• BMB Reports
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• v.53 no.7
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• pp.367-372
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• 2020

Cell cycle-related kinase (CCRK) has a conserved role in ciliogenesis, and Ccrk defects in mice lead to developmental defects, including exencephaly, preaxial polydactyly, skeletal abnormalities, retinal degeneration, and polycystic kidney. Here, we found that Ccrk is highly expressed in mouse trachea and bronchioles. Ccrk mutants exhibited pulmonary hypoplasia and abnormal branching morphogenesis in respiratory organ development. Furthermore, we demonstrated that Ccrk mutant lungs exhibit not only impaired branching morphogenesis but also a significant sacculation deficiency in alveoli associated with reduced epithelial progenitor cell proliferation. In pseudoglandular stages, Ccrk mutant lungs showed a downregulation of Hedgehog (Hh) signaling and defects in cilia morphology and frequency during progenitor-cell proliferation. Interestingly, we observed that activation of the Hh signaling pathway by small-molecule smoothened agonist (SAG) partially rescued bud morphology during branch bifurcation in explants from Ccrk mutant lungs. Therefore, CCRK properly regulates respiratory airway architecture in part through Hh-signal transduction and ciliogenesis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.532-541
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• 2020

In this study, we describe the inhibition of adipocyte differentiation by the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) fermentation product of Chrysanthemum indicum L. (CI) extract to control obesity. Preparation of LAB-fermented products was performed to overcome the cytotoxicity of CI extract. During fermentation and 3T3-L1 cell line experiment, cytotoxicity was not induced in the CI fermentation products over 1 day in culture. Fermented materials from highly proliferative cultures were selected for treatment of 3T3-L1 cells and for comparison with unfermented control groups. Cell survival and undifferentiated cell populations were decreased differentiation population in all experimental groups compared with controls, as measured using fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis. Akt pathway activity increased upon treatment with these fermented extracts in 3T3-L1 cells. Gli2 depleted at the protein level in association with adipocyte differentiation. LAB KCTC 3115- and 3109-fermented extract treatment caused controlled Gli2 protein accumulation. Moreover, KCTC 3115 and 3109 were found to reduce C/EBPα and FAS was depleted, whereas pACC was increased at the protein level upon treatment with the fermentation products of each of the four LAB used in this study. With Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis KCTC 3115 fermentation, the regulation of adipose differentiation and hedgehog signaling were also suppressed, thereby inhibiting the differentiation of progenitor cells. The basis for the activation of hedgehog signaling may provide insights into the treatment of obesity and the inhibition of adipocyte differentiation.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.144-151
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• 2019

Alopecia has emerged as one of the biggest interests in modern society. Many studies have focused on the treatment of alopecia, such as transplantation of hair follicles or inhibition of the androgen pathway. Hair growth is achieved through proper proliferation of the components such as keratinocytes and dermal papilla cells (DPCs), movement, and interaction between the two cells. The present study examined the effect of the hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway, which is an important and fundamental signal in the cell, on the morphology and the viability of human keratinocytes and DPCs. Upregulation of Hh signaling caused a morphological change and an increase in epithelium-mesenchymal transition-related gene expression but reduced the viability of keratinocytes, while the alteration of Hh signaling did not cause any change in DPCs. The results show the possibility that the regulation of Hh signaling can be applied for the treatment of alopecia.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.973-982
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• 2020

In this study, we examined inhibition of adipocyte differentiation associated with the administration of camphor, a substance identified in extracts of the flowering plant Chrysanthemum indicum L. (CI). No camphor-mediated cytotoxicity was observed over a period of 1-10 days in studies targeting cells of the 3T3-L1 adipocyte-like line. Experiments that featured siRNA-mediated suppression of the transmembrane proteins Patched (PTCH) and Smoothened (SMO) resulted in inhibition and activation of differentiation, respectively. Interestingly, inhibition of PTCH typically activates SMO protein targeting and serves to activate hedgehog (HH)-mediated signaling. The results of our study suggest that activation of HH-mediated signaling can inhibit adipocyte differentiation. Furthermore, expression of glioma-associated oncogene homologue 1 (Gli1) was detected by flow cytometry in 62.7±1.5% of cells in response to administration of Lactobacillus rhamnosus (KCTC 3237) and in 60.4±2.2% of cells in response to camphor; these levels are higher than those detected in undifferentiated controls (24.9±3.1%). No change in the state of fermented camphor was identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), but a 15.41% quantitative increase was confirmed in KCTC 3237. Overall, we conclude that administration of camphor resulted in overexpression of SMO and modulated the differential expression of Gli1. Animal studies focused on the impact of camphor as an agent to counteract obesity might be considered in the future. Indeed, camphor and similar physiologically active compounds from fermented CI might be developed as new and effective treatments for obesity.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.22
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• pp.9791-9795
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• 2014

To study the gene expression change and possible signal pathway during androgen-dependent prostate cancer (ADPC) becoming androgen-independent prostate cancer (AIPC), an LNCaP cell model of AIPC was established using flutamide in combination with androgen-free environment inducement, and differential expression genes were screened by microarray. Then the biological process, molecular function and KEGG pathway of differential expression genes are analyzed by Molecule Annotation System (MAS). By comparison of 12,207 expression genes, 347 expression genes were acquired, of which 156 were up-ragulated and 191 down-regulated. After analyzing the biological process and molecule function of differential expression genes, these genes are found to play crucial roles in cell proliferation, differntiation, cell cycle control, protein metabolism and modification and other biological process, serve as signal molecules, enzymes, peptide hormones, cytokines, cytoskeletal proteins and adhesion molecules. The analysis of KEGG show that the relevant genes of AIPC transformation participate in glutathione metabolism, cell cycle, P53 signal pathway, cytochrome P450 metabolism, Hedgehog signal pathway, MAPK signal pathway, adipocytokines signal pathway, PPAR signal pathway, TGF-${\beta}$ signal pathway and JAK-STAT signal pathway. In conclusion, during the process of ADPC becoming AIPC, it is not only one specific gene or pathway, but multiple genes and pathways that change. The findings above lay the foundation for study of AIPC mechanism and development of AIPC targeting drugs.

• BMB Reports
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.103-111
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• 1999

Hh proteins represent a new signaling paradigm in metazoan development. In species ranging from fruit flies to humans, Hh proteins mediate multiple processes vital to appropriate pattern formation in the developing embryo. Hh proteins undergo an autoprocessing event in which the full-length protein is cleaved into N-terminal and C-terminal domains (Hh-N and Hh-C, respectively), and a cholesterol moiety becomes covalently attached to Hh-N. All known signaling activities of Hh proteins are mediated by Hh-N while both the cleavage and cholesterol transfer reactions are mediated by Hh-C. The cholesterol attached to Hh-N is required to retrict the range of Hh signaling and may be involved in ensuring appropriate reception of the Hh signal in target tissues. Disruptions of Hh signaling pathways lead to severe developmental defects in newborns and cancers in adults. While studies of Hh proteins have yielded a wealth of new insight into the molecular mechanisms of metazoan development, many outstanding questions concerning Hh signaling mechanisms ensure that unraveling the secrets of this molecule will keep scientists well entertained for the foreseeable future.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.305-311
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• 2019

Small intestine has a structure called villi that increases the mucosal surface area for nutrient absorption. Intricate and tight epithelial-mesenchymal interactions are required for villi development. These interactions are regulated by signaling molecules, physical forces, and epithelial deformation. Signaling molecules include hedgehog (Hh), bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and Wnt ligands. The Hh ligand is expressed from the epithelium and binds to the underlying mesenchymal cells, resulting in aggregation into mesenchymal clusters. The clusters express BMP and Wnt ligands to control its size and spacing between clusters. The clusters then form villi. Despite the fact that the villi formation is studied extensively, we do not have a complete understanding. In addition, the recent study shows there is a great relationship between the overexpression of the Hh signal and development of cancer in the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, signaling between epithelial and mesenchymal cells and their physical interactions will be discussed on this review.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.433-444
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• 2001

This review highlights the ontogenesis and the differentiation of motor neuron in spinal cord, and introduce the survival motor neuron(SMN) which is associated with growth and survival of motor neurons. The differentiation of floor plate cells and motor neurons in the vertebrate neural tube appears to be induced by signals from the notochord. This signal is Sonic hedgehog(Shh). The early development of motor neurons involves the inductive action of Shh. The SMN gene is essential for embryonic viability. SMN mRNA is also expressed in virtually all cell types in spinal cord, including large motor neurons. The SMN protein is involved in RNA processing and during early embryonic development is necessary fer cell survival. Two SMN genes are present in 5q 13 in humans: the telomeric gene(SMNt), which is the SMA-determining gene, and the centromeric analog gene(SMNc). The majority of transcripts from the SMNt gene are full length but, major transcripts of the SMNc gene have a high degrees of alternative splicing and tend to have little or no exon 7. The SMN is involved in the RNA processing(the biogenesis of snRNPs and pre-mRNA splicing), the anti-apoptotic effects, and regulating gene expression.

• 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.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.64-69
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• 2021

Primary cilium has a signal transduction function that is essential for brain development, and also determines cell polarity and acts as a mediator for important signaling systems, especially the Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) pathway. TBC1D32 is a ciliary protein, implicated in SHH signaling. Biallelic mutations in the TBC1D32 gene causes a kind of ciliopathy, heterogeneous developmental or degenerative disorders that affect multiple organs, including the brain. Here we report a boy who carried compound heterozygous variants in TBC1D32. The patient showed hypotonia, respiratory difficulty, and multiple anomalies at his birth. He was diagnosed with congenital hypopituitarism and treated with T4, hydrocortisone, and growth hormone. Despite the hormonal replacement, the patient needed long-term respiratory support with tracheostomy and nutritional support with a feeding tube. His developmental milestones were severely retarded. Hydrocephalus and strabismus developed and both required surgery, during the outpatient follow-up. Whole-exome sequencing indicated compound heterozygous variants, c.2200C>T (p.Arg734^*) and c.156-1G>T, in TBC1D32 gene. This is the first Korean case of TBC1D32-related ciliopathy and we reported detailed and sequential clinical features. This case demonstrated the utility of whole-exome sequencing and provided valuable clinical data on ultra-rare disease.