• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.252-257
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• 2013

Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is a specific serine protease expressed in tumor stroma proven to be a stimulatory factor in the progression of some cancers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of FAP knockdown on tumor growth and the tumor microenvironment. Mice bearing 4T1 subcutaneous tumors were treated with liposome-shRNA complexes targeting FAP. Tumor volumes and weights were monitored, and FAP, collagen, microvessel density (MVD), and apoptosis were measured. Our studies showed that shRNA targeting of FAP in murine breast cancer reduces FAP expression, inhibits tumor growth, promotes collagen accumulation (38%), and suppresses angiogenesis (71.7%), as well as promoting apoptosis (by threefold). We suggest that FAP plays a role in tumor growth and in altering the tumor microenvironment. Targeting FAP may therefore represent a supplementary therapy for breast cancer.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.344-348
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• 2009

This study was conducted to investigate effects of dietary lipid level on growth and body composition of juvenile red sea bream in low temperatures. Duplicate groups of fish (initial body weight of 79 g) were fed one of three isonitronic diets (47% crude protein) containing different lipid levels (10%, 17% and 22%) for 25 weeks during the winter season. Weight gain and survival of fish fed 17% lipid diet were significantly (P<0.05) higher than those fish fed the 10% or 22% lipid diet. Protein efficiency ratio, daily feed intake, condition factor, hepatosomatic index and viscerasomatic index were not affected by dietary lipid level, but feed efficiency of fish fed 10% lipid diet was significantly (P<0.05) lower than those fish fed the 17% or 22% lipid diet. Proximate composition of the whole body, liver, viscera and dorsal muscle were not significantly different among all groups except for crude protein content of dorsal muscle. The contents of 16:0, 18:0, 20:4n-3 and 20:5n-3 of the whole body were significantly (P<0.05) affected by dietary lipid level. The results of this study suggest that an increased dietary lipid level from 10% to 17% can improve growth of juvenile red sea bream in low temperature periods.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.172-177
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• 2008

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5B (eIF5B) plays a role in recognition of the AUG codon in conjunction with translation factor eIF2, and promotes joining of the 60S ribosomal subunit. To see whether the eIF5B proteins of other organisms function in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we cloned the corresponding genes from Oryza sativa, Arabidopsis thaliana, Aspergillus nidulans and Candida albican and expressed them under the control of the galactose-inducible GAL promoter in the $fun12{\Delta}$ strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Expression of Candida albicans eIF5B complemented the slow-growth phenotype of the $fun12{\Delta}$ strain, but that of Aspergillus nidulance did not, despite the fact that its protein was expressed better than that of Candida albicans. The Arabidopsis thaliana protein was also not functional in Saccharomyces. These results reveal that the eIF5B in Candida albicans has a close functional relationship with that of Sacharomyces cerevisiae, as also shown by a phylogenetic analysis based on the amino acid sequences of the eIF5Bs.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.42-49
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• 2012

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of Red Ginseng-Ejung-tang Water Extract (ER) on cytokine production in RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Methods: Levels of various cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, IL-2, IL-12p70, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2, keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were measured by high-throughput multiplex bead array cytokine assay based on xMAP (multi-analyte profiling beads) technology. Results: ER significantly decreased levels of IL-6, IL-10, IL-2, IL-12p70, VEGF, and MCP-1 for 24 hrs incubation at the concentrations of 25, 50, and $100{\mu}g/mL$ in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells (P < 0.05). But ER did not exert significant effects on production of MIP-2, KC, TNF-${\alpha}$, and GM-CSF in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Conclusions: These results suggest that ER has an anti-inflammatory property related with its inhibition of cytokine production in LPS-induced macrophages.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.16
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• pp.6813-6823
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• 2015

Glioblastoma, also known as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), is the most aggressive of human brain tumors and has a stunning progression with a mean survival of one year from the date of diagnosis. High cell proliferation, angiogenesis and/or necrosis are histopathological features of this cancer, which has no efficient curative therapy. This aggressiveness is associated with particular heterogeneity of the tumor featuring multiple genetic and epigenetic alterations, but also with implications of aberrant signaling driven by growth factors. The transforming growth factor ${\beta}$ ($TGF{\beta}$) superfamily is a large group of structurally related proteins including $TGF{\beta}$ subfamily members Nodal, Activin, Lefty, bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and growth and differentiation factor (GDF). It is involved in important biological functions including morphogenesis, embryonic development, adult stem cell differentiation, immune regulation, wound healing and inflammation. This superfamily is also considered to impact on cancer biology including that of GBM, with various effects depending on the member. The $TGF{\beta}$ subfamily, in particular, is overexpressed in some GBM types which exhibit aggressive phenotypes. This subfamily impairs anti-cancer immune responses in several ways, including immune cells inhibition and major histocompatibility (MHC) class I and II abolishment. It promotes GBM angiogenesis by inducing angiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-I) and insulinlike growth factor-binding protein 7 (IGFBP7), contributes to GBM progression by inducing metalloproteinases (MMPs), "pro-neoplastic" integrins (${\alpha}v{\beta}3$, ${\alpha}5{\beta}1$) and GBM initiating cells (GICs) as well as inducing a GBM mesenchymal phenotype. Equally, Nodal promotes GICs, induces cancer metabolic switch and supports GBM cell proliferation, but is negatively regulated by Lefty. Activin promotes GBM cell proliferation while GDF yields immune-escape function. On the other hand, BMPs target GICS and induce differentiation and sensitivity to chemotherapy. This multifaceted involvement of this superfamily in GBM necessitates different strategies in anti-cancer therapy. While suppressing the $TGF{\beta}$ subfamily yields advantageous results, enhancing BMPs production is also beneficial.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.838-843
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• 2005

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a small secretory protein and a member of the nerve growth factor (NGF) gene family. We cloned the flounder BDNF gene from a flounder brain cDNA library. The nucleotide sequence of the cloned gene showed an open reading frame (ORF) consisting of 810 bp, corresponding to 269 amino acid residues. The tissue distribution of flounder BDNF was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in brain, embryo, and muscle tissues. To express fBDNF using a eukaryotic expression system, we constructed the vector mpCTV-BDNF containing the fBDNF gene and transformed this vector into Chlorella ellipsoidea. Stable integration of introduced DNA was confirmed by PCR analysis of genomic DNA, and mRNA expression in C. ellipsoidae was confirmed by RT-PCR analysis.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.23-31
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• 2019

The protein kinase $CK2{\alpha}$ (formerly Casein Kinase II) is implicated in tumorigenesis and transformation. However, the mechanisms of $CK2{\alpha}$ activation in breast cancer have yet to be elucidated. This study investigated the mechanisms of $CK2{\alpha}$ activation in estrogen signaling. Estrogen increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, $CK2{\alpha}$ activity, and protein expression in estrogen receptor positive ($ER^+$) MCF-7 human breast cancer cells, which were inhibited by the antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine. $H_2O_2$ enhanced $CK2{\alpha}$ activity and protein expression. Human epidermal growth factor (EGF) increased ROS production, $CK2{\alpha}$ activity and protein expression in EGF receptor 2 (HER2)-overexpressing MCF-7 (MCF-7 HER2) cells, but not in MCF-7 cells. Estrogen induced the phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). The p38 inhibitor, SB202190, blocked estrogen-induced increases in ROS production, $CK2{\alpha}$ activity and $CK2{\alpha}$ protein expression. The data suggest that ROS/p38 MAPK is the key inducer of $CK2{\alpha}$ activation in response to estrogen or EGF.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.397-406
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• 2008

Computational modeling of signal transduction is currently attracting much attention as it can promote the understanding of complex signal transduction mechanisms. Although several mathematical models have been used to examine signaling pathways, little attention has been given to crosstalk mechanisms. In this study, an attempt was made to develop a computational model for the pathways involving growth-factor-mediated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt). In addition, the dynamics of the protein activities were analyzed based on a set of kinetic data. The simulation approach integrates the information on several levels and predicts systems behavior. The in-silico analysis conducted revealed that the Raf and Akt pathways act independently.

• Korean Journal of Breeding Science
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.612-615
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• 2009

Lipoxygenase and Kunitz trypsin inhibitor protein are the main antinutritional factor in mature soybean seed. A new soybean cultivar, "Gaechuck#2" with yellow seed coat, lipoxygenase2,3-free and Kunitz trypsin inhibitor protein-free was developed. It was selected from the population derived from the cross between "Jinpumkong2ho" and C242. Plants of "Gaechuck#2" have determinate growth habit with purple flowers, tawny pubescence, yellow seed coat, yellow hilum, oval leaflet shape and brown pods at maturity. Seed protein and oil content on a dry weight basis were 40.7% and 18.7%, respectively. It has shown a resistant reaction to soybean necrosis, soybean mosaic virus, Cercospora leaf spot and blight, black root rot, pod and stem blight, and soybean pod borer. Gaechuck#2 matured in 4 October with plant height of 54cm and a 100-seed weight of 24.4g. Average Yield of Gaechuck#2 was 230 - 250 kg/10a in 2005 - 2007.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.19-31
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• 2007

Objective: Pathogenesis of the endometriosis is very complex and the etiology is still unclear. Our hypothesis is that there may be some difference in gene expression patterns between eutopic endometriums with or without endometriosis. In this study, we analyzed the difference of gene expression profile with cDNA microarray. Methods: Endometrial tissues were gathered from patients with endometriosis or other benign gynecologic diseases. cDNA microarray technique was applied to screen the different gene expression profiles from early and late secretory phase endometria of those two groups. Each three mRNA samples isolated from early and late secretory phase of endometrial tissues of control were pooled and used as master controls and labeled with Cy3-dUTP. Then the differences of gene expression pattern were screened by comparing eutopic endometria with endometriosis, which were labeled with Cy5-dUTP. Fluorescent labeled probes were hybridized on a microarray of 4,800 human genes. Results: Twelve genes were consistently over-expressed in the endometrium of endometriosis such as ATP synthase H transporting F1 (ATP5B), eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1, isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (NADP+), mitochondrial ribosomal protein L3, ATP synthase H+ transporting (ATP5C1) and TNF alpha factor. Eleven genes were consistently down-regulated in the endometriosis samples. Many extracellular matrix protein genes (decorin, lumican, EGF-containing fibulin-like extracellular matrix protein 1, fibulin 5, and matrix Gla protein) and protease/protease inhibitors (serine proteinase inhibitor, matrix metalloproteinase 2, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1), and insulin like growth factor II associated protein were included. Expression patterns of selected eight genes from the cDNA microarray were confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR or real time RT-PCR. Conclusion: The result of this analysis supports the hypothesis that the endometrium from patients with endometriosis has distinct gene expression profile from control endometrium without endometriosis.