• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.354-362
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• 2011

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic inflammatory autoimmune disease characterized by abnormalities in T cell immunoregulation and hyperreactivity of B cells, leading to autoantibody production and multiorgan injuries. We investigated the effect of baicalin on aberrant immunoregulation in pristane-induced lupus mice. Mice received i.p. a single injection of 0.5 ml of pristane or PBS, and approximately 3 months later, were used as a pristane-induced lupus model or healthy controls. The pristane-induced lupus mice and healthy mice were randomly divided into three groups: healthy mouse group (healthy control), pristane-primed lupus control group (lupus control), and baicalin (BAC)-treated pristane-primed lupus mouse group (BAC-treated lupus). The pristane-induced lupus mice and healthy mice were administrated orally with BAC 50 mg/kg or PBS once in a day for 10 ds. These results demonstrated that levels of serum IL-6, LPS-induced production of IL-6, $PGE_2$ and NO by macrophages, $PGE_2$-stimulated production of IL-6 by macrophages and IFN-${\gamma}$ by thymocytes, and an overexpression of splenic NKT cells and CD69+CD4+ T cells were downregulated in BAC-treated lupus compared to lupus control, while reduced apoptosis of splenic CD4+ T cells were upregulated. Therefore, these findings suggest that BAC may attenuate autoimmunity and disease activity in lupus via downregulation of aberrant activation of T cells and inhibition of overproduction of IL-6 and $PGE_2$ in pristane-induced lupus mice.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.222-228
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• 2009

Lupus is characterized by immunoregulatory abnormalities between T- and B-cells leading to autoantibody production and multiorgan injuries. We investigated whether bamboo culm extract (BC) ameliorates aberrant activation of T cells and B cells and attenuate production of IL-6 in pristane-induced lupus mice. Lupus was induced by i.p. a single injection of 0.5 ml of pristane in female BALB/c mice, which, later about 4 months, were used as a lupus model. The pristane-induced lupus mice and healthy mice were injected i.p. with BC 5 ${\mu}l$/kg or PBS once a day for 3 weeks. These results demonstrated that BC significantly decreased levels of serum and BAL IL-6 and production of IL-6 by macrophages with/without LPS, and downregulated expression of NKT cell and CD86+ CD45R/B220+, but not CD80+CD45R/B220+ and CD69+CD4+ in the splenocytes in pristaneinduced lupus mice. Moreover, BC greatly increased Con A-stimulated production of IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-${\gamma}$ by splenocytes obtained from pristane-induced lupus mice. Therefore, our findings suggest that BC may ameliorate lupus pathogenesis in pristane-induced lupus mice via downregulation of aberrant activation of NKT cells and B cells and inhibition of production of IL-6.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.319-322
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• 2016

CD26, also known as Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-4), is a cell surface glycoprotein that belongs to the serine protease family and has wide spread organ distribution throughout the body. CD26 was previously characterized in immune cells but also has important metabolic functions which are not yet fully understood. Thus, we investigated the effect of CD26 in porcine parthenogenetic embryos. We attempted CD26 downregulation of porcine embryos by siRNA, and evaluated CD26 suppression of developmental competencies. Although the porcine embryos injected with CD26 siRNA were able to develop to the early stage, these embryos were decreased to form blastocysts. Our results indicated that CD26 is one of factors for the regulation of development of porcine embryos.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.22
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• pp.9967-9972
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• 2014

In order to prove whether downregulation of COX-2 (Cyclooxygenase-2) could modulate the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of breast cancer, celecoxib and siRNA were respectively used to inhibit COX-2 function and expression in MDA-MB-231 cells. The EMT reversal effect in the RNAi treated group was better than that of the celecoxib group while there were no obvious differences in the medium $PGE_2$ levels between the two groups. The results show that COX-2 pathways may contribute considerably to EMT of breast cancer cells, partially dependent on the PGE2 cascade. Akt2, ZEB2 and Snail were measured to clarify the underlying mechanisms of COX-2 on EMT; COX-2 may modulate EMT of breast cancer by regulating these factors. This finding may be helpful to elucidate the mechanisms of selective COX-2 inhibitor action in EMT modulation in breast cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.7375-7379
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• 2013

The main aim of this study was to investigate the roles of GST-${\pi}$ and $pol{\beta}$ genes in the chemoresistance of esophageal carcinoma cells. Eukaryotic expression vectors containing each gene were constructed and transfected into EC9706 cells, and the biological effects of the two genes assessed based on a resistance index. We additionally investigated the in vitro and in vivo anti-resistance effects of GST-${\pi}$ and $pol{\beta}$ genes using recombinant lentiviruses carrying siRNAs against the two genes. Our results showed that upregulation of GST-${\pi}$ and $pol{\beta}$ genes suppresses chemosensitivity of esophageal carcinoma cells to cisplatin, while downregulation of these two genes with RNAi technology reverses this chemoresistance. Multi-site injection of recombinant lentivirus targeting the GST-${\pi}$ gene into transplanted cDDP tumors effectively reversed their chemoresistant phenotype. However, the same treatment against the $pol{\beta}$ gene did not lead to significant efficacy against chemoresistance.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.1997-2006
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• 2015

Ginsenoside Rg3 is a bioactive ginseng constituent that has been reported to have diverse pathological and physiological effects, including anti-inflammatory and anti-metastatic activities. Metastasis is one of the most important factors involved in patients with melanoma. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the anti-metastatic activities of Rg3 in malignant melanoma cancer has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we have evaluated that Rg3 effectively inhibits metastasis of B16F10 melanoma cancer cells. We found that Rg3 significantly suppresses the migration, invasion, wound healing, and colony-forming abilities of B16F10 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that Rg3 suppresses B16F10 cell metastasis by inhibiting MMP-13 expression. These results indicate that Rg3 suppresses the metastasis of B16F10 mouse melanoma cancer cells via MMP-13 regulation. Importantly, MMP-13 downregulation may influence the migration and invasion capabilities of melanoma cells and has been correlated with melanoma progression. Therefore, Rg3 is a potential therapeutic candidate that could be used to treat patients with metastatic melanoma.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.366-372
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• 2020

Since, side effects of antibiotics are frequently emphasized these days, their use is gradually diminishing, and alternative drugs are being developed. We have sought to reintroduce them as raw materials for human health as conventional 'weapons' that have been retired after their historical duties. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of lincomycin (LIN), on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Our findings show that LIN potently inhibited production of LPS-induced proinflammatory mediators, such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), without cytotoxicity. Consistent with these findings, LIN strongly decreased protein expression levels of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX-2). Furthermore, LIN reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1β. To further elucidate the mechanisms of these inhibitory effects of LIN, we studied LPS-induced IκB-α degradation, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation. LIN suppressed downregulation of inhibitory κB (IκB-α) degradation, and the phosphorylation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway. Based on these results, we suggest that LIN may be considered a potential candidate as an anti-inflammatory cosmetic or a medicine for human health.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.483-489
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• 2009

Despite the potential importance of the human regulator of calcineurin 1 (RCAN-1) gene in the modulation of cell survival under stress, little is known about its role in death-inducing signal pathways. In this study, we addressed the effects of RCAN1.4 knockdown on cellular susceptibility to apoptosis and the activation of death pathway proteins. Transfection of siRNAs against RCAN1.4 resulted in enhanced Fas- and etoposide-induced apoptosis, which was associated with increased expression and translocation of Bax to mitochondria. Our results suggest that enhanced expression and activation of p53 was responsible for the upregulation of Bax and the increased sensitivity to apoptosis, which could be reversed by p53 knockdown. To explain the observed upregulation of p53, we propose a downregulation of the ubiquitin ligase HDM2, probably translationally. These findings show the importance of appropriate RCAN1.4 expression in the modulation of cell survival and reveal a link between RCAN1.4 and p53.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.607-613
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• 2003

Dendritic cells (DCs) play an essential role in a variety of immune reactions involving $CD4^+$ T cells and have been used to enhance tumor-specific immune responses. Immunosuppression in patients with cancer includes the downregulation of function and number of DCs. Although DCs have been studied, the apoptosis of Des induced by anticancer drugs for chemotherapy remains largely uncharacterized. This study demonstrated that GM-CSF protects DCs from 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or mitomycin C-induced apoptosis. After 6 - 10 days culture, DCs were characterized by specific surface marker, CD11c and MHC class II. MTT assay revealed that GM-CSF significantly enhanced the viability of DCs treated with 5-FU or mitomycin C. The percentage of dead cells of DCs was determined by cell size using FACScan and GM-CSF was clearly effective. However, GM-CSF did not increase the expression of MHC class II on viable DCs gated, suggesting that GM-CSF may differentially regulate critical factors involved in the function of DCs. For the quantitative analysis of apoptosis, annexin V-FITC staining was performed. 5-FU induced the apoptosis of DCs and GM-CSF significantly protects DCs from 5-FU-induced apoptosis. Taken together, the results in this study that GM-CSF has an anti-apoptosis effect on DCs may provide patients with cancer with clinical benefits to overcome the immunosuppression induced by the decrease of number and functional insufficiency of DCs.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.111-123
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• 2005

Objectives : Neurological disorders have been one of main therapeutic targets of acupuncture. The present study investigated the protective effects of Gwakhyangjeonggisan herbal acupuncture solution (GHAS). Methods : We performed 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay in glioblastoma cells, and did microarray analysis with cells exposed to reactive oxigen species (ROS) of hydrogen peroxide by 8.0 k Human cDNA, with cut-off level of 2-fold changes in gene expression. Results : MTT assay showed protective effect of GHAS on the glioblastoma cells exposed to hydrogen peroxide. When glioblastoma cells were exposed to hydrogen peroxide, 16 genes were upregulated. When the cells were pretreated with GHAS before exposure to hydrogen peroxide, 22 genes were upregulated. Most of the genes upregulated by hydrogen peroxide stimulation were reversed to downregulation by GHAS. Conclusion : The gene expression changes observed in the present study are supposed to be related to the protective molecular mechanism of GHAS in the glioblastoma cells exposed to ROS stress.