• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.22.1-22.21
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• 2020

In the progression of atherosclerosis, macrophages are the key immune cells for foam cell formation. During hyperlipidemic condition, phagocytic cells such as monocytes and macrophages uptake oxidized low-density lipoproteins (oxLDLs) accumulated in subintimal space, and lipid droplets are accumulated in their cytosols. In this review, we discussed the characteristics and phenotypic changes of macrophages in atherosclerosis and the effect of cytosolic lipid accumulation on macrophage phenotype. Due to macrophage plasticity, the inflammatory phenotypes triggered by oxLDL can be re-programmed by cytosolic lipid accumulation, showing downregulation of NF-κB activation followed by activation of anti-inflammatory genes, leading to tissue repair and homeostasis. We also discuss about various in vivo and in vitro models for atherosclerosis research and next generation sequencing technologies for foam cell gene expression profiling. Analysis of the phenotypic changes of macrophages during the progression of atherosclerosis with adequate approach may lead to exact understandings of the cellular mechanisms and hint therapeutic targets for the treatment of atherosclerosis.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.75-85
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• 2005

This study was aimed to know the effect of cadmium chloride (CdCl₂) on glucose transport in L6 myotube and its action mechanism. CdCl₂ increased the 2-deoxy- (l-3H)-D-glucose (2-DOG) uptake 1.9 and 2.4 fold at 10 and 25 μM respectively. To investigate the stimulating-mechanism of glucose transport induced by CdCl₂, the wortmannin and PD98059 were used as PI3K (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase) inhibitor and MAPK inhibitor respectively, which did not affect 2-DOG uptake. This fact suggests that CdCl₂ induced 2-DOG uptake may not be concerned to the insulin signalling pathway. Whereas nifedipine, a calcium channel blocker, and trifluoperazine, a calmodulin inhibitor, were found to inhibit the 2-DOG uptake stimulted by CdCl₂. In addition, we also measured the ROS (reactive oxygen species) production and GSH level in L6 myotube to investigate the correlation between the glucose uptake and ROS. CdCl₂(25 μM) increased ROS generation approximately 1.5 fold and changed the cellular GSH level, but GSSG/GSH ratio remained unchanged. CdCl₂ stimulated 2-DOG uptake and ROS generation were inhibited by N-acetylcystein. And BSO pretreatment, a potent inhibitor of γ-GCS, resulted in the dramatic decrease of 2-DOG uptake and also the increase of the sensitivity to cadmium cytotoxicity. The obtained results suggest that CdCl₂-stimulated glucose uptake might be based on the activation of HMP shunt as an antioxidant defense mechanism of the cells.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.11
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• pp.528-534
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• 2022

Mitochondria are cellular organelles that perform various functions within cells. They are responsible for ATP production, cell-signal regulation, autophagy, and cell apoptosis. Because the mitochondrial proteins that perform these functions need Ca²⁺ ions for their activity, mitochondria have ion channels to selectively uptake Ca²⁺ ions from the cytoplasm. The ion channel known to play the most important role in the Ca²⁺ uptake in mitochondria is the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) holo-complex located in the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM). This ion channel complex exists in the form of a complex consisting of the pore-forming protein through which the Ca²⁺ ions are transported into the mitochondrial matrix, and the auxiliary protein involved in regulating the activity of the Ca²⁺ uptake by the MCU holo-complex. Studies of this MCU holo-complex have long been conducted, but we didn't know in detail how mitochondria uptake Ca²⁺ ions through this ion channel complex or how the activity of this ion channel complex is regulated. Recently, the protein structure of the MCU holo-complex was identified, enabling the mechanism of Ca²⁺ uptake and its regulation by the MCU holo-complex to be confirmed. In this review, I will introduce the mechanism of action of the MCU holo-complex at the molecular level based on the Cryo-EM structure of the MCU holo-complex to help understand how mitochondria uptake the necessary Ca²⁺ ions through the MCU holo-complex and how these Ca²⁺ uptake mechanisms are regulated.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.438-442
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• 1997

Antisense oligonucleotide represents an interesting tool for selective inhibition of gene expression. However, their low efficiency of introduction within intact cells remains to be overcome. Antisense-$TGF{\beta}$ (25 mer) and antisense-$TGF{\beta}$ (18 mer) were used to study the cellular transport and biological function of antisense oligonucleotide in vitro. Since TGF and TNF play on important role in regulating the nitric oxide production from macrophages, the action of the above antisense oligonucleotides was easily monitored by the determination of nitrite. Poly-L-lysine, benzalkonium chloride and tetraphenylphosphonium chloride were used as polycations, which neutralize the negative charge of antisense oligonucleotide. The production of nitric oxide mediated by .gamma.-IFN in mouse peritoneal macrophage was increased by antisense-TGF.betha. in a dose-dependent manner. Antisense-$TGF{\beta}$ reduced the nitric oxide release from activated RAW 264.7 cells. Significant enhancement in the nitric oxide production was investigated by the cotreatment of poly-L-lysine with antisense-$TGF{\beta}$On the meanwhile, inhibition effect of antisense-$TGF{\beta}$ is not changed by the addition of poly-L-lysine. These results demonstrate that control of expression of $TGF{\beta}$ and TNF.alpha. gene is achieved using antisense technology and the cellular uptake of antisense oligonucleotide could be enhanced by ion-pairing.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.198-207
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• 2007

[ $^{18}F$ ]-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake on positron emission tomography (PET) scan has been found to reflect tumor aggressiveness and prognosis in various types of cancer. In this study, the gene expression profiles of glial tumors were evaluated to determine whether glial tumors with high $^{18}F$-FDG uptake have more aggressive biological potential than with low uptake. Surgical specimens were obtained from the 12 patients with glial tumors (4 males and 8 females, age range 42-68 years). The tumor samples were divided into two groups based on the $^{18}F$-FDG uptake PET scan findings: high $^{18}F$-FDG uptake (n=4) and low $^{18}F$-FDG uptake (n=8). The pathological tumor grade was closely correlated with the $^{18}F$-FDG uptake pattern: Glial tumors with high $^{18}F$-FDG uptake were pathologically Edmondson-Steiner grade III, while those with low uptake were grade II. The total RNA was extracted from the frozen tissues of all glial tumors (n=12), and adjacent non-cancerous tissue (n=3). The gene expression profiles were evaluated using cDNA microarray. The glial tumors with high $^{18}F$-FDG uptake showed increase expression of 15 genes compared to those with low uptake (P<0.005). Nine genes were down-regulated. Gene expression is closely related to cell survival, cell-to-cell adhesion or cell spreading; therefore, glial tumors with high $^{18}F$-FDG uptake appear to have more aggressive biological properties than those with low uptake.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.87-95
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• 2005

Cadmium is well known as a toxic metal and has insulin mimicking effects in rat adipose tissue. This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of CdCl₂ on glucose transport and its mechanism in 3T3 - L1 adipocytes. CdCl₂ exhibits respectively 2.2 and 2.8 fold increases in the 2-deoxyglucose uptake when exposed to 10 and 25 μM of CdCl₂ for 12 hr. To investigate the stimulating mechanism of glucose transport induced by CdCl₂. Wortmannin and PD98059 were used respectively as PI3K inhibitor and MAPK inhibitor, which did not affect 2-DOG uptake. This results suggest that induced 2-deoxy-(l-3H)-D-glucose (2-DOG) uptake by CdCl₂ may not be concerned with the insulin signalling pathway. Whereas nifedipine, a calcium channel blocker inhibited the 2- DOG uptake stimulated by CdCl₂. In addition, we also measured the increased production of Reactive oxygen substances (ROS) and glutathione (GSH) level in 3T3-L1 adipocytes to investigate correlation between the glucose uptake and increased production of ROS with H2DCFDA. CdCl₂ increased production of ROS. Induced 2-DOG uptake and increased production of ROS by CdCl₂ were decreased by N-acetylcystein (NAC). And L-buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) a potent inhibitor of γ-GCS, decreased of 2-DOG uptake. Also NAC and BSO changed the cellular GSH level, but GSH/GSSG ratio remained unchanged at 10, 25 μM of CdCl₂.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.564-568
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• 2008

The effects of sodium copper chlorophyllin (SCC) on bioaccessibility and uptake of mercury from fish were investigated using an in vitro digestion coupled with a Caco-2 cell. Fish along with SCC was subjected to a simulated in vitro digestion, which simulates both the gastric and small intestinal phase in vivo. Mercury bioaccessibility, the amount of mercury released from fish to aqueous phase following a digestion, was measured. Various amounts of SCC (0.1-25 mg) significantly reduced mercury bioaccessibility in a dose dependent manner by 49-89% compared to the negative control (fish without SCC) (p<0.05). Mercury bioaccessibility in varying molar ratios of mercury to positive control, 2,3-dimercapto-1-propane sulfonate (DMPS) was between 24 and 52%. Mercury uptake by Caco-2 cells from test media containing aqueous phase following in vitro digestion was measured after 6 hr incubation at $37^{\circ}C$. Cellular mercury uptake with increasing amount of SCC ranged from 0.352 to $0.052\;{\mu}g$ mercury/mg protein, while those in DMPS treatment were between 0.14 and $0.27\;{\mu}g$ mercury/mg protein. Our study suggests that SCC can reduce mercury absorption following fish consumption and may be efficient as a synthetic chelating agent for long term chronic mercury exposure in fish eating populations.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.109-109
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• 2003

Taurine is present in a variety of tissue and exhibits many important physiological functions in many tissues. Although it is known that many tissues mediate taurine transport, its functions of taurine transport in bone have not been identified yet. In the present study, we investigated the expression of taurine transporter (TauT) and taurine uptake using mouse stromal ST2 cells and osteoblast-like MC3T3-El cells, which is bone related cells. Detection of TauT mRNA expression in these cells were performed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The activity of TauT was assessed by measuring the uptake of ［$^3$H］taurine in the presence or absence of inhibitors. TauT mRNA was detected in these cells. ［$^3$H］Taurine uptake was dependent upon the presence of extracellular sodium, chloride and calcium ions, and inhibited by cold-taurine and ${\beta}$-alanine. These results suggest that taurine has biological functions in bone and some effect on the bone cells.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.159-169
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• 2019

Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) in breast cancer cells have self-renewal ability and differentiation potential. They are also resistant to drugs after chemotherapy. To overcome this resistance, we designed negatively charged 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoglycerol (DMPG)-based liposomes for drug delivery. These liposomes have enhanced the therapeutic effects of a range of antitumor therapies by increasing the cellular uptake and improving drug delivery to targets sites. In this study, we investigated whether DMPG-POPC liposomes, including the neutral lipid 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholin (POPC), can specifically bind to MCF-7 breast cancer cells and increase cellular uptake compared with that by CHOL-POPC liposomes. We also estimated the cytotoxicity of DMPG-POPC liposomes encapsulated with both metformin (Met) and sodium salicylate (Sod) against breast cancer cells and BCSCs compared with that of the free drugs. Our results demonstrated that these dual drug-encapsulated liposomes significantly enhanced the cytotoxic and anti-colony formation abilities compared with individual drug-encapsulated liposomes or free drugs in BCSCs. Overall, our results suggest that DMPG-POPC liposomes containing two drugs (Met + Sod) show promise for synergistic anti-cancer therapy of breast cancer by increasing drug delivery efficiency into breast cancer cells and BCSCs.

• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.9
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• pp.574-579
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• 2009

The regulatory effects of honokiol on the cellular responses of macrophages and monocytes were evaluated. Specifically, we investigated the effects of honokiol with respect to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cytotoxicity, LPS- or phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)-mediated morphological changes, and relevant events (FITC-dextran-induced phagocytic uptake). Honokiol blocked the LPS-induced cytotoxicity of RAW264.7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, honokiol appeared to block the production of cytotoxic cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$, nitric oxide (NO), and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Moreover, honokiol strongly prevented the morphological changes in RAW 264.7 and U937 cells that were induced by LPS and PMA. The surface levels of marker proteins, which are up-regulated under the morphological changes of RAW264.7 and U937 cells, were also diminished. The data presented here strongly suggest that the honokiol modulates various cellular responses managed by macrophages and monocytes.