• Journal of Breast Cancer
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.399-405
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• 2018

Purpose: Vesicle-associated membrane protein 8 (VAMP8) is a soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor receptor protein that participates in autophagy by directly regulating autophagosome membrane fusion and has been reported to be involved in tumor progression. Nevertheless, the expression and prognostic value of VAMP8 in breast cancer (BC) remain unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical significance and biological function of VAMP8 in BC. Methods: A total of 112 BC samples and 30 normal mammary gland samples were collected. The expression of VAMP8 was assessed in both BC tissues and normal mammary gland tissues via a two-step immunohistochemical detection method. Results: The expression of VAMP8 in BC tissues was significantly higher than that in normal breast tissues. Furthermore, increased VAMP8 expression was significantly correlated with tumor size (p=0.007), lymph node metastasis (p=0.024) and recurrence (p=0.001). Patients with high VAMP8 expression had significantly lower cumulative recurrence-free survival and overall survival (p<0.001 for both) than patients with low VAMP8 expression. In multivariate logistic regression and Cox regression analyses, lymph node metastasis and VAMP8 expression were independent prognostic factors for BC. Conclusion: VAMP8 is significantly upregulated in human BC tissues and can thus be a practical and potentially effective surrogate marker for survival in BC patients.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.1365-1373
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• 2013

Fat mass and obesity associated gene (FTO) plays an important role in appetite control and energy consumption in human and mice. In order to examine FTO expression influence on fat deposition in Suzhong pigs, FTO mRNA expression was detected in 16 tissues by RT-PCR, FTO protein expression was detected in 5 tissues by western blot, and association of FTO polymorphism with meat quality traits was analyzed in Suzhong populations with 714 records. RT-PCR results revealed that FTO mRNA was expressed in all sixteen tissues with significant differences (p<0.05), expression in backfat was significantly higher than that of any other tissue (p<0.05), and expression in longissimus dorsi muscle had the second highest significance level (p<0.05). Western blot results demonstrated that FTO protein was highly expressed in backfat and longissimus dorsi muscle. Furthermore, FTO mRNA and protein expression in tissues of high-fat pigs was significantly higher than that of low-fat pigs (p<0.05), suggesting FTO expression had advantageous effects on fat deposition. FTO polymorphism results evidenced that at A227G locus, G allele seemed to have advantageous effects on fat deposition, indicating it could be a significant candidate gene for improving pork quality in Suzhong pigs.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.59-68
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• 2007

Changes in protein metabolism were studied in hemolymph and fat body on days 1, 3, 5 and 7 of the fifth-instar silkworm, Bombyx mori, exposed to lethal, sublethal doses and prevailing levels of fluoride in groundwater in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh States of India. The total protein content indicated a depletion followed by a concomitant increase in accumulation of free amino acids. Concurrently, the activity of protease in both of the tissues was also increased. A steady enhancement in the activities of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase paralleled the elevation of glutamate dehydrogenase activity in the tissues studied. It is presumed, on the basis of these results, that the fluoride toxicity causes major changes in protein metabolism of the silkworms.

• BMB Reports
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.103-109
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• 2010

Modification of proteins by the reversible covalent addition of the small ubiquitin like modifier (SUMO) protein has important consequences affecting target protein stability, sub-cellular localization, and protein-protein interactions. SUMOylation involves a cascade of enzymatic reactions, which resembles the process of ubiquitination. In this study, we characterized the SUMOylation system from an important crop plant, rice, and show that it responds to cold, salt and ABA stress conditions on a protein level via the accumulation of SUMOylated proteins. We also characterized the transcriptional regulation of individual SUMOylation cascade components during stress and development. During stress conditions, majority of the SUMO cascade components are transcriptionally down regulated. SUMO conjugate proteins and SUMO cascade component transcripts accumulated differentially in various tissues during plant development with highest levels in reproductive tissues. Taken together, these data suggest a role for SUMOylation in rice development and stress responses.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.1975-1979
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• 2013

Aim: To investigate the level of expression of proto-oncogene Wip1 and its physiological significance in colorectal cancer. Methods: Immunohistochemistry, semi-quantitative RT-PCR, and Western blotting were used to analyze Wip1 mRNA and protein expression in 120 cases of colorectal cancer and normal tissues to study relationships with clinical symptoms and disease prognosis. Results: The level of Wip1 protein expression was found to be significantly higher in colorectal cancer tissues (85% (102/120)) than in normal tissues (30% (36/120)) (P<0.05). The relative amount of Wip1 protein in colorectal cancer tissue was also found to be significantly higher (P<0.05) than in normal tissues ($1.060{\pm}0.02$ and $0.640{\pm}0.023$, respectively). Semi-quantitative RT-PCR showed average Wip1 mRNA expression levels to be $1.113{\pm}0.018$ and $0.658{\pm}0.036$ for colorectal cancer tissue and adjacent normal tissue (P<0.05). The level of Wip1 protein expression was not correlated with age, gender, or tumor site, but appeared linked with lymph node metastasis, Dukes stage, histological grade, and liver metastasis. Individuals with high and low levels of Wip1 expression showed statistically significant differences in the five-year overall survival and recurrence-free survival rates (P<0.05). Conclusion: Wip1 mRNA and protein are highly expressed in colorectal cancers and may be associated with colorectal cancer development and progression.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.12
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• pp.1111-1117
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• 2015

Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) is a specific receptor for microbial flagellin and is one of the most well-known receptors in the TLR family. We reported previously that TLR5 signaling is well maintained during aging and that caveolin-1 may be involved in TLR5 signaling in aged macrophages through direct interactions. Therefore, it is important to clarify whether caveolin-1/TLR5 interactions affect TLR5 expression during aging. To assess the effect of caveolin-1 on TLR5, we analyzed TLR5 expression in senescent fibroblasts and aged tissues expressing high levels of caveolin-1. As expected, TLR5 mRNA and protein expression was well maintained in senescent fibroblasts and aged tissues, whereas TLR4 mRNA and protein were diminished in those cells and tissues. To determine the mechanism of caveolin-1-dependent TLR5 expression, we examined TLR5 expression in caveolin-1 deficient mice. Interestingly, TLR5 mRNA and protein levels were decreased dramatically in tissues from caveolin-1 knockout mice. Moreover, overexpressed caveolin-1 in vitro enhanced TLR5 mRNA through the MAPK pathway and prolonged TLR5 protein half-life through direct interaction. These results suggest that caveolin-1 may play a crucial role in maintaining of TLR5 by regulating transcription systems and increasing protein half-life.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1663-1666
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• 2012

Background and Objective: Protein expression in colon and rectal cancer (CRC) and paired normal tissues was examined by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) to identify differentially expressed proteins. Materials and Methods: Five fresh colorectal cancer and paired adjacent normal tissues were obtained and differentially expressed protein spots were determined using PDQuest software, with identification on the basis of MALDI-TOF mass spectra. Results: Compared with normal colorectal mucosa, protein abnormal expression of 65 spots varying more than 1.5 times were found in 2-DE gels from colorectal cancer samples (P<0.05); forty-two proteins were up-regulated and 23 were down-regulated; twelve protein spots were identified using mass spectrometry, of which 8 were up-regulated, includimng HSPB1and Annexin A4, while 4 were down-regulated, the results being consistent with Western blot findings. Conclusions: Two-dimensional electrophoresis reference maps for CRC tissues and adjacent normal mucosa (NMC) were established and 12 differentially expressed proteins were identified. Up-regulated HSPB1 and Annexin A4 may play many important roles in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.847-850
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• 2012

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-induced protein 8 (TNFAIP8 or TIPE) is a recently identified protein considered to be associated with carcinogenesis. To investigate its expression pattern in pancreatic cancer patients and to analyse its correlation with clinicopathological significance and the expression levels of epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR), immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the TNFAIP8 and EGFR proteins in pancreatic cancers, pancreatitis tissues, and healthy controls. The results showed stronger staining of TNFAIP8 protein in pancreatic cancer tissues compared with normal pancreas tissue. Furthermore, in 56 patients with pancreatic cancer, the expression levels of TNFAIP8 in patients with low tumor stage was higher than that with high tumor stage, and correlated with tumor staging and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). Furthermore, TNFAIP8 expression positively correlated with EGFR levels (r=0.671135, P<0.05). These results indicate that TNFAIP8 may play important roles in the progression of pancreatic cancer.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.92-98
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• 2020

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are highly conserved cellular proteins that contribute to adaptive responses of organisms to a variety of stressors. In response to stressors, cellular levels of HSPs are increased and play critical roles in protein stability, folding and molecular trafficking. The mRNA expression pattern of two well-known heat shock protein transcripts, HSP70 and HSP90 were studied in two tissues of nerve ganglia, cerebral ganglion and pleuropedal ganglion of Pacific abalone (Haliotis discus hannai). It was observed that both HSP70 and HSP90 transcripts were upregulated under heat stress in both ganglion tissues. Expression level of HSP70 was found higher than HSP90 in both ganglia whereas cerebral ganglion showed higher expression than pleuropedal ganglion. The HSP70 and HSP90 showed higher expression at Day-1 after exposed to heat stress, later decreased at Day-3 and Day-7 onwards. The present result suggested that HSP70 and HSP90 synthesize in nerve ganglion tissues and may provide efficient protection from stress.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.403-416
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• 1997

In order to observe the localization of the specific antigenic protein in the tissue of Paragonimus westermani metacercaria, immunogoldlabeling method was applied using IgG of the dog which were infected with Paragonimus westermani metacercaria and IgG of rabbits which were immunized with purified 23 kDa protein from metacercaria of the Paragenimus westermani. The metacercaria worm tissues obtained from Cambaroides similis were embedded in Lowicryl HM20 medium, treated with infected and immunized IgG and protein A gold complex (particle size; 12 nm) and observed by electron microscope. In the tissue antigen of Paragonimus westermani metacercaria, the content of excretory bladder which was highly dense electron density was constituted in the excretory bladder of the parenchymal tissue. In the metacercaria tissues antigen reacted with IgG of infected dog. Labeled gold particles distributed on the interstitial matrix of parenchymal cells, fibrous granules of parenchymal tissue and the content of excretory bladder. High antigenicity was observed on content of excretory bladder. It was found to be specifically distributed at the tissue of Paragonimus westermani metacercaria. In the tissues antigen reacted with IgG of immunized rabbit. Labeled gold particles randomly distributed on the interstitial matrix and fibrous granules of parenchymal tissue but in the content of excretory bladder of Paragonimus westermani metacercaria, gold particles were richly labeled. Therefore, the 23 kDa protein contained with Paragonimus westermani metacercaria was found protein which was specifically constituted at the content of excretory bladder of Paragonimum westermani metacercaria. The 23 kDa protein was commonly contained from of Paragonimus westermani metacercaria to adult and showed strong antigenicity against the immunized and infected IgG.