• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.449-454
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• 2009

5'-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a heterotrimeric complex consisting of a catalytic ($\alpha$) and two regulatory ($\beta$ and $\gamma$) subunits. Two isoforms are known for catalytic subunit (${\alpha}1$, ${\alpha}2$) and are encoded by different genes. To assess the metabolic effects of $AMPK{\alpha}1$, we examined the effects of overexpression of adenoviral-mediated $AMPK{\alpha}1$ in hyperlipidemic type 2 diabetic rats. The Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rat is an established animal model of type 2 diabetes that exhibits chronic and slowly progressive hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia. Thirty five-week-old overt type 2 diabetic rats (n=10) were administered intravenously with Ad.$AMPK{\alpha}1$. AMPK activity was measured by phosphorylation of acetyl CoA carboxlyase (ACC). To investigate the changes of gene expression related glucose and lipid metabolism, quantitative real-time PCR was performed with liver tissues. Overexpression of $AMPK{\alpha}1$ showed that blood glucose concentration was decreased but that glucose tolerance was not completely recovered on 7th day after treatment. Plasma triglyceride concentration was decreased slightly, and hepatic triglyceride content was markedly reduced by decreasing expression of hepatic lipogenic genes. Overexpression of $AMPK{\alpha}1$ markedly improved hepatic steatosis and it may have effective role for improving hepatic lipid metabolism in hyperlipidemic state.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.201-210
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• 2003

Objective: The role of prostaglandin $E_2$ (PGE2) in the etiopathogenesis of immune and inflammatory diseases has become the subject of recent debate. To determine the role of PGE2 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we tested the effect of exogenous PGE2 on the production of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) by rheumatoid synoviocytes. Methods: Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) were prepared from the synovial tissues of RA patients, and cultured in the presence of PGE2. The COX-2 mRNA and protein expression levels were determined by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively. The PGE2 receptor subtypes in the FLS were analyzed by RT-PCR. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) was used to measure the NF-${\kappa}B$ binding activity for COX-2 transcription. The in vivoeffect of PGE2 on the development of arthritis was also tested in collagen induced arthritis (CIA) animals. Results: PGE2 ($10^{-11}$ to $10^{-5}M$) dose-dependently inhibited the expression of COX-2 mRNA and the COX-2 protein stimulated with IL-$1{\beta}$, but not COX-1 mRNA. NS-398, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, displayed an additive effect on PGE2-induced COX-2 downregulation. The FLS predominantly expressed the PGE2 receptor (EP) 2 and EP4, which mediated the COX-2 suppression by PGE2. Treatment with anti-IL-10 monoclonal antibodies partially reversed the PGE2-induced suppression of COX-2 mRNA, suggesting that IL-10 may be involved in modulating COX-2 by PGE2. Experiments using an inducer and an inhibitor of cyclic AMP (cAMP) suggest that cAMP is the major intracellular signal that mediates the regulatory effect of PGE2 on COX-2 expression. EMSA revealed that PGE2 inhibited the binding of NF-${\kappa}B$ in the COX-2 promoter via a cAMP dependent pathway. In addition, a subcutaneous injection of PGE2 twice daily for 2 weeks significantly reduced the incidence and severity of CIA as well as the production of IgG antibodies to type II collagen. Conclusion: Our data suggest that overproduced PGE2 in the RA joints may function as an autocrine regulator of its own synthesis by inhibiting COX-2 production and may, in part, play an anti-inflammatory role in the arthritic joints.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.287-294
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• 1995

Studies were carried out to elucidate the efficacy of exogeneous 20-hydroxyecdysone treatment on terminating pupal diapause in the fall webworm. Hyphantria cunea Drury. And the difference was also investigated between normal adult development and post-diapause development after 20-hydroxyecdysone treatment. In the diapause termination rate of pupae treated with 20-hydroxyecdysone after storage for various periods at 16L:8D and $25\pm$$1^{\circ}C$, at the highest rate was observed from the group stored for the longest period and the lowest rate from those stored for 1.5 months. The time needed for adult emergence was inversely proportional to the chilling (at $0\pm$$1^{\circ}C$) period, and the longer its exposure period at low temperature, the higher its sensitivity to 20-hydroxyecdysone treatment. Pupal diapause duration was almost the same, regardless of storage period in the total darkness or at the photoperiod of 16L:8D, and also they successfully emerged to adult even without any experience at low temperature. The oxygen consumption rate in normally developing pupae showed nearly a typical U-form. But, that of diapausing pupae treated with 20-hydroxyecdysone slowly increased and jumped 14 days after the treatment. Pupal diapause began before formation of adult tissues, an a timing of adult tissue formation coincided with ascending timing of the metabolic rate in both normally developing pupae and diapausing pupae treated with 20-hydroxyecdysone. The diapausing pupae treated with 20-hydroxyecdysone was similar to normally developing pupae in band patterns of proteins from haemolymph or fat body.

• BMB Reports
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.255-260
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• 2018

Wntless/GPR177 functions as WNT ligand carrier protein and activator of $WNT/{\beta}$-catenin signaling, however, its molecular role in gastric cancer (GC) has remained elusive. We investigated the role of GPR177 in gastric tumorigenesis and provided the therapeutic potential of a clinical development of anti-GPR177 monoclonal antibodies. GPR177 mRNA expression was assessed in GC transcriptome data sets (GSE15459, n = 184; GSE66229, n = 300); protein expression was assessed in independent patient tumor tissues (Yonsei TMA, n = 909). GPR177 expression were associated with unfavorable prognosis [log-rank test, GSE15459 (P = 0.00736), GSE66229 (P = 0.0142), and Yonsei TMA (P = 0.0334)] and identified as an independent risk predictor of clinical outcomes: GSE15459 [hazard ratio (HR) 1.731 (95% confidence interval; CI; 1.103-2.715), P = 0.017], GSE66229 [HR 1.54 (95% CI, 1.10-2.151), P = 0.011], and Yonsei TMA [HR 1.254 (95% CI, 1.049-1.500), P = 0.013]. Either antibody treatment or GPR177 knockdown suppressed proliferation of GC cells and sensitized cells to apoptosis. And also inhibition of GPR177 suppresses in vitro and in vivo tumorogenesis in GC cells and inhibits $WNT/{\beta}$-catenin signaling. Finally, targeting and inhibition of GPR177 with antibody suppressed tumorigenesis in PDX model. Together, these results suggest GPR177 as a novel candidate for prognostic marker as well as a promising target for treatment of GC patients.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.153-160
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• 2010

This study was conducted to examine the utilization of immunohistochemistry using the bovine anti-brucella immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody in the diagnosis of brucellosis and to develop a functional biomarker relation for the progress of the disease. Anti-brucella IgG antibody was purified from the affected bovine serum using an affinity chromatography. We performed our investigation on 17 cases of brucellosis and 19 control cases with negative Rose-Bengal test results. Our purified anti-brucella IgG antibody showed a positive immunoreactivity in cytoplasmic hepatocytes of the centrilobular region, and glomeruli and tubular epithelium of the kidney. The protein pattern of the affected liver versus control was analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis, showing a different expression pattern of proteins between the two. Five protein spots were up-regulated and another were five down-regulated in the brucellosis liver. Significant upregulaton of catalase and 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase might be due to a compensatory reaction in response to the endotoxic shock of brucella. In conclusion, the anti-brucella IgG antibody may be a good tool for discriminative diagnosis of the affected tissues and proteomics data suggest new target proteins underlying a possible pathogenic mechanism of brucellosis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.3651-3657
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• 2014

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a relatively higher incidence in many countries of Asia. Globally, HCC has a high fatality rate and short survival. Epirubicin, a doxorubicin analogue, may be administered alone or in combination with other agents to treat primary liver cancer and metastatic diseases. However, the toxic effects of epirubicin to normal tissues and cells have been one of the major obstacles to successful cancer chemotherapy. Here, we investigated the effects of epirubicin in combination with kappa-selenocarrageenan on mice with H22 implanted tumors and HepG-2 cell proliferation, immune organ index, morphology, cell cycle and related protein expressions in vivo and in vitro with sequential drug exposure. The inhibitory rate of tumor growth in vivo was calculated. Drug sensitivity was measured by MTT assay, and the King's principle was used to evaluate the interaction of drug combination. Morphological changes were observed by fluorescent microscopy. Cell cycle changes were analyzed by flow cytometry. Expression of cyclin A, Cdc25A and Cdk2 were detected by Western blotting. In vivo results demonstrated that the inhibitory rate of EPI combined with KSC was higher than that of KSC or EPI alone, and the Q value indicated an additive effect. In addition, KSC could significantly raise the thymus and spleen indices of mice with H22 implanted tumors. In the drug sensitivity assay in vitro, exposure to KSC and EPI simultaneously was more effective than exposure sequentially in HepG-2 cells, while exposure to KSC prior to EPI was more effective than exposure to EPI prior to KSC. Q values showed an additive effect in the simultaneous group and antagonistic effects in the sequential groups. Morphological analysis showed similar results to the drug sensitivity assay. Cell cycle analysis revealed that exposure to KSC or EPI alone arrested the cells in S phase in HepG-2 cells, exposure to KSC and EPI simultaneously caused accumulation in the S phase, an effect caused by either KSC or EPI. Expression of cyclin A, Cdc25A and Cdk2 protein was down-regulated following exposure to KSC and EPI alone or in combination, exposure to KSC and EPI simultaneously resulting in the lowest values. Taken together, our findings suggest that KSC in combination with EPI might have potential as a new therapeutic regimen against HCC.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.92-100
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• 2002

For the survey of viruses infected in peanut cultivated in Korea, peanut seeds and leaves showing viral symptoms were collected from their growing areas. Typical symptoms on virus infected peanut leaves including mosaic, mottle with necrosis, yellowing, stripe or vein banding and stunts were observed. Two viruses isolated from the naturally infected peanuts were identified as Bean common mosaic virus(BCMV-PSt) and Peanut mottle virus(PeMoV) by their host range, immunosorbent elcetron microscopy(ISEM), direct immuno staining assay(DISA), RT-PCR, and intracellural symptoms. Direct negative staining method by electron microscope showed filamentous particles of about 780 m in length as well as inclusion bodies. In ultrathin sections of BCMV-PSt and PeMoV infected tissues, cytoplasmic cylindrical inclusions as well as filamentous virus particles were observed in the cytoplasm of parenchyma cells. ISEM revealed filamentous particles strongly decorated with antiserums of BCMV-PSt and PeMoV Peanut seeds were stained with BCMV-PSt and PeMoV antisera indicating the possibility of seed transmission far these viruses. Seedlings germinated from peanut seeds which reacted with antiserums of BCMV-PSt by DISA showed mild mottle or stripe symptoms while mosaic and necrotic mottle symptoms were observed for PeMoV-positive seedlings. Filamentous particles were strongly decorated with each antiserum under ISEM observation. BCMV-PSt coat protein gene of about 1.2 Kbp was amplified by RT-PCR. Altogether these results indicate that BCMV-PSt is the most prevalent virus infecting peanut in Korea.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.1679-1685
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• 2008

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a naturally occurring compound found in dairy and beef products. It has been shown to suppress cancer cells and to induce apoptosis. Practically, there is emerging evidence that CLA can inhibit chemically induced carcinogenesis in various tissues. However, the molecular mechanisms of CLA on human MCF-7 breast cancer cells have not been clearly explained yet. In this report, we investigated the anti-cancer activity of CLA in MCF-7 cells. It was found that CLA could inhibit the growth of the MCF-7 cells and induce apoptosis, through modulating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). AMPK acts as a cellular fuel gauge and responds to decreased cellular energy status by inhibiting ATP-consuming pathways and increasing ATP-synthesis. CLA treatment with variable concentrations and different time of same-dose CLA on MCF-7 cells resulted in a strong activation of AMPK and an inhibition of COX-2 expression. It supports that CLA induces apoptosis in CLA-treated MCF 7 cells. Therefore, the effects of CLA induced COX-2 expression via activating AMPK can provide new possibility into the understanding the molecular mechanisms of anti-cancer component.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.171-187
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• 1998

Garlic occupies a special position among the many foods of vegetable origin because it is the sole food for Koreans during the their lives. And vitamin A has been ingested by forms of food or additives. Cadmium has been described as one of the most dangerous trace elements in the food and environment of man and livestocks. Since the de novo synthesis of stress proteins can be detected early after exposure to some agents, analysis of cadmium-induced changes in gene expression , ie. alterations in patterns of protein synthesis, may be useful to develop as biomarkers of exposure and damage for food hygiene. He acute and chronic combine effects of cadmium (Cd, CdCl2 20mg/kg), garlic oil(Dds: diallyl disulfide 50mg/kg, 3 times a week) and vitamin A(Ra: retinol acetate 50,000 IU/kg, 3 times a week) on Wistar male rats were evaluated concerning cadmium contents, tissues enzyme activity, HSP expression histopathological and electron microscopical examinations. The results of the study are as follows ; 1. Less cadmium was absorbed through the digestive tracts, but the ratio of contents in tissue were not changed by the simultaneous adminstration of diallyl disufide or retinol acetate. 2. ALT(alanine aminotransferase) , AST(aspartate aminotransferase), glucose, BUN (blood urea nitrogen), creatinine, the key indices of the clinical changes in hepatic and renal function were significantly hanged by the cadmium treatment after 1 week in liver, after 4 weeks in kidney. 3. Histopathological changes in cadmium treated rats were appeared at 8 weeks age treatment in kidneys. Homogenous eosinophilic material was accumulated in cortical and collecting tubular lumens at 16 weeks. Degenerated or necrotized tubular cells were observed in cortex and medulla. Degenerated seminiferous tubules and homogeneous eosinophilic material was seen in interstitial tissue of rat treated with cadmium for 16 weeks. Calcium deposits were seen in degenerated seminiferous tubules and the tubules showed severe calcification of rat treated with cadmium for 16 weeks. Electron microscope changes in kidney were observed in rats treated with CdCl2 20 mg/kg. Proximal convoluted tubule cells showed selling of cytoplasm and narrow lumen. Capillary endothelial cells showed cytoplasmic vacuoles and swelling. Degenerated epithelial cells were accumulated in tubular lumen of kidney. 4. Enhanced synthesis of 70 KDa relateve molecular mass proteins were detected in 2 hours after cadmium, exposure, with maximum activity occurring at 8~48 hours. Induction of HSP 70 was evident at proximal tubules and glomeruli in kidney. Testicular cells produced enough HSP to be detected normally. From the above results, it could be concluded that HSP70 induction by the cadmium treatment was a rapid reaction to indicated the exposure of xenobiotics, and retinol acetate reduced the cadmium induced nephrotoxicity.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 2004

In this study, I attempted to develope the expression and purification system of human mammaglobin proteins in Escherichia coli and to produce anti-human mammaglobin rabbit antibody for the detection of human mammaglobin protein in the peripheral blood of breast cancer patients. Human mammaglobin gene was cloned and sequenced from m-RNAs purified from donated breast cancer tissues using RT-PCR. The cloned gene was inserted into pET30, pET22, and pET32 plasmid. The cloned gene in pET30 yields insoluble proteins which was difficult to purify from the cells extracts. The mammaglobin gene in pET32 was strongly expressed soluble proteins which were isolated using Ni-NTA affinity chromagraphy and DEAE-ion exchange chromatography, followed by enterokinase digestion of the purified proteins. The isolated proteins had enough purity to use as a antigen for the production of anti-mammaglobin antibody in rabbits. The polyclonal antibody produced against the isolated mammaglobin showed a specificity to mammaglobin after Westernblot immuno assay. In conclusion, the isolated mammaglobin protein and the anti-mammaglobin rabbit antibody may be used for diagnosis of breast cancer as well as development of anti-breast cancer drug.