• 생명과학회지
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• 제17권7호통권87호
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• pp.923-930
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• 2007

성체흰쥐의 경우 항암제인 싸이클로포스파마이드 (CY)처리로 퇴축된 가슴샘은 2주 후에 정상조직으로 재생된다. 가슴샘 발생과정에서 이미 알려진 Wnt신호전달의 중요성과는 달리 성체의 가슴샘 재생과정에서 그 역할에 관해서는 알려진 바 전혀 없다. 본 연구의 목적은 발생중인 가슴샘 상피세포에서 발현이 증가된다고 이미 알려져 있는 Wnt7b가 성체의 가슴샘재생과정에서 어떤 발현 양상을 보이는지를 조사하는 것이다. Wnt7b는 가슴샘의 급성 퇴축 이후 3일째 되는 시기에 mRNA와 단백질의 양이 급격히 증가 하였으며, 이중 면역 염색 형광법을 통해 큰포식 세포와 위치적 분포가 일치함을 확인하였다. 또한, Wnt7b유전자의 발현 조절 기전을 밝히기 위해 Wnt7b의 Reporter Vector를 제작하여 Luciferase assay를 이용하여 상위의 신호를 분석하였고, 그 결과 Wnt7b는 RANKL에 의해 그 발현이 감소된다는 사실을 처음으로 밝혔다. 따라서, 본 연구 결과들을 통해 Wnt 7b는 가슴샘의 급성 퇴축 초기 과정에서 나타나는 손상된 세포를 처리하는 큰포식 세포의 기능 조절에 관여할 것으로 생각된다.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.53-59
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• 2009

Periodontal ligament (PDL) tissue is a connective tissue that is interposed between the roots of the teeth and the inner wall of the alveolar bone socket. PDL is always exposed to physiologic mechanical force such as masticatory force and PDL cells play important roles during orthodontic tooth movement by synthesizing and secreting different mediators involved in bone remodeling. The Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling pathway was recently shown to play a significant role in the control of bone formation. In the present study, we applied cyclic tensile stress of 20% elongation to cultured human PDL cells and assessed its impact after six days upon components of the Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling pathway. RTPCR analysis showed that Wnt1a, Wnt3a, Wnt10b and the Wnt receptor LRP5 were down-regulated, whereas the Wnt inhibitor DKK1 was up-regulated in response to these stress conditions. In contrast, little change was detected in the mRNA expression of Wnt5a, Wnt7b, Fz1, and LRP6. By western blotting we found decreased expression of the ${\beta}$-catenin and p-GSK-3${\beta}$ proteins. Our results thus show that mechanical stress suppresses the canonical Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling pathway in PDL cells.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권23호
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• pp.10463-10468
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• 2015

Opisthorchis viverrini (Ov) infection is the major etiological factor for cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), especially in northeast Thailand. We have previously reported significant involvement of PI3K/AKT/PTEN and $Wnt/{\beta}$-catenin in human CCA tissues. The present study, therefore, examined the expression and activation of PI3K/AKT/PTEN and $Wnt/{\beta}$-catenin signaling components during Ov-induced cholangiocarcinogenesis in a hamster animal model. Hamsters were divided into two groups; non-treated and Ov plus NDMA treated. The results of immunohistochemical staining showed an upregulation of PI3K/AKT signaling as determined by elevated expression of the $p85{\alpha}$-regulatory and $p110{\alpha}$-catalytic subunits of PI3K as well as increased expression and activation of AKT during cholangiocarcinogenesis. Interestingly, the staining intensity of activated AKT (p-AKT) increased in the apical regions of the bile ducts and strong staining was detected where the liver fluke resides. Moreover, PTEN, a negative regulator of PI3K/AKT, was suppressed by decreased expression and increased phosphorylation during cholangiocarcinogenesis. We also detected upregulation of $Wnt/{\beta}$-catenin signaling as determined by increased positive staining of Wnt3, Wnt3a, Wnt5a, Wnt7b and ${\beta}$-catenin, corresponded with the period of cholangiocarcinogenesis. Furthermore, nuclear staining of ${\beta}$-catenin was observed in CCA tissues. Our results suggest the liver fluke infection causes chronic inflammatory conditions which lead to upregulation of the PI3K/AKT and $Wnt/{\beta}$-catenin signaling pathways which may drive CCA carcinogenesis. These results provide useful information for drug development, prevention and treatment of CCA.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.85-92
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• 2020

Various beneficial effects of sweet persimmon (Diospyros kaki T.) including anti-oxidation, anti-bacteria and viruses, anti-allergy were widely reported previously. However, the anti-inflammatory effect and its molecular mechanisms are not clear. In this study, the anti-inflammatory effect of the extracts of flower bud and fruit of sweet persimmon was investigated in LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells. Both extracts of flower bud and fruit showed strong inhibitory effect on the LPS-induced NF-κB activation. IκBα, the inhibitor of NF-κB, was increased and the expressions of NF-κB target genes, COX-2 and iNOS, were suppressed by the treatment with the extracts of flower bud and fruit. The expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α were also suppressed by the extracts. In addition, the LPS-induced wnt/β-catenin pathway and its related gene expressions including cyclin D1, wnt 3a, wnt 5a were suppressed by the extracts. The extracts also showed anti-oxidant activity and suppressive effect on the LPS-induced apoptosis of RAW264.7 cells. These results suggest that the flower bud and fruit of sweet persimmon display strong anti-inflammatory effect through inhibiting the pro-inflammatory signaling pathways in the cells.

• Animal Bioscience
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• 제34권6호
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• pp.957-966
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• 2021

Objective: Ovarian follicular development, which dependent on the proliferation and differentiation of granulosa cells (GCs), is a complex biological process in which miRNA plays an important role. Our previous study showed that miR-458b-5p is associated with ovarian follicular development in chicken. The detailed function and molecular mechanism of miR-458b-5p in GCs is unclear. Methods: The luciferase reporter assay was used to verify the targeting relationship between miR-458b-5p and catenin beta-1 (CTNNB1), which is an important transcriptional regulatory factor of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. The cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, flow cytometry with propidium iodide (PI) and annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) labeling were applied to explore the effect of miR-458b-5p on proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis of chicken GCs. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression levels. Results: We demonstrated that the expression of miR-458b-5p and CTNNB1 showed the opposite relationship in GCs and theca cells of hierarchical follicles. The luciferase reporter assay confirmed that CTNNB1 is the direct target of miR-458b-5p. Using CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry with PI and Annexin V-FITC labeling, we observed that transfection with the miR-458b-5p mimics significantly reduced proliferation and has no effects on apoptosis of chicken GCs. In addition, miR-458b-5p decreased the mRNA and protein expression of CD44 molecule and matrix metallopeptidase 7, which are the downstream effectors of CTNNB1 in Wnt/β-Catenin pathway and play functional roles in cell proliferation. Conclusion: Taken together, the data indicate that miR-458b-5p regulates ovarian GCs proliferation through Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway by targeting CTNNB1, suggesting that miR-458b-5p and its target gene CTNNB1 may potentially play a role in chicken ovarian follicular development.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제33권3호
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• pp.211-218
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• 2017

Cytochrome P450 1B1 (CYP1B1) acts as a hydroxylase for estrogen and activates potential carcinogens. Moreover, its expression in tumor tissues is much higher than that in normal tissues. Despite this association between CYP1B1 and cancer, the detailed molecular mechanism of CYP1B1 on cancer progression in HeLa cells remains unknown. Previous reports indicated that the mRNA expression level of Herc5, an E3 ligase for ISGylation, is promoted by CYP1B1 suppression using specific small interfering RNA, and that ISGylation may be involved in ubiquitination related to ${\beta}-catenin$ degradation. With this background, we investigated the relationships among CYP1B1, Herc5, and ${\beta}-catenin$. RT-PCR and western blot analyses showed that CYP1B1 overexpression induced and CYP1B1 inhibition reduced, respectively, the expression of $Wnt/{\beta}-catenin$ signaling target genes including ${\beta}-catenin$ and cyclin D1. Moreover, HeLa cells were treated with the CYP1B1 inducer $7,12-dimethylbenz[{\alpha}]anthracene$ (DMBA) or the CYP1B1 specific inhibitor, tetramethoxystilbene (TMS) and consequently DMBA increased and TMS decreased ${\beta}-catenin$ and cyclin D1 expression, respectively. To determine the correlation between CYP1B1 expression and ISGylation, the expression of ISG15, a ubiquitin-like protein, was detected following CYP1B1 regulation, which revealed that CYP1B1 may inhibit ISGylation through suppression of ISG15 expression. In addition, the mRNA and protein expression levels of Herc5 were strongly suppressed by CYP1B1. Finally, an immunoprecipitation assay revealed a direct physical interaction between Herc5 and ${\beta}-catenin$ in HeLa cells. In conclusion, these data suggest that CYP1B1 may activate $Wnt/{\beta}-catenin$ signaling through stabilization of ${\beta}-catenin$ protein from Herc5-mediated ISGylation for proteosomal degradation.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.211-219
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• 2021

Alopecia is a distressing condition caused by the dysregulation of anagen, catagen, and telogen in the hair cycle. Dermal papilla cells (DPCs) regulate the hair cycle and play important roles in hair growth and regeneration. Myristoleic acid (MA) increases Wnt reporter activity in DPCs. However, the action mechanisms of MA on the stimulation of anagen signaling in DPCs is not known. In this study, we evaluated the effects of MA on anagen-activating signaling pathways in DPCs. MA significantly increased DPC proliferation and stimulated the G2/M phase, accompanied by increasing cyclin A, Cdc2, and cyclin B1. To elucidate the mechanism by which MA promotes DPC proliferation, we evaluated the effect of MA on autophagy and intracellular pathways. MA induced autophagosome formation by decreasing the levels of the phospho-mammalian target of rapamycin (phospho-mTOR) and increasing autophagy-related 7 (Atg7) and microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3II (LC3II). MA also increased the phosphorylation levels of Wnt/β-catenin proteins, such as GSK3β (Ser9) and β-catenin (Ser552 and Ser675). Treatment with XAV939, an inhibitor of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, attenuated the MA-induced increase in β-catenin nuclear translocation. Moreover, XAV939 reduced MA-induced effects on cell cycle progression, autophagy, and DPC proliferation. On the other hand, MA increased the levels of phospho (Thr202/Tyr204)-extracellular signal regulated kinases (ERK). MA-induced ERK phosphorylation led to changes in the expression levels of Cdc2, Atg7 and LC3II, as well as DPC proliferation. Our results suggest that MA promotes anagen signaling via autophagy and cell cycle progression by activating the Wnt/β-catenin and ERK pathways in DPCs.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.540-549
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• 2021

The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is involved in breast cancer and Myxococcus fulvus KYC4048 is a myxobacterial strain that can produce a variety of bioactive secondary metabolites. Although a previous study revealed that KYC4048 metabolites exhibit anti-proliferative effects on breast cancer, the biochemical mechanism involved in their effects remains unclear. In the present study, KYC4048 metabolites were separated into polar and non-polar (ethyl acetate and n-hexane) fractions via liquid-liquid extraction. The effects of these polar and non-polar KYC4048 metabolites on the viability of breast cancer cells were then determined by MTT assay. Expression levels of Wnt/β-catenin pathway proteins were determined by Western blot analysis. Cell cycle and apoptosis were measured via fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). The results revealed that non-polar KYC4048 metabolites induced cell death of breast cancer cells and decreased expression levels of WNT2B, β-catenin, and Wnt target genes (c-Myc and cyclin D1). Moreover, the n-hexane fraction of non-polar KYC4048 metabolites was found most effective in inducing apoptosis, necrosis, and cell cycle arrest, leading us to conclude that it can induce apoptosis of breast cancer cells through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. These findings provide evidence that the n-hexane fraction of non-polar KYC4048 metabolites can be developed as a potential therapeutic agent for breast cancer via inhibition of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제43권2호
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• pp.168-175
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• 2020

Runx2 is an essential transcription factor for skeletal development. It is expressed in multipotent mesenchymal cells, osteoblast-lineage cells, and chondrocytes. Runx2 plays a major role in chondrocyte maturation, and Runx3 is partly involved. Runx2 regulates chondrocyte proliferation by directly regulating Ihh expression. It also determines whether chondrocytes become those that form transient cartilage or permanent cartilage, and functions in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. Runx2 is essential for osteoblast differentiation and is required for the proliferation of osteoprogenitors. Ihh is required for Runx2 expression in osteoprogenitors, and hedgehog signaling and Runx2 induce the differentiation of osteoprogenitors to preosteoblasts in endochondral bone. Runx2 induces Sp7 expression, and Runx2, Sp7, and canonical Wnt signaling are required for the differentiation of preosteoblasts to immature osteoblasts. It also induces the proliferation of osteoprogenitors by directly regulating the expression of Fgfr2 and Fgfr3. Furthermore, Runx2 induces the proliferation of mesenchymal cells and their commitment into osteoblast-lineage cells through the induction of hedgehog (Gli1, Ptch1, Ihh), Fgf (Fgfr2, Fgfr3), Wnt (Tcf7, Wnt10b), and Pthlh (Pth1r) signaling pathway gene expression in calvaria, and more than a half-dosage of Runx2 is required for their expression. This is a major cause of cleidocranial dysplasia, which is caused by heterozygous mutation of RUNX2. Cbfb, which is a co-transcription factor that forms a heterodimer with Runx2, enhances DNA binding of Runx2 and stabilizes Runx2 protein by inhibiting its ubiquitination. Thus, Runx2/Cbfb regulates the proliferation and differentiation of chondrocytes and osteoblast-lineage cells by activating multiple signaling pathways and via their reciprocal regulation.

• 한국식품과학회지
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• 제54권1호
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• pp.43-51
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• 2022

본 연구에서는 자작나무 증포 추출물의 탈모 조절 활성 분석을 위해 in vitro (인간모유두세포) 및 in vivo (C57BL/6N 마우스) 모델을 이용하여 모발의 성장 효과를 평가하였다. 찌고 말리는 과정을 반복하는 증포 차수 별 함유 성분의 변화가 관찰되어 새로운 추출법의 가능성을 확인하였다, 즉, 1회-5회 증포 후 관찰된 성분의 변화는 3회 증포 추출물(BPE3)에서 안정적인 추출 수율, 높은 페놀화합물 함량 및 항산화 활성을 가지는 것으로 확인되었다. 또한, 발모 주기의 전 과정에 관여하는 모유두세포에 BPE3를 처리하였을 때 유의한 수준의 FGF7과 Wnt7b 발현을 증가시켜 모발 성장 촉진과 모발의 성장기 개시를 도울 것으로 판단되었다. In vivo 마우스 모델에 12일 간 BPE를 도포하여 관찰한 결과 6일 경과 시 양성대조군(MXD 및 PTN)과 유사한 수준으로 단모의 성장이 관찰되었으며, 9일 경과 시 높은 밀도의 발모가 진행되기 시작하여 12일 경과 시 미처리 대조군에 비해 BPE3군에서 고른 발모가 관찰되었다. H&E 염색을 통한 각 군별 피부조직의 변화는 BPE3군에서 뚜렷이 나타났으며, 특징적으로 단위면적 당 많은 모낭(hair follicle)의 형성과 모간부(hair shaft)의 신장이 관찰되어 안정적으로 모발의 성장기로 진입한 것으로 판단되었다. 피부조직의 유전자발현 추가 분석 시 FGF7, VEGF, 및 Wnt7b 유전자가 유의하게 증가하여 모발성장, 분화, 모낭줄기세포 활성을 유도하여 모발성장을 촉진시킨 것으로 생각된다. 또한, BPE3가 LPS로 유도된 RAW264.7 세포의 염증인자(iNOS, IL-6 및 COX2) 발현을 저해하여 자가면역 등 염증성 탈모억제에 긍정적 역할을 할 것으로 판단된다. GC-MS 분석을 통해 확인한 betulin과 불포화지방산 등 저분자 물질은 BPE3가 나타낸 약리활성을 방증하였다. 결론적으로, 자작나무 3회 증포 추출물인 BPE3는 모유두세포의 발모 주기를 촉진할 뿐 아니라 두피의 염증 환경에서 휴지기를 단축시켜 정상적 발모를 돕는 소재로서 높은 잠재력을 나타냈다.