• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제27권5호
• /
• pp.571-575
• /
• 2009

The amphetamine derivative 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) has become a popular recreational drug, and has also been shown to cause serotonergic neurotoxicity. This report shows that MDMA impairs brain development in a whole mouse embryo culture. The results of quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed that autophagy-related protein 5 (Atg5) expression is elevated in mouse embryo and neuroblastoma cells after MDMA treatment. This elevated Atg5 expression interferes with the neuronal differentiation of neuroblastoma cells such as SH-SY5Y and PC12 cells. Thus, our results suggest that the use of MDMA during pregnancy may impair neuronal development via an induction of Atg5 expression.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제30권7호
• /
• pp.1044-1050
• /
• 2020

Abelmoschus manihot (Linn.) is a medicinal herbal plant that is commonly used to treat chronic kidney disease and hepatitis. However, its effect on cell proliferation has not been clearly revealed. In this report, we sought to determine the effect of the flower extract of A. manihot (FA) on cell proliferation. Based on our findings, FA increased the proliferation of human diploid fibroblast (HDF) and HEK293 cells. Through cell cycle analysis, FA was found to increase the number of HDF cells in the S phase and G2/M phase. FA also increased the expression of cyclin D1 and enhanced the migration of HDF cells. By administering FA to HDF cells with ≥30 passages, a decrease in the number of senescence-associated β galactosidase-positive cells was observed, thereby indicating that FA can ameliorate cellular senescence. Collectively, our findings indicate that FA increases cyclin D1 expression and regulates cell proliferation.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• 제24권1호
• /
• pp.9-18
• /
• 2016

Bone matrix is properly maintained by osteoclasts and osteoblasts. In the tumor microenvironment, osteoclasts are increasingly differentiated by the various ligands and cytokines secreted from the metastasized cancer cells at the bone metastasis niche. The activated osteoclasts generate osteolytic lesions. For this reason, studies focusing on the differentiation of osteoclasts are important to reduce bone destruction by tumor metastasis. The N-myc downstream-regulated gene 2 (NDRG2) has been known to contribute to the suppression of tumor growth and metastasis, but the precise role of NDRG2 in osteoclast differentiation induced by cancer cells has not been elucidated. In this study, we demonstrate that NDRG2 expression in breast cancer cells has an inhibitory effect on osteoclast differentiation. RAW 264.7 cells, which are monocytic preosteoclast cells, treated with the conditioned media (CM) of murine breast cancer cells (4T1) expressing NDRG2 are less differentiated into the multinucleated osteoclast-like cells than those treated with the CM of 4T1-WT or 4T1-mock cells. Interestingly, 4T1 cells stably expressing NDRG2 showed a decreased mRNA and protein level of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM1), which is known to enhance osteoclast maturation. Osteoclast differentiation was also reduced by ICAM1 knockdown in 4T1 cells. In addition, blocking the interaction between soluble ICAM1 and ICAM1 receptors significantly decreased osteoclastogenesis of RAW 264.7 cells in the tumor environment. Collectively, these results suggest that the reduction of ICAM1 expression by NDRG2 in breast cancer cells decreases osteoclast differentiation, and demonstrate that excessive bone resorption could be inhibited via ICAM1 down-regulation by NDRG2 expression.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• 제29권2호
• /
• pp.109-115
• /
• 2005

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) are multipotent cells that reside in the bone marrow and replenish all adult hematopoietic lineages throughoutthe lifetime. In this study, we analyzed the expression of receptors of $P2Y_{10}$, purinergic receptor families in murine hematopoietic stem cells, hematopoietic progenitor cells. In addition, the biological activity of $P2Y_{10}$ was investigated with B lymphocyte cell line, Ba/F3 in effect to cell growth and cell cycle. From the analysis of expression in hematopoieticstem cell. and progenitor with RT-PCR, $P2Y_{10}$ was strongly expressed in murine hematopoieticstem cells (c-kit+ Sca-l+ Lin-) and progenitor cell population, such as c-kit- Sca-l+ Lin-, c-kit+ Sca-l- Lin- and c-kit- Sca-l- Lin-. To investigate the biological effects by $P2Y_{10}$, retroviral vector from subcloned murine $P2Y_{10}$ cDNA was used fur gene introduction into Ba/F3 cells, and stable transfectant cells were obtained by flow cytometry sorting. In cell proliferation assay, the proliferation ability of $P2Y_{10}$ receptor gene­transfected cells was strongly inhibited, and the cell cycle was arrested at G1 phase. These result suggest that the $P2Y_{10}$ may be involved the biological activity in hematopoietic stem cells and immature B lymphocytes.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제26권6호
• /
• pp.590-594
• /
• 2008

brc-2, an ortholog of BRCA2 in Caenorhabditis elegans, is essential in the maintenance of genetic integrity. In C. elegans, cellular location correlates with meiotic progression, and transgene-induced cosuppression is observed in the germ line but not in somatic cells. We used these unique features to dissect the role of brc-2 in the germ line from that in somatic cells. In situ hybridization of wild type animals revealed that brc-2 gene expression was higher in oocytes than in other germline cells, and was barely detectable in mitotic cells. In contrast, germ cells containing multicopies of the brc-2 transgene showed no significant in situ hybridization signal at any oogenesis stage, confirming that brc-2 expression was functionally cosuppressed in the transgenic germ line. RAD-51 foci formation in response to DNA damage was abrogated in brc-2-cosuppressed germ cells, whereas wild-type germ cells showed strong RAD-51 foci formation. These germ cells exhibited massive chromosome fragmentation and decompaction instead of six bivalent chromosomes in diakinesis. Accordingly, lethality was observed after the early stage of germline development. These results suggest that brc-2 plays essential roles in chromosome integrity in early prophase, and therefore is crucial in meiotic progression and embryonic survival.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제37권5호
• /
• pp.365-371
• /
• 2014

Recent findings, notably on adipokines and adipose tissue inflammation, have revised the concept of adipose tissues being a mere storage depot for body energy. Instead, adipose tissues are emerging as endocrine and immunologically active organs with multiple effects on the regulation of systemic energy homeostasis. Notably, compared with other metabolic organs such as liver and muscle, various inflammatory responses are dynamically regulated in adipose tissues and most of the immune cells in adipose tissues are involved in obesity-mediated metabolic complications, including insulin resistance. Here, we summarize recent findings on the key roles of innate (neutrophils, macrophages, mast cells, eosinophils) and adaptive (regulatory T cells, type 1 helper T cells, CD8 T cells, B cells) immune cells in adipose tissue inflammation and metabolic dysregulation in obesity. In particular, the roles of natural killer T cells, one type of innate lymphocyte, in adipose tissue inflammation will be discussed. Finally, a new role of adipocytes as antigen presenting cells to modulate T cell activity and subsequent adipose tissue inflammation will be proposed.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• 제1권3호
• /
• pp.179-186
• /
• 2001

Bone marrow stroma is a complex tissue encompassing a number of cell types and supports hematopiesis, differentiation of erythreid, nyel and lymphoid lineages, and also maintains undifferentiated hematopoietic stem cells. Marrow-derived stem cells were composed of two populations, namely, hematopoietic stem cells that can differentiate into blood elements and mesenchymal stem cells that can give rise to connective tissues such as bone, cartilage, muscle, tendon, adipose and stroma. Differentiation requires environmental factors and unique intracellular signaling. For example, $TGF-{\beta}$ or BMP2 induces osteoblastic differentiation of mesenchymal stem are very exciting. However, the intrinsic controls involved in differentiation of stem cells are yet to be understood properly in order to exploit the same. This review presents an overview of the recent developments made in mesenchymal stem cell research with respect to osteogenesis.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제23권2호
• /
• pp.215-219
• /
• 2007

In mammals light input resets the central clock of the suprachiasmatic nucleus by inducing secretion of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) from retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). We previously showed that thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1), a homeodomain-containing transcription factor, specifically regulates PACAP gene expression in the rat hypothalamus. In the present study we examined the expression of TTF-1 in PACAP-synthesizing retinal cells. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) showed that it is abundantly expressed in RGCs of the superior region of the retina, but in only a small subset of RGCs in the inferior region. Double FISH experiments revealed that TTF-1 is exclusively expressed in PACAP-producing RGCs. These results suggest that TTF-1 plays a regulatory role in PACAP-expressing retinal ganglion cells.

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• 제4권4호
• /
• pp.315-318
• /
• 2000

Structure of the skin in amphibious fish, Periophthalmus modestus, was described in relation to cutaneous respiration. The epidermis has no gland cell. The epidermis consists of three regions: outermost layer of one to five layers of flattened epithelial cells, middle layer of swollen epithelial cells instead of glandular cells and stratum germinativum of cuboidal cells. There are numerous blood capillaries in the outermost layer of the epidermis and diffusion distance between the blood of capillaries and the epidermis is about 1.4 Um. The middle layer of the epidermis appears to be a web-like structure due to the swollen epithelial cells. The stratum germinativum has a well-developed lymphatic space containing lymphocytes. There are numerous blood capillaries and elliptical area with acid mucopolysaccharides in stratum laxum of the dermis. The skin of Periophthalmus modestus may be an accessory respiratory organ for oxygen uptake during terrestrial or aquatic life.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제42권2호
• /
• pp.97-103
• /
• 2019

Androgens act in almost all tissues throughout the lifetime and have important roles in skeletal muscles. The levels of androgens increase during puberty and remain sustained at high levels in adulthood. Because androgens have an anabolic effect on skeletal muscles and muscle stem cells, these increased levels of androgens after puberty should lead to spontaneous muscle hypertrophy and hyperplasia in adulthood. However, the maintenance of muscle volume, myonuclei number per myofiber, and quiescent state of satellite cells in adulthood despite the high levels of androgens produces paradoxical outcomes. Our recent study revealed that the physiological increase of androgens at puberty initiates the transition of muscle stem cells from proliferation to quiescence by the androgen-Mindbomb1-Notch signaling axis. This newly discovered androgen action on skeletal muscles underscores the physiological importance of androgens on muscle homeostasis throughout life. This review will provide an overview of the new androgen action on skeletal muscles and discuss the paradoxical effects of androgens suggested in previous studies.