• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.21 no.12
• /
• pp.1211-1227
• /
• 2011

C57BL/6J mice have been widely used as a diet-induced obesity model because they trigger common features of the human metabolic syndrome. In the present study, C57BL/6J male mice were fed either a high-fat diet (HFD) or normal diet (ND) during a 24-week period, and then the age-dependent liver proteome of mice in two groups was analyzed using 2-DE combined with MALDI-TOF-MS. Among identified proteins, up-regulated proteins were subdivided to early (during the first 4 weeks) and late (20~24 weeks) markers that played a role in diet-induced obesity development. Important early markers included ketohexokinase and prohibitin, and late markers included the 75 kDa glucose-regulated protein, citrate synthase, and selenium-binding liver protein. Of these, the 75 kDa glucosere-gulated protein has already been linked to obesity; however, prohibitin protein involved in obesity was identified for the first time in this study. In order to validate the proteomic results and gain insight into metabolic changes between the two groups, we further confirmed the expression pattern of some proteins of interest by Western blot analysis. Combined results of proteomic analysis with Western blot analysis revealed that antioxidant enzymes were progressively decreased, whereas cytoskeletal proteins were time-dependently increased in HFD mice.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.390-395
• /
• 2022

Objectives: Sweet bee venom (sBV) is purified from Apis mellifera, containing a high level of melittin-its main component. It has been used as a therapeutic agent for pain relief and anti-inflammation, as well as for treating neuronal abnormalities. Recently, there have been studies on the therapeutic application of sBV for anticancer treatment. In the present study, we investigated the pharmacological effect of sBV treatment in A549 human lung cancer cells. Methods: We used microscopic analysis to observe the morphological changes in A549 cells after sBV treatment. The MTT assay was used to examine the cytotoxic effect after dose-dependent sBV treatment. Molecular changes in sBV were evaluated by the expression of apoptosis marker proteins using western blot analysis. Results: Microscopic analysis suggested that the growth inhibitory effect occurred in a dose-dependent manner; however, cell lysis occurred at a concentration over 20 ㎍/mL of sBV. The MTT assay indicated that sBV treatment exhibited a growth inhibitory effect at a concentration over 5 ㎍/mL. On fluorescence activated cell sorting analysis, G0 dead cells were observed after G1 arrest at treatment concentrations up to 10 ㎍/mL. However, rapid cell rupture was observed at a concentration of 20 ㎍/mL. Western blot analysis demonstrated that sBV treatment modulated the expression of multiple cell death-related proteins, including cleaved-PARP, cleaved-caspase 9, p53, Bcl2, and Bax. Conclusion: sBV induced cell death in A549 human lung cancer cells at a pharmacological concentration, albeit causing hemolytic cell death at a high concentration.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.40 no.4
• /
• pp.271-276
• /
• 1997

We have prepared several chimeric constructs containing the bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase gene under control of the wound-inducible potato proteinase inhibitor II (pin2) promoter and have transformed Nicotiana tabacum plants with these constructs. Southern blot analyses indicate that either one or two copies of the gene constructs are present in the transgenic plants. Northern blot analyses indicate that mRNA encoding T7 RNA polymerase is expressed in a wound-inducible manner. We purified T7 RNA polymerase and prepared antiserum. This antiserum was used for Western blot analyses to demonstrate that a protein which is cross reactive with T7 RNA polymerase is produced. The molecular mass of this protein is 80 kDa, a size which is consistant with the nicked form of the polymerase as is often seen when expressed in E. coli. RNA polymerase assays were used to indicate that the nicked form of T7 RNA polymerase is active and capable of incorporating labeled nucleotides into transcripts in vitro. Analysis of transgenic plants did indeed show that wound-inducible activation of the T7 RNA polymerase permits the establishment of a genetic system to overexpress genes in plants using T7 RNA polymerase(Received March 20, 1997; accepted May 2, 1997)

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.71-77
• /
• 2007

Cisplatin treatment increases the excretion of inorganic phosphate in vivo. However, the mechanism by which cisplatin reduces phosphate uptake through renal proximal tubular cells has not yet been elucidated. We examined the effect of cisplatin on $Na^+$-dependent phosphate uptake in opossum kidney (OK) cells, an established proximal tubular cell line. Cells were exposed to cisplatin for an appropriate time period and phosphate uptake was measured using $[^{32}P]$-phosphate. Changes in the number of phosphate transporter in membranes were evaluated by kinetic analysis, $[^{14}C]$phosphonoformic acid binding, and Western blot analysis. Cisplatin inhibited phosphate uptake in a time- and dose-dependent manner, and also the $Na^+$-dependent uptake without altering $Na^+$-independent uptake. The cisplatin inhibition was not affected by the hydrogen peroxide scavenger catalase, but completely prevented by the hydroxyl radical scavenger dimethylthiourea. Antioxidants were ineffective in preventing the cisplatin-induced inhibition of phosphate uptake. Kinetic analysis indicated that cisplatin decreased Vmax of $Na^+$-dependent phosphate uptake without any change in the Km value. $Na^+$-dependent phosphonoformic acid binding was decreased by cisplatin treatment. Western blot analysis showed that cisplatin caused degradation of $Na^+$-dependent phosphate transporter protein. Taken together, these data suggest that cisplatin inhibits phosphate transport in renal proximal tubular cells through the reduction in the number of functional phosphate transport units. Such effects of cisplatin are mediated by production of hydroxyl radicals.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.103-108
• /
• 2003

LinA gene involving in the ${\gamma}$-benzenehexachloride degradation have been cloned from Sphingmonas paucimobilis UT26. This linA gene which catalyzes the first dechlorination step of ${\gamma}$-benzenehexachloride is known to play a key role in the ${\gamma}$-benzenehexachloride degradation pathway in UT26. In this study, the linA gene was designed to clean-up the ${\gamma}$-benzenehexachloride and its derivatives contaminated in soil, water and air using transgenic tobacco plants. The linA transgene was introduced into the chromosome of tobacco using leaf-disk transformation approach as revealed by Southern blot analysis. In addition, mRNA and protein produced by linA gene was expressed at a high level in the leaf tissue as demonstrated by both northern blot analysis and Western bolt analysis with polyclonal antibody against S. paucimobilis UT26. in vitro analysis using GC-MS showed that transgenic tobacco plant produced the linA protein which effectively degraded ${\gamma}$-benzenehexachloride into ${\gamma}$- pentachlorocyclohexene and 1,2,4-trichlobenzene compounds which are less toxic.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• /
• v.35 no.5
• /
• pp.287-293
• /
• 2009

Cell survival is the result of a balance between programmed cell death and cellular proliferation. Cell membrane receptors and their associated signal transducing proteins control these processes. Of the numerous receptors and signaling proteins, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is one of the most important receptors involved in signaling pathways implicated in the proliferation and survival of cancer cells. EGFR is often highly expressed in human tumors including oral squamous cell carcinomas, and there is increasing evidence that high expression of EGFR is correlated with poor clinical outcome of common human cancers. Therefore, we examined the antiproliferative activity of gefitinib, epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR TKI), in head and neck cancer cell lines. SCC-9, KB cells were cultured and growth inhibition activity of gefitinib was measured with MTT assay. To study influence of gefitinib in cell cycle, we performed cell cycle analysis with flow cytometry. Western blot was done to elucidate the expression of EGFR in cell lines and phosphorylation of EGFR and downstream kinase protein, Erk and Akt. Significant growth inhibition was observed in SCC-9 cells in contrast with KB cells. Also, flow cytometric analysis showed G1 phase arrest only in SCC-9 cells. In Western blot analysis for investigation of EGFR expression and downstream molecule phosphorylation, gefitinib suppressed phosphorylation of EGFR and downstream protein kinase Erk, Akt in SCC-9. However, in EGFR positive KB cells, weak expression of active form of Erk and Akt and no inhibitory activity of phosphorylation in Erk and Akt was observed. The antiproliferative activity of gefitinib was not correlated with EGFR expression and some possibility of phosphorylation of Erk and Akt as a predictive factor of gefitinib response was emerged. Further investigations on more reliable predictive factor indicating gefitinib response are awaited to be useful gefitinib treatment in head and neck cancer patients.

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.191-198
• /
• 2005

The effects of 6-aminonicotinamide (6-AN) on viability of IMR32 neuroblastoma cells in the presence of ATP or $NAD^+$ have been investigated. 6-AN caused marked reduction in cell viability and similar observations were also made with cells treated with 6-AN+ATP. However, cells treated with $6-AN+NAD^+$ showed cell viability similar to untreated cells. Morphologically, 6-AN and 6-AN+ATP treated cells showed loss of neurites, polyhedric shapes, shrinkage of cell bodies and formation of lysed cells, while $6-AN+NAD^+$ cells did not show any such changes. The flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that 6-AN increased cell population in $G_0/G_1$ phase and decreased cell population in Sand $G_2/M$ phase following a 72 h exposure. Western blot analysis showed that 6-AN stimulated a substantial increase in the level of the cdk inhibitor $p27^{kip1}$, but lowered the levels of cdk2, cyclin E and p-Rb. However, cdc25A and p53R2 were not significantly affected. Immunofluorscence staining of $p27^{kip1}$, cdk2, cyclin E and p-Rb revealed close correlation between the signal observed in the Western blot analysis. 6AN+ATP treated cells showed similar results obtained with 6-AN treated cells in expression of cdk2, cyclin E, p-Rb proteins and $p27^{kip1}$, $6-AN+NAD^+$ cells showed greater expression of cdk2, cyclin E and p-Rb than those in 6-AN and 6-AN+ATP treated cells. The results suggest that 6-AN induced the $G_0/G_1$ phase arrest in IMR32 neuroblastoma cell lines through the increase of $p27^{kip1}$ and the decrease of cdk2, cyclin E and p-Rb.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.35-39
• /
• 2014

Background Aurora kinase A (Aurora-A) plays an important role in the regulation of mitosis and cytokinesis. Dysregulated Aurora-A leads to mitotic faults and results in pathological conditions. No studies on Aurora-A expression in human diabetic skin tissue have been reported. In light of this, we explored the expression of Aurora-A in human diabetic skin tissue. Methods Aurora-A protein was evaluated by western blotting in 6 human diabetic skin tissue and 6 normal skin specimens. Results Increased expression of Aurora-A protein was detected in all diabetic skin tissue samples in both western blot analysis and immunohistochemical staining. However, in the case of the normal skin tissue, no bands of Aurora-A protein were detected in either the western blotting analysis or the immunohistochemical staining. Conclusions Thus far, there have been no studies on the expression of Aurora-A in diabetic skin tissue. However, we believe that oxidative DNA damage related to the expression of Aurora-A protein and Aurora-A could be involved inhuman diabetic skin tissue.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.55-63
• /
• 2010

Background: Cordyceps militaris has been used in traditional medicine to treat numerous diseases and has been reported to possess both antitumor and immunomodulatory activities in vitro and in vivo. However, the pharmacological and biochemical mechanisms of Cordyceps militaris extract (CME) on macrophages have not been clearly elucidated. In the present study, we examined how CME induces the production of proinflammatory cytokines, transcription factor, and the expression of co-stimulatory molecules. Methods: We confirmed the mRNA and protein levels of proinflammatory cytokines through RT-PCR and western blot analysis, followed by a FACS analysis for surface molecules. Results: CME dose dependently increased the production of NO and proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, and $PGE_2$, and it induced the protein levels of iNOS, COX-2, and proinflammatory cytokines in a concentrationdependent manner, as determined by western blot and RT-PCR analysis, respectively. The expression of co-stimulatory molecules such as ICAM-1, B7-1, and B7-2 was also enhanced by CME. Furthermore, the activation of the nuclear transcription factor, NF-${\kappa}B$ in macrophages was stimulated by CME. Conclusion: Based on these observations, CME increased proinflammatory cytokines through the activation of NF-${\kappa}B$, further suggesting that CME may prove useful as an immune-enhancing agent in the treatment of immunological disease.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.12 no.5
• /
• pp.181-188
• /
• 2012

Dioscoreae Rhizome (DR) has been used in traditional medicine to treat numerous diseases and is reported to have anti-diabetes and anti-tumor activities. To identify a bioactive traditional medicine with anti-inflammatory activity of a water extract of DR (EDR), we determined the mRNA and protein levels of proinflammatory cytokines in macrophages through RT-PCR and western blot analysis and performed a FACS analysis for measuring surface molecules. EDR dose-dependently decreased the production of NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, and $PGE_2$, as well as mRNA levels of iNOS, COX-2, and pro-inflammatory cytokines, as determined by western blot and RT-PCR analysis, respectively. The expression of co-stimulatory molecules such as B7-1 and B7-2 was also reduced by EDR. Furthermore, activation of the nuclear transcription factor, NF-${\kappa}B$, but not that of IL-4 and IL-10, in macrophages was inhibited by EDR. These results show that EDR decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines via inhibition of NF-${\kappa}B$-dependent inflammatory protein level, suggesting that EDR could be a useful immunomodulatory agent for treating immunological diseases.