressor gene related to cervical cancer through CpG island hypermethylation. Folate is a water-soluble B-vitamin and an important cofactor in one-carbon metabolism. It may play an essential role in cervical lesions through effects on DNA methylation. The purpose of this study was to observe effects of folate and FHIT methylation and HPV 16 on cervical cancer progression. In this study, DNA methylation of FHIT, serum folate level and HPV16 status were measured using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP), radioimmunoassay (RIA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), respectively, in 310 women with a diagnosis of normal cervix (NC, n=109), cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN, n=101) and squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix (SCC, n=101). There were significant differences in HPV16 status (${\chi}^2=36.64$, P<0.001), CpG island methylation of FHIT (${\chi}^2=71.31$, P<0.001) and serum folate level (F=4.57, P=0.011) across the cervical histologic groups. Interaction analysis showed that the ORs only with FHIT methylation (OR=11.47) or only with HPV 16 positive (OR=4.63) or with serum folate level lower than 3.19ng/ml (OR=1.68) in SCC group were all higher than the control status of HPV 16 negative and FHIT unmethylation and serum folate level more than 3.19ng/ml (OR=1). The ORs only with HPV 16 positive (OR=2.58) or with serum folate level lower than 3.19ng/ml (OR=1.28) in CIN group were all higher than the control status, but the OR only with FHIT methylation (OR=0.53) in CIN group was lower than the control status. HPV 16 positivity was associated with a 7.60-fold increased risk of SCC with folate deficiency and with a 1.84-fold increased risk of CIN. The patients with FHIT methylation and folate deficiency or with FHIT methylation and HPV 16 positive were SCC or CIN, and the patients with HPV 16 positive and FHIT methylation and folate deficiency were all SCC. In conclusion, HPV 16 infection, FHIT methylation and folate deficiency might promote cervical cancer progression. This suggests that FHIT may be an effective target for prevention and treatment of cervical cancer.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.398-407
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• 2017

BTG 1 (B-cell translocation gene 1) gene was first identified as a translocation gene in a case of B-cell chronic lympocytic leukemia. BTG1 is a member of the BTG/TOB family with sharing a conserved N-terminal region, which shows anti-proliferation properties and is able to stimulate cell differentiation. In this study, we identified and characterized the pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas BTG1 (cg-BTG1) gene from the gill cDNA library by an Expressed Sequence Tag (EST) analysis and its nucleotide sequence was determined. The cg-BTG1 gene encodes a predicted protein of 182 amino acids with 57% 56% identities to its zebrafish and human counterparts, and is an intron-less gene, which was confirmed by PCR analysis of genomic DNA. Maximal homologies were shown in conserved Box A and B. The deduced amino acid sequence shares high identity with other BTG1 genes of human, rat, mouse and zebrafish. The phylogenic analysis and sequence comparison of cg-BTG1 with other BTG1 were found to be closely related to the BTG1 gene structure. In addition, the predicted promoter region and the different transcription-factor binding site like an activator protein-1 (AP-1) response element involved in negative regulation and serum response element (SRE) were able to be identified by the genomic DNA walking experiment. The quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed that the mRNA of cg-BTG1 gene was expressed in gill, heart, digestive gland, intestine, stomach and mantle. The cg-BTG1 gene was expressed mainly in heart and mantle.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5563-5568
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• 2012

Based on our previous report on gastric cancer which documented ATP4A and ATP4B mRNA down-regulation in gastric tumors relative to normal gastric tissues, we hypothesized that epigenetic mechanisms could be responsible. ATP4A and ATP4B mRNA expression in gastric cancer cell lines AGS, SNU638 and NUGC-3 was examined using reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR). AGS cells were treated with TSA or 5'-AzaDC and methylation specific PCR (MSP) and bisulfite sequencing PCR (BSP) analysis were performed. MSP analysis was on DNA from paraffin embedded tissues sections and plasma. Expression analysis revealed downregulation of ATP4A and ATP4B genes in gastric cancer cell lines relative to normal gastric tissue, while treatment with 5'-AzaDC re-activated expression of both. Search for CpG islands in their putative promoter regions did not indicate CpG islands (CGI) but only further downstream in the bodies of the genes. Methylation specific PCR (MSP) in the exon1 of the ATP4B gene and exon7 in ATP4A indicated methylation in all the gastric cancer cell lines tested. MSP analysis in tumor tissue samples revealed methylation in the majority of tumor samples, 15/19, for ATP4B and 8/8 for ATP4A. There was concordance between ATP4B and ATP4A down-regulation and methylation status in the tumour samples tested. ATP4B methylation was detectable in cell free DNA from gastric cancer patient's plasma samples. Thus ATP4A and ATP4B down-regulation involves DNA methylation and methylated ATP4B DNA in plasma is a potential biomarker for gastric cancer.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.159-163
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• 1999

Recent development of the molecular biology techniques has made it possible to characterize and analyze early diagnoses of genetic disorders and economic trait loci. In this study, porcine genomic DNA was extracted from both clotted and dried blood to analyze the porcine estrogen receptor (ER) gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). By the methods reported here, genomic DNA extracted from clotted or dried blood was efficient enough to detect ER gene by PCR. Moreover, the PCR-RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) of ER gene was identified by PvuII restriction enzyme. Thus the results obtained from this study show that the clotted and dried blood was useful for identification of the certain genotype in a rapid manner with low cost. Importantly, this study implies that the whole blood can be economically utilized in studies of endocrinology, molecular biology, and genetics by obtaining both serum and DNA simultaneously in an efficient manner.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.341-347
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• 2004

Several gene delivery therapies are being developed for treatment of serum protein deficiency. EPO is one of the most promising therapeutic agent for this treatment which is currently being investigated in depth. This study has the ultimate purpose of improving the gene delivery system for an increase of red blood cell production. A plasmid DNA was constructed smaller than other plasmids for an increase in penetration into animal cells, and two genes were cloned into each vector as a co-delivery system to express erythropoietin, and interluekin-3 or thrombopoietin, which can act on erythroid cell, thus activating hematopoiesis synergically. This co-delivery system has an advantage of decreasing the labour required for industrial production of DNA vaccine. A new plasmid vector, pVAC, in size 2.9 kb, was constructed with the essential parts from PUC 19 and pSectagB, which is much smaller than other plasmid vector and is the size of 2.9 kb. Co-delivery system was constituted by cloning human erythropoietin with each of human interluekin-3 gene or human thrombopoietin gene into both pVAC and pSectagB. As a result, the transfection efficiency of pVAC was higer than that of pSectagB in vitro, and hematocrit level of the mice injected with pVAC is higher than that of other mice. And co-delivery system, made of several plasmid DNAs, was expressed in vitro.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.237-245
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• 1998

만성 B형 간염 환자에서 Interferon (IFN) 치료 후 혈청 HBeAg 소실 및 anti-HBe의 양전율을 높이고 효율적인 치료의 근거를 알기 위하여 치료 전 간기능검사상 갑자기 상승한 혈청 ALT치를 나타낸 환자군과 그렇지 않은 대조군을 대상으로 하여 IFN을 투여한 군과 IFN 치료없이 정상 HBeAg의 자연 소실을 보인 환자군을 임상적으로 장기간 관찰하고 조사하였다. ALT치가 정상 상한치의 4배 이상 높이 증가되어 3개월 이상 왕복을 보인 40명의 환자(A군)와 ALT치가 정상 상한치의 3배 이하로 증가된 10명(B군)에게 ${\alpha}$-IFN 2b를 매일 300만 단위 피하주사로 3~12개월 주사하였다. 대조군으로는 ALT치가 A군처럼 장승한 45명 (C군)이었으며, IFN 치료없이 평균 2.9년을 관찰하였다. HBeAg/anti-HBe 혈청 양전율은 A군 68%, B군 20%, C군 13%이었으며 IFN 치료 중단 후 1년까지의 HBeAg 재양성율은 A군에서 29%였고 HBeAg이 소실된 A와 B군의 38명중에서 6명에서 HBV DNA가 양성이었다. 6명중 4명은 HBeAg/anti-HBe 양전을 보였으나 HBV DNA 양성이었고 나머지 2명은 HBeAg, anti-HBe 및 HBV DNA (hybridization) 모두 음성이었으나 중합효소연쇄반응검사상 HBV DNA 양성이었다. 이상의 결과를 보면 비록 IFN 치료 후에 HBeAg이 소실되었다가 다시 양성화되더라도 IFN은 단기간내에 혈중 HBeAg이나 DNA가 자연적으로 감소가 될 환자나 그렇지 않은 환자에게도 HBV의 비증식화를 유발하여 도움이 될 것으로 사료된다. 그러나 IFN 투여 후에도 혈중 HBeAg과 DNA 소실에 전혀 도움이 되지 않을 환자 및 HBV 증식 억제효과가 기대되는 HBV 간질환 환자의 조건, IFN 투여량, 기간 등에 대한 계획적이고 체계적인 연구로 더 나은 치료효과를 기대할 수 있으리라 생각된다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.505-512
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• 2017

Toxoplasma gondii cathepsin C proteases (TgCPC1, 2, and 3) are important for the growth and survival of T. gondii. In the present study, B-cell and T-cell epitopes of TgCPC1 were predicted using DNAstar and the Immune Epitope Database. A TgCPC1 DNA vaccine was constructed, and its ability to induce protective immune responses against toxoplasmosis in BALB/c mice was evaluated in the presence or absence of the adjuvant ${\alpha}-GalCer$. As results, TgCPC1 DNA vaccine with or without adjuvant ${\alpha}-GalCer$ showed higher levels of IgG and IgG2a in the serum, as well as IL-2 and $IFN-{\gamma}$ in the spleen compared to controls (PBS, pEGFP-C1, and ${\alpha}-GalCer$). Upon challenge infection with tachyzoites of T. gondii (RH), $pCPC1/{\alpha}-GalCer$ immunized mice showed the longest survival among all the groups. Mice vaccinated with DNA vaccine without adjuvant (pCPC1) showed better protective immunity compared to other controls (PBS, pEGFP-C1, and ${\alpha}-GalCer$). These results indicate that a DNA vaccine encoding TgCPC1 is a potential vaccine candidate against toxoplasmosis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.24
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• pp.10647-10652
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• 2015

Background: The aim of our study was to establish COLD-PCR combined with an unlabeled-probe HRM approach for detecting KRAS codon 12 and 13 mutations in plasma-circulating DNA of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PA) cases as a novel and effective diagnostic technique. Materials and Methods: We tested the sensitivity and specificity of this approach with dilutions of known mutated cell lines. We screened 36 plasma-circulating DNA samples, 24 from the disease control group and 25 of a healthy group, to be subsequently sequenced to confirm mutations. Simultaneously, we tested the specimens using conventional PCR followed by HRM and then used target-DNA cloning and sequencing for verification. The ROC and respective AUC were calculated for KRAS mutations and/or serum CA 19-9. Results: It was found that the sensitivity of Sanger reached 0.5% with COLD-PCR, whereas that obtained after conventional PCR did 20%; that of COLD-PCR based on unlabeled-probe HRM, 0.1%. KRAS mutations were identified in 26 of 36 PA cases (72.2%), while none were detected in the disease control and/or healthy group. KRAS mutations were identified both in 26 PA tissues and plasma samples. The AUC of COLD-PCR based unlabeled probe HRM turned out to be 0.861, which when combined with CA 19-9 increased to 0.934. Conclusions: It was concluded that COLD-PCR with unlabeled-probe HRM can be a sensitive and accurate screening technique to detect KRAS codon 12 and 13 mutations in plasma-circulating DNA for diagnosing and treating PA.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.1151-1160
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• 1999

This study was conducted to detect the toxoplasma-specific DNA in peripheral blood collected from cats experimentally infected with Toxoplasma gondii (RH strain) and from domiciled cats by B1 gene-base polymerise chain reaction(PCR). The sensitivity of oligonucleotide primer, T-1 & T-2, designed from toxoplasma B1 gene amplification method was compared with parasite detection by mouse inoculation(MI). And also, latex agglutination test(LAT) and indirect fluorescent antibody test(IFAT) were conducted to detect the fluctuation of serum antibodies compared with the detection of toxoplasma by PCR and MI. Toxoplasma B1 gene PCR was shown consistently high sensitivity and the results obtained by PCR agreed completely with those from MI. All blood samples collected before infection with T gondii gave negative results by PCR and MI. Also, toxoplasma Bl gene PCR was not cross reaction with Neospora caninum DNA and normal cat leucocyte as controls. The toxoplasma-specific DNA was detected by PCR in blood of 5 cats experimentally infected with T gondii 6 days after infection and the detection of this specific-DNA was long lasted in blood for 64 days after infection. The detection of toxoplasma-specific DNA by PCR could be identified as few as 10 tachyzoites and the isolation of T gondii by MI could be isolated as few as 1 tachyzoite from tenfold serial dilution of T gondii with normal cat blood, respectively. In healthy domiciled cats, the toxoplasma-specific DNA and the parasite were detected and isolated in blood from 3 of 56(5.3%) cats by both PCR and MI, respectively. In the results of antibody test from the total 56 heads of healthy domiciled cats, the positive rates are 15(26.7%) by LAT and 19(33.9%) by IFAT. These results suggest that PCR detection of toxoplasma can be applied as a sensitive and specific diagnostic and research tool.