• Molecules and Cells
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• 제44권9호
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• pp.688-695
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• 2021

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has become a global health concern. Various SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have been developed and are being used for vaccination worldwide. However, no therapeutic agents against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been developed so far; therefore, new therapeutic agents are urgently needed. In the present study, we evaluated several hepatitis C virus direct-acting antivirals as potential candidates for drug repurposing against COVID-19. Theses include asunaprevir (a protease inhibitor), daclatasvir (an NS5A inhibitor), and sofosbuvir (an RNA polymerase inhibitor). We found that asunaprevir, but not sofosbuvir and daclatasvir, markedly inhibited SARS-CoV-2-induced cytopathic effects in Vero E6 cells. Both RNA and protein levels of SARS-CoV-2 were significantly decreased by treatment with asunaprevir. Moreover, asunaprevir profoundly decreased virion release from SARS-CoV-2-infected cells. A pseudoparticle entry assay revealed that asunaprevir blocked SARS-CoV-2 infection at the binding step of the viral life cycle. Furthermore, asunaprevir inhibited SARS-CoV-2 propagation in human lung Calu-3 cells. Collectively, we found that asunaprevir displays broad-spectrum antiviral activity and therefore might be worth developing as a new drug repurposing candidate for COVID-19.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제67권4호
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• pp.303-310
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• 2009

Background: Elevated expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and Polo-like kinase-1 (PLK-1) is observed in a wide variety of cancers. Augmented expression of COX-2 and enhanced production of prostaglandin $E_2(PGE_2)$ are associated with increased tumor cell survival and malignancy; COX-2 has been implicated in the control of human non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cell growth. PLK-1 siRNA induced the cell death of lung cancer cells and the systemic administration of PLK-1 siRNA/atelocollagen complex inhibited the growth of lung cancer in a liver metastatic murine model. COX-2 and PLK-1 are involved in proliferation and in cell cycle regulation, and there is a significant correlation between their interaction in prostate carcinoma. Methods: In this study, we investigated the pattern of COX-2 and PLK-1 expression in NSCLC, after treatment with IL-1$\beta$, COX-2 inhibitor and PLK-1 siRNA. Results: Expression of PLK-1 was decreased in A549 COX-2 sense cells, and was increased in A549 COX-2 anti-sense cells. Knock out of PLK-1 expression by PLK-1 siRNA augmented COX-2 expression in A549 and NCl-H157 cells. When A549 and NCI-H157 cells were treated with COX-2 inhibitor on a dose-dependent basis, PLK-1 and COX-2 were reduced. However, when the expression of COX-2 was induced by IL-1$\beta$, the production of PLK-1 decreased. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that COX-2 and PLK-1 are regulated and inhibited by each other in NSCLC, and suggest that these proteins have a reverse relationship in NSCLC.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제16권4호
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• pp.745-755
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• 2002

To examine the effects of Yunpyesan on the cell proliferation of A549 human lung carcinoma cell line, we performed various experiments such as dose-dependent effect of Yunpyesan on cell proliferation and viability, morphological changes, quantification of apoptotic cell death and alterations of apoptosis/cell cycle-regulatory gene products. Yunpyesan declined cell viability and proliferation in both a dose- and a time-dependent manner. The anti-proliferative effect by Yunpyesan treatment in A459 cells was associated with morphological changes such as membrane shrinking and cell rounding up. Yunpyesan Induced apoptotic cell death in a time-dependent manner, which was associated with degradation of poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), an apoptotic target protein, without alterations of the balance between Bcl-2 and Bax expressions. DNA flow cytometric histograms showed that population of G1 phase of the cell cycle was increased by Yunpyesan treatment in a dose-dependent manner. Western blot analysis revealed that cyclin D1 and A were reduced by Yunpyesan treatment, whereas cyclin dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitor p27 was markedly increased in a time-dependent fashion. The level of tumor suppressor p53 proteins was also increased by Yunpyesan treatment and its increase might be linked to increase of Cdk inhibitor p27. In addition, Mdm2, negative regulator of p53, was down-regulated by Yunpyesan treatment. Since the expression of retinoblastome protein (pRB), a key regulator of G1/S progression, was reduced by Yunpyesan treatment, we supposed that phosphorylation of pRB might be also blocked. The present results indicated that Yunpyesan-induced inhibition of lung cancer cell proliferation is associated with the induction of apoptosis and the blockage of G1/S progression.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제39권1호
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• pp.24-27
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• 1992

연구배경 : Angiotensin converting enzyme(ACE) 길항제인 Captopril용 최근 널리 쓰이는 혈압강하제로 바교적 부작용이 적은 것으로 알려져왔다. 그러나 1985년 Sesoko 등이 처음으로 Captopril에 의한 기침을 보고한 이래 관심이 높아져 최근 여러 예가 보고되고 있다. 방법 : 저자들은 최근 경험한 Captopril에 의한 기침환자 15명에 대한 임상상을 후향적으호 분석 하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 결과 : 1) 대상 환자의 평균 연령은 58.5세 였으며, 남자 5예, 여자 10예 였다. 2) 대상 환자의 질환은 고혈압이 13예, 울혈성 심부전이 2예 였으며 과거력상 흡연력이 있었던 경우가 3예였다. 3) 대상 환자의 Captopril 하루 평균 사용량은 43.3mg 이었고, 사용기간은 5일에서 180일 까지 다양하였다. 4) Captopril에 의한 기침으로 판명되기 까지의 기침의 기간은 평균 47.5일 이었고, Captopril 사용 중지 후 기침이 소실될때 까지의 기간은 1~7일 이었다. 결론 : Captopril을 사용하고 있는 환자에서 원인없이 기침이 발생하였을 때는 Captopril에 의한 기침을 강력히 의심해야 한다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제74권3호
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• pp.129-133
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• 2013

The presence of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR ) mutation is a prognostic and predictive marker for EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy. However, inevitably, relapse occurs due to the development of acquired resistance, such as T790M mutation. We report a case of repeated responses to EGFR-TKIs in a never-smoked woman with adenocarcinoma. After six cycles of gemcitabine and cisplatin, the patient was treated by gefitinib for 4 months until progression. Following the six cycles of third-line pemetrexed, gefitinib retreatment was initiated and continued with a partial response for 6 months. After progression, she was recruited for an irreversible EGFR inhibitor trial, and the time to progression was 11 months. Although EGFR direct sequencing on the initial diagnostic specimen revealed a wild-type, we performed a rebiopsy from the progressed subcarinal node at the end of the trial. The result of peptide nucleic acid clamping showed L858R/L861Q.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제72권4호
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• pp.343-351
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• 2012

Background: The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling axis has emerged as a novel target for cancer therapy. Agents that inhibit this pathway are currently under development for lung cancer treatment. In the present study, we have tested whether dual inhibition of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling can lead to enahnced antitumor effects. We have also examined the role of autophagy during this process. Methods: We analyzed the combination effect of the mTOR inhibitor, temsirolimus, and the Akt inhibitor, GSK690693, on the survival of NCI-H460 and A549 non-small cell lung cancer cells. Cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay and apoptosis induction was evaluated by flow cytometry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay. Autophagy induction was also evaluated by acridine orange staining. Changes of apoptosis or autophagy-related proteins were evaluated by western blot analysis. Results: Combination treatment with temsirolimus and GSK690693 caused synergistically increased cell death in NCI-H460 and A549 cells. This was attributable to increased induction of apoptosis. Caspase 3 activation and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage accompanied these findings. Autophagy also increased and inhibition of autophagy resulted in increased cell death, suggesting its cytoprotective role during this process. Conclusion: Taken together, our results suggest that the combination of temsirolimus and GSK690693 could be a novel strategy for lung cancer therapy. Inhibition of autophagy could also be a promising method of enhancing the combination effect of these drugs.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제81권2호
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• pp.138-147
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• 2018

Background: Recent studies show that mitophagy, the autophagy-dependent turnover of mitochondria, mediates pulmonary epithelial cell death in response to cigarette smoke extract (CSE) exposure and contributes to the development of emphysema in vivo during chronic cigarette smoke (CS) exposure, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Methods: In this study, we investigated the role of mitophagy in the regulation of CSE-exposed lung bronchial epithelial cell (Beas-2B) death. We also investigated the role of a phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor, roflumilast, in CSE-induced mitophagy-dependent cell death. Results: Our results demonstrated that CSE induces mitophagy in Beas-2B cells through mitochondrial dysfunction and increased the expression levels of the mitophagy regulator protein, PTEN-induced putative kinase-1 (PINK1), and the mitochondrial fission protein, dynamin-1-like protein (DRP1). CSE-induced epithelial cell death was significantly increased in Beas-2B cells exposed to CSE but was decreased by small interfering RNA-dependent knockdown of DRP1. Treatment with roflumilast in Beas-2B cells inhibited CSE-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and mitophagy by inhibiting the expression of phospho-DRP1 and -PINK1. Roflumilast protected against cell death and increased cell viability, as determined by the lactate dehydrogenase release test and the MTT assay, respectively, in Beas-2B cells exposed to CSE. Conclusion: These findings suggest that roflumilast plays a protective role in CS-induced mitophagy-dependent cell death.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.4.1-4.18
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• 2023

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an inflammatory and infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus with a complex pathophysiology. While COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are available, treatment of the disease is primarily supportive and symptomatic. Several research have suggested the potential of herbal medicines as an adjunctive treatment for the disease. A popular herbal medicine approved in the Philippines for the treatment of acute respiratory disease is Vitex negundo L. In fact, the Department of Science and Technology of the Philippines has funded a clinical trial to establish its potential as an adjunctive treatment for COVID-19. Here, we utilized network pharmacology and molecular docking in determining pivotal targets of Vitex negundo compounds against COVID-19. The results showed that significant targets of Vitex negundo compounds in COVID-19 are CSB, SERPINE1, and PLG which code for cathepsin B, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, and plasminogen, respectively. Molecular docking revealed that α-terpinyl acetate and geranyl acetate have good binding affinity in cathepsin B; 6,7,4-trimethoxyflavanone, 5,6,7,8,3',4',5'-heptamethoxyflavone, artemetin, demethylnobiletin, gardenin A, geranyl acetate in plasminogen; and 7,8,4-trimethoxyflavanone in plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. While the results are promising, these are bound to the limitations of computational methods and further experimentation are needed to completely establish the molecular mechanisms of Vitex negundo against COVID-19.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제48권6호
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• pp.887-897
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• 2000

연구배경 : 급성호흡부전증후군(ARDS)의 병인론을 호중구의 산소기 생성 및 apoptosis 의 관정에서 PLA2 및 PAF의 역할과 연관하여 알아보았다. ARDS의 원인 중 산소기의 역할이 주로 염증성 cytokine 및 지질분자와 관련하여 연구되고 있는 점에 착안하여 내독소에 의한 PLA2, PAF의 작용 및 이에 따른 호중구의 혈관내피세포로의 유착, 산소기에 의한 pulmonary surfactant의 기능에 미치는 영향에 대해서도 알아보았다. 방법 : PMA로 자극된 호중구에서 PLA2 및 PAF의 억제에 따른 산소기 형성의 변화에 대해서도 알아보았으며 내독소에 의한 호중구에서의 PLA2활동도의 변화, lysoPAF remodelling에 미치는 PLA2 및 PAF의 억제의 효과에 대해서도 알아보았다. 또한 내독소 및 PMA에 의해 자극된 상태에서의 PLA2 및 PAF의 억제가 호중구의 apoptosis에 미치는 영향도 알아보았다. 호중구에 의한 조직의 손상은 혈관내피세포로의 호중구의 유착이 선행되어야 하므로 이러한 작용에 PLA2 및 PAF가 미치는 영향을 호중구 유착검사를 통하여 알아보았고 형태학적으로는 산소기와 pulmonary surfactant의 결합을 확인하였다. 결론 : ARDS 시의 호중구의 역할은 PLA2 및 PAF의 작용에 의한 산소기 형성 및 염증성 지질분자의 생성을 통해 조작의 손상을 유발하는 듯하며 이때 PLA2의 억제는 호중구의 apoptosis의 증가 및 산소기의 생성을 감소시키고 또한 호중구의 혈관내피세포로의 유착을 감소시켰다. PAF의 억제는 호중구의 산소기 생성의 감소 및 호중구의 유착을 억제하여 조직의 손상을 감소시키는 것으로 생각되었다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제63권1호
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• pp.42-51
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• 2007

배 경: 폐암의 새로운 치료제로 각광을 받고 있는 TRAIL은 암에 선택적으로 apoptosis를 일으킨다고 알려진 cytokine으로 알려져 있다. 또한 gefitinib (Iressa)는 폐암의 적용된 최초의표적치료제로 각광을 받고 있다. 그러나 일부의 암세포에서는 이에 대한 저항성을 보이고 있다. 본 연구에서는 암세포에서 외부의 apoptotic 자극에 저항성을 보이는 IGF-1R를 억제함으로 TRAIL 및 gefitinib의 항암작용을 증가시키고자 실험을 시행하였다. 방 법: 암세포주는 TRAIL 및 gefitinib에 민감한 NCI H460와 두 약제에 중등도의 저항성을 보이는 A549의 폐암세포주로 시행하였으며 IGF-1R의 억제는 본 연구자가 개발하였던 IGF-1 pathway를 dominant negative inhibition을 할 수 있는 adenovirus- IGF1R(482 ST, 950ST) 및 IGF-1R tyrosine kinase inhibitor인 Tyrphostin AG1024를 사용하였고 gefitinib에 대한 실험에서는 RNA interference를 이용하여 IGF-1R의 발현을 억제하는 adenovirus- shIGF-1R을 이용하였다. 결 과: TRAIL에 저항성을 보이는 폐암세포주(A549)에서 adenovirus-IGF1R(482ST, 950ST) 및 AG1024로 IGF-1R를 억제한 후 TRAIL을 투여한 경우 항암효과가 증대되었다. A549에 adenovirus- shIGF-1R을 감염시켜 IGF-1R의 발현을 억제한 결과 gefitinib에 대한 감수성이 증가되었다.