• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.20 no.6
• /
• pp.556-561
• /
• 2012

Steroid sulfatase (STS) is responsible for the conversion of estrone sulfate to estrone that can stimulate growth in endocrine-dependent tumors such as prostate cancer. Although STS is considered as a therapeutic target for the estrogen-dependent diseases, cellular function of STS are still not clear. Previously, we found that tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ significantly enhances steroid sulfatase expression in PC-3 human prostate cancer cells through PI3K/Akt-dependent pathways. Here, we studied whether bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) which are known to induce TNF-${\alpha}$ may increase STS expression. Treatment with LPS in PC-3 cells induced STS mRNA and protein in concentration- and time-dependent manners. Using luciferase reporter assay, we found that LPS enhanced STS promoter activity. Moreover, STS expression induced by LPS increased PC-3 tumor cell migration determined by wound healing assay. We investigated that LPS induced IL-6 expression and IL-6 increased STS expression. Taken together, these data strongly suggest that LPS induces STS expression through IL-6 pathway in human prostate cancer cells.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.35-41
• /
• 2014

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) methods have been used extensively in clinical steroid analyses. Evaluating the metabolic ratios of precursors to products by accurate quantification of individual steroid levels in biological samples can reveal the activities of enzymes associated with steroid metabolism. This review article discusses the impact of GC-MS-based steroid profiling on our understanding of the biochemical role of steroids and their metabolic enzymes in hormone-dependent diseases, such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), cortisol-mediated hypertension, apparent mineralocorticoid excess (AME), male-pattern baldness, and breast and thyroid cancers. Steroid profiling is a comprehensive analytical technique that can be applied whenever the highest specificity is required and may be a reasonable initial diagnostic approach.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
• /
• 1999.04a
• /
• pp.5-8
• /
• 1999

여성의 breast cancer의 1/3 의 경우가 hormone-dependent에 의한 것이다. 따라서 그 치료의 접근 방법으로써 estrogen receptor에 작용하거나, receptor-mediated gene trenscription을 저해하는 antiestrogen을 사용하는 것이 있다. Estrogen은 microsomal cytochrome P-450 enzyme complex system에 의해 androgen으로부터 생합성되는 hormone이며, estrogen product는 steroid product의 biosynthetic sequence의 마지막 단계에서 생산되고, aromatase는 이에 관여하는 enzyme으로써, aromatase를 선택적으로 저해하는 경우에 다른 steroid의 생산에 영향을 미치지 않고 estrogen 생산을 감소 시킬 수 있다. 이러한 관점에서, aromatase를 선택적으로 저해하는 것은 hormone-dependent breast cancer를 완화시킬 수 있는 가능성을 가진 cancer chernopreventive agents의 새로운 방법이라 할 수 있다.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.105-111
• /
• 2015

Purpose: Steroid dependent nephrotic syndrome (SDNS) is a chronic illness in childhood hard to treat. Steroid sparing drugs are often used, because long-term steroid therapy can cause severe side effects. We studied to compare efficacy between MMF and other drugs including cyclosporine and levamisole. Methods: This study was performed retrospectively on patients with SDNS, who were treated at Pusan National University Children's hospital. MMF group included 11 patients who were treated with MMF for at least six months between June 2012 and July 2014. As control groups, cyclosporine group (n=15) and levamisole group (n=18) included patients treated between January 2008 and July 2014. Number of relapse was analyzed in patients treated more than six months, and relapse free for one year was analyzed in patients treated more than one year. Results: In MMF group, ten were boys and mean age at onset was 5.8 years. Mean age at starting of MMF was 8.6 years. Number of relapse in MMF group was reduced significantly after treatment from 3.4 /year to 0.2 /year (P=0.003). There was no significant difference in number of relapse among groups (MMF: 0.2 /year, cyclosporine: 0.5 /year, levamisole: 0.5 /year). Comparing the early relapse within six months after treatment levamisole group was significantly higher than the other two groups (P=0.04). Conclusions: MMF which is used in SDNS significantly reduced the relapse and side effects were rare. In addition, MMF did not show any significant difference in comparison with the other two groups in number of relapse and relapse free for one year.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.101-106
• /
• 2022

Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is a hypercoagulable state in which children are at risk of venous thromboembolism. A higher risk has been reported in children with steroid-resistant NS than in those with steroid-sensitive NS. The mortality rate of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is approximately 10% and generally results from cerebral herniation in the acute phase and an underlying disorder in the chronic phase. Our patient initially manifested as a child with massive proteinuria and generalized edema. He was treated with albumin replacement and diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, and deflazacort. Non-contrast computed tomography showed areas of hyperattenuation in the superior sagittal sinus when he complained of severe headache and vomiting. Subsequent magnetic resonance imaging revealed empty delta signs in the superior sagittal, lateral transverse, and sigmoid sinuses, suggesting acute CVST. Immediate anticoagulation therapy was started with unfractionated heparin, antithrombin III replacement, and continuous antiproteinuric treatment. The current report describes a life-threatening CVST in a child with steroid-dependent NS, initially diagnosed by contrast non-enhanced computed tomography and subsequently confirmed by contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, followed by magnetic resonance venography for recanalization, addressing successful treatment.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.206-209
• /
• 2001

Clq nephropathy is an immune complex glomerulonephritis defined by the presence of mesangial Clq deposits in immunofluorescence microscopy and electron dense deposits on electron microscopy. It was described as a distinct disease entity in 1985 by Jennette and Hipp. Thirty four cases were reported in the literature but there has been no pediatric case reported in Korea yet. It commonly presents with steroid- resistent nephrotic syndrome in older children and young adults, and occasionally nephritic-nephrotic syndrome or rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis We report a case of Clq nephropathy in a 23-month-old girl with steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome. (J. Korean Soc Pediatr Nephrol 2001;5 : 206-9)

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.18-25
• /
• 2007

Background: Although glucocorticoids (GCs) are effective in controlling asthma in the majority of patients, a subset of asthmatics fails to demonstrate a satisfactory response, even to systemic GC therapy. This population is referred to as being "steroid-resistant". The actual mechanism underlying steroid resistance in asthma remains to be elucidated. Methods: We have investigated how dexamethasone (DEX) regulates asthmatic phenotypes in a murine model of asthma, in which mice received i.p. immunization twice, followed by two bronchoprovocations with aerosolized OVA with a one-week interval, which we have recently described. Results: Pretreatment with DEX resulted in an inhibition of NF-${\kappa}B$ activation in asthmatic lungs, and also inhibited bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) levels of NF-${\kappa}B$-dependent cytokines such as TNF-${\alpha}$ and CC chemokines [eotaxin and monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1]. DEX was effective in suppressing airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) at 10 h, Th2-dependent asthmatic phenotypes such as airway eosinophilia, BAL levels of Th2 cytokines (IL-5 and IL-13), and mucin production. However, DEX failed to suppress BAL levels of CXC chemokines [macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) and keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC)] and airway neutrophilia. Conclusion: Airway neutrophilia is among the phenomena observed in patients with severe GC-resistant asthma. This study will provide insight into the molecular basis for airway neutrophila seen in steroid-resistant asthma. Further studies are required to delineate the underlying mechanism of CXC chemokine expression in asthma.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.93-102
• /
• 1988

These studies were undertaken to examine the relationship between tamoxifen and sex steroid hormones in rat uterine morphology and the effect of tamoxifen on sex steroid hormone levels, implantation and myometrial contraction. The results obtained were as follows : 1) The increase in height of the luminal epithelium caused by tamoxifen treatment was blocked by progesterone. The increase in height of luminal epithelium caused by $estradiol-17{\beta}$ treatment was blocked by tamoxifen. 2) When a single dose of tamoxifen(10, 20, $40{\mu}g$) was given on Day 2 of pregnancy, implantation was prevented. Plasma $estradiol-17{\beta}$ level fell in a dose-dependent manner but plasma progesterone level was constant. 3) In vitro, tamoxifen decreased rat uterine contractility in a dose-dependent manner.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.215-221
• /
• 2017

Ginseng has been used in China for at least two millennia and is now popular in over 35 countries. It is one of the world's popular herbs for complementary and alternative medicine and has been shown to have helpful effects on cognition and blood circulation, as well as anti-aging, anti-cancer, and anti-diabetic effects, among many others. The pharmacological activities of ginseng are dependent mainly on ginsenosides. Ginsenosides have a cholesterol-like four trans-ring steroid skeleton with a variety of sugar moieties. Nuclear receptors are one of the most important molecular targets of ginseng, and reports have shown that members of the nuclear receptor superfamily are regulated by a variety of ginsenosides. Here, we review the published literature on the effects of ginseng and its constituents on two main sex steroid hormone receptors: estrogen and androgen receptors. Furthermore, we discuss applications for sex steroid hormone receptor modulation and their therapeutic efficacy.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.161-165
• /
• 1990

For evaluating the cytolytic effects on the mouse thymocytes, four typical antiinflammatory steroids (dexamethasone, triamcinolone acetonide, prednisolone, hydrocortisone) were selected in this study. When steroids were treated to the mouse thymocytes in vitro cytolysis occurred with dose-dependent fashion and the activities were found to be paralle with the known local anti-inflammatory activities. In vivo thymus atrophogenic activities appeared by the treatment of topical and subcutaneous applications of the derivatives were also found to dose-dependent, but not coincided with the thymocyte cytolytic activities in vitro and local anti-inflammaatory activity in the case of triamcinolone acetonide. Triamicinolone acetonide induced potent thymocyte cytolysis in vitro, but showed less thymus atrophy.