• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.96-97
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• 2002

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and sphingosine 1-phosphate (SIP) are bioactive lysophospholipids (LPs) that act as mediators in various cellular processes, such as cell growth, differentiation, survival, motility, and cytoskeletal reorganization (1,2). LPA and S1P are both abundant in serum and are produced by activated platelets and other cell types. (omitted)

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.178-184
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• 2002

High-throughput screening has become a popular method used to identify new “leads”for potentially therapeutic compounds. Further screening of these lead compounds is typically done with secondary assays which may utilize living, functioning cells as screening tools. A problem (or benefit) with these cell-based assays is that living cells are very sensitive to their environment. We have been interested in the process of stem cell migration and how it relates to the cellular therapy of bone marrow transplantation. In this study we describe a secondary, cell-based assay for screening the effects of various in-vitro conditions on Immature Hematopoietic Cell (IHC) migration. Our results have revealed many subtle factors, such as the cell's adhesive characteristics, or the effect of a culture's growth phase, that need to be accounted for in a screening protocol. Finally, we show that exponentially glowing KG1a cells (a human IHC cell line) were 10 times more motile than those in the lag or stationary phases. These data strongly suggest that KG1a cells secrete a chemokinetic factor during the exponential growth phase of a culture.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.874-881
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• 2004

Angiogenesis has been implicated in progression of inflammation, arthritis, psoriasis, atherosclerosis as well as tumor growth and metastasis. Intensive studies have been carried out to develop a strategy for cancer treatment by blocking angiogenesis. During angiogenesis, endothelial proliferation and migration essentially occurs upon activation. In this study, we compared the expression profiles of human umbilical endothelial cells activated by incubating in vitro in the rich medium containing several growth factors, and non-activated ones. cDNA targets derived from total RNAs of HUVEC activated for 13 h in M199 medium containing endothelial cell growth supplement, 20% fetal bovine serum, and heparin, after reaching 70～80% confluency, or non-activated, were hybridized onto oligonucleotide microarrays containing 1,8864 genetic elements. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis resulted in two subgroups on dendrogram exhibiting activated and non-activated HUVECs. We then extracted 122 outlier genes which were shown to be up-regulated or under-expressed by at least 2-folds in activated HUVECs. Among these, 32 annotated genes were up-regulated and 38 were down-regulated in activated HUVECs. Interestingly, genes involved in cell proliferation, motility, and inflammation/ immune response were up-regulated in activated HUVEC, whereas genes for cell adhesion or vessel morphogenesis/function were down-regulated. Unexpectedly, the expression of genes well-characterized as angiogenesis markers was not changed except Eph-B4, which was down-regulated about 4 folds. 52 unknown genes were also up- or down-regulated. Therefore, these results could provide an opportunity to targeting new vascular molecules for the development of anti-angiogenic molecules.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.1784-1791
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• 2010

In this study, we investigated the effects of ethyl alcohol extracts of Hizikia fusiforme (EHF) on the correlation between tightening of tight junctions (TJs) and anti-invasive activity in human gastric adenocarcinoma AGS cells. Inhibitory effects of EHF on cell proliferation, motility, and invasiveness were found to be associated with increased tightness of the TJs, which was demonstrated by an increase in transepithelial electrical resistance. Activities of matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-2 and -9 in AGS cells were dose-dependently inhibited by treatment with EHF, and this was also correlated with a decrease in expression of their mRNA and proteins; however, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 and -2 mRNA levels were increased. Additionally, immunoblotting results indicated that EHF repressed the levels of claudin proteins (claudin-1, -3, and -4), major components of TJs that play key roles in control and selectivity of paracellular transport. Furthermore, EHF decreased expression of insulin such as growth factor-1 receptor proteins, while concurrently increasing that of thrombospondin-1 and E-cadherin. In conclusion, these results suggest that EHF treatment may inhibit tumor cell motility and invasion, and therefore act as a dietary source to decrease the risk of cancer metastasis.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.123-135
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• 2023

Previously, Pseudomonas plecoglossicida YJR13 and Pseudomonas putida YJR92 from a sequential screening procedure were proven to effectively control Phytophthora blight caused by Phytophthora capsici. In this study, we further investigated the anti-oomycete activities of these strains against mycelial growth, zoospore germination, and germ tube elongation of P. capsici. We also investigated root colonization ability of the bacterial strains in square dishes, including cell motility (swimming and swarming motilities) and biofilm formation. Both strains significantly inhibited mycelial growth in liquid and solid V8 juice media and M9 minimal media, zoospore germination, and germ tube elongation compared with Bacillus vallismortis EXTN-1 (positive biocontrol strain), Sphingomonas aquatilis KU408 (negative biocontrol strain), and MgSO₄ solution (untreated control). In diluted (nutrient-deficient) V₈ juice broth, the tested strain populations were maintained at >10⁸ cells/ml, simultaneously providing mycelial inhibitory activity. Additionally, these strains colonized pepper roots at a 10⁶ cells/ml concentration for 7 days. The root colonization of the strains was supported by strong swimming and swarming activities, biofilm formation, and chemotactic activity towards exudate components (amino acids, organic acids, and sugars) of pepper roots. Collectively, these results suggest that strains YJR13 and YJR92 can effectively suppress Phytophthora blight of pepper through direct anti-oomycete activities against mycelial growth, zoospore germination and germ tube elongation. Bacterial colonization of pepper roots may be mediated by cell motility and biofilm formation together with chemotaxis to root exudates.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.135-141
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• 2002

Backgrounds and Objectives: Metastasis is a complex multistep process that requires sequential interactions between the invasive cell and the extra-cellular matrix. Transforming growth factor-${\beta}1$ ($TGF-{\beta}1$) is a multifunctional regulator of cellular differentiation, motility and growth. Loss of sensitivity to the growth inhibitory effects by $TGF-{\beta}1$ plays important roles in neoplastic progression. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of $TGF-{\beta}1$ in the neoplastic invasion and metastasis through matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) of laryngeal cancer cell lines. Material and Methods: Two laryngeal cancer cell lines, SNU-899 and SNU-1076 were treated with recombinant $TGF-{\beta}1$, and the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was immunohistochemically evaluated and gelatinase activity was studied by gelatin zymogram. Results: The cell growth inhibition was evident on 4th days after 1ng/ml and 10ng/ml $TGF-{\beta}1$ treatment. The expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9, and their gelatinase activities were increased in dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: $TGF-{\beta}1$ treatment in laryngeal cancer cell lines induces the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9, thus playing a role in the digestion of extracellular matrix gelatin.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.5391-5396
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• 2013

Aim: To investigate the role of Golgi phosphoprotein 3 (GOLPH3) in tumour growth and metastasis of esophageal squamous cancer. Methods: A lentiviral shRNA-vector was utilized to stably knockdown GOLPH3 in Eca-109 esophageal squamous cancer cells. mRNA transcription and protein expression of GOLPH3 were examined by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Cell proliferation activity was assessed by MTT assay and invasion and migration potentials by matrigel invasion and transwell motility assays. Results: Stable knockdown in the GOLPH3 cell line was established. PD-A gene expression was significantly suppressed by lentivirus-mediated RNAi, which resulted in reducing the capacity for cell proliferation, migration, invasion and adhesion in vitro. In vivo, GOLPH3 depletion resulted in inhibition of tumour growth, with stable decrease in the expression of GOLPH3 in tumor xenografts. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that lentivirus mediated silencing of the GOLPH3 gene has a significant anti-tumour effect on esophageal squamous cancer in vitro and in vivo. In addition, the results indicate that GOLPH3 might be an effective molecular target for gene therapy in esophageal squamous cancer.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2015

Acute toxicity tests for 5 organic solvents were conducted using Euglena agilis carter (E. agilis), a Korean domestic organism. Organic solvents decreased the growth rate of E. agilis in a dose dependent manner. The toxicity to E. agilis was increased in the order of chloroform>acetone${\geq}$ethanol${\geq}$methanol>DMSO based on $EC_{50}$ values from growth test. Organic solvents also induced cell motility and morphological changes of E. agilis. Especially significant effects on the cell swimming velocity, motility, and compactness were observed for chloroform at the concentration of $EC_{50}$ calculated from 96 hr growth test. Overall, toxic responses of E. agilis to test substances are comparable to or more sensitive than D. magna, M. macrocopa and V. fischeri. Our study demonstrates that E. agilis can be a putative ecotoxicity test model organism to assess domestic water quality. Results obtained from this study can be applied to establish the standard test guidelines for ecotoxicity test using E. agilis.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.97-108
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• 2011

Cancer stem cells have stem cell-like features, such as the ability for self-renewal and differentiation but show unlimited growth because they have the lost normal regulation of cell growth. Cancer stem cells and normal stem cells have similar features. They show high motility, diversity of progeny, robust proliferative potential, association with blood vessels, immature expression profiles, nestin expression, epidermal growth factor (EGF)-receptor expression, phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) expression, hedgehog pathway activity, telomerase activity, and Wnt pathway activity. On the other hand, with cancer cells, some of these signaling pathways are abnormally modified. In 1875, Cohnheim suggested the concept of cancer stem cells. Recently, evidence for the existence of cancer stem cells was identified. In 1994, the cancer stem cells' specific cell surface marker for leukemia was identified. Since then, other specific cell surface markers for cancer stem cells in solid tumors (e.g. breast and colon cancer) have been identified. In oral cancer, studies on cancer stem cells have been performed mainly with squamous cell carcinomas. Oral cancer specific cell surface markers, which are genes strongly expressed in oral cancer and cancer stem cell specific side populations, have been identified. Cancer stem cells are resistant to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Therefore, to eliminate malignant tumors efficiently and reduce the recurrence rate, therapy targeting cancer stem cells needs to be performed. Currently, studies targeting the cancer stem cells' specific signaling pathways, telomerase and tumor vasculatures are being done.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.115-120
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• 2015

Tight junction protein 1 (TJP1), a component of tight junction, has been reported to play a role in protein networks as an adaptor protein, and TJP1 expression is altered during tumor development. Here, we found that TJP1 expression was increased at the RNA and protein levels in TGF-${\beta}$-stimulated lung cancer cells, A549. SB431542, a type-I TGF-${\beta}$ receptor inhibitor, as well as SB203580, a p38 kinase inhibitor, significantly abrogated the effect of TGF-${\beta}$ on TJP1 expression. Diphenyleneiodonium, an NADPH oxidase inhibitor, also attenuated TJP1 expression in response to TGF-${\beta}$ in lung cancer cells. When TJP1 expression was reduced by shRNA lentiviral particles in A549 cells (A549-sh TJP1), wound healing was much lower than in cells infected with control viral particles. Taken together, these data suggest that TGF-${\beta}$ enhances TJP1 expression, which may play a role beyond structural support in tight junctions during cancer development.