Pheophorbide a-mediated photodynamic therapy induces autophagy and apoptosis via the activation of MAPKs in human skin cancer cells

YOON, HYO-EUN,OH, SEONE-HEE,KIM, SOO-A,YOON, JUNG-HOON,AHN, SANG-GUN Spandidos Publications 2014 Oncology reports Vol.31 No.1

Pheophorbide a (Pa), a chlorophyll derivative, is a photosensitizer that can induce significant antitumor effects in several types of tumor cells. The present study investigated the mechanism of Pa-mediated photodynamic therapy (Pa-PDT) in the human skin cancer cell lines A431 and G361. PDT significantly inhibited the cell growth in a Pa-concentration-dependent manner. We observed increased expression of Beclin-1, LC3B and ATG5, which are markers of autophagy, after PDT treatment in A431 cells but not in G361 cells. In G361 cells, Pa-PDT strongly induced PARP cleavage and subsequent apoptosis, which was confirmed using Annexin V/Propidium iodide double staining. Pa-PDT predominantly exhibited its antitumor effects via activation of ERK1/2 and p38 in A431 and G361 cells, respectively. An in vivo study using the CAM xenograft model demonstrated that Pa-PDT strongly induced autophagy and apoptosis in A431-transplanted tumors and/or apoptosis in G361-transplanted tumors. These results may provide a basis for understanding the underlying mechanisms of Pa-PDT and for developing Pa-PDT as a therapy for skin cancer.

Phorbaketal A stimulates osteoblast differentiation through TAZ mediated Runx2 activation

Byun, Mi Ran,Kim, A Rum,Hwang, Jun-Ha,Sung, Mi Kyung,Lee, Yeon Kyung,Hwang, Buyng Su,Rho, Jung-Rae,Hwang, Eun Sook,Hong, Jeong-Ho Elsevier 2012 FEBS letters Vol.586 No.8

<P><B>Highlights</B></P><P>► Phorbaketal A stimulates osteogenesis. ► Phorbaketal A increases TAZ-mediated osteoblast marker gene expression. ► ERK is an important kinase for phorbaketal A induced osteogenic differentiation. ► Phorbaketal A is suggested as a potential compound for stimulating bone formation.</P> <P><B>Abstract</B></P><P>Osteoporosis arises from an imbalance between osteoblastic bone formation and osteoclastic bone resorption. In this study, we screened molecules from marine natural products that stimulate osteoblast differentiation. We found that phorbaketal A significantly stimulates osteoblast differentiation in mesenchymal cells. Increased interaction of TAZ and Runx2 stimulated phorbaketal A-induced expression of osteoblastic marker genes. The activation of ERK was important for the stimulation of differentiation because an inhibitor of ERK blocked phorbaketal A-induced osteogenic differentiation. Taken together, the results showed that phorbaketal A stimulates TAZ-mediated osteoblast differentiation through the activation of ERK.</P><P><B>Structured summary of protein interactions</B></P><P><B>TAZ</B> physically interacts with <B>RUNX2</B> by pull down (View interaction)</P>

Evaluating the TaqMan Jr a -Genotyping Method for Rapidly Predicting the Presence of Anti-Jr a Antibodies

Koo Yu-Kyung,Kwon Soon Sung,Suh Eun Jung,Kim Na Hyeong,Kim Hyun Kyung,Cho Youn Keong,Choi Seung Jun,Kim Sinyoung,Lee Kyung-A 대한진단검사의학회 2024 Annals of Laboratory Medicine Vol.44 No.5

Background: The Jra antigen is a high-prevalence red blood cell (RBC) antigen. Reports on cases of fatal hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn and acute hemolytic transfusion reactions suggest that antibodies against Jra (anti-Jra) have potential clinical significance. Identifying anti-Jra is challenging owing to a lack of commercially available antisera. We developed an alternative approach to rapidly predict the presence of anti-Jra using the Taq- Man single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-genotyping method. Methods: Residual peripheral blood samples from 10 patients suspected of having the anti-Jra were collected. Two samples with confirmed Jr(a–) RBCs and anti-Jra were used to validate the TaqMan genotyping assay by comparing the genotyping results with direct sequencing. The accuracy of the assay in predicting the presence of anti-Jra was verified through crossmatching with in-house Jr(a–) O+ RBCs. Results: The TaqMan-genotyping method was validated with two Jr(a–) RBC- and anti-Jraconfirmed samples that showed concordant Jra genotyping and direct sequencing results. Jra genotyping for the remaining samples and crossmatching the serum samples with inhouse Jr(a–) O+ RBCs showed consistent results. Conclusions: We validated a rapid, simple, accurate, and cost-effective method for predicting the presence of anti-Jra using a TaqMan-based SNP-genotyping assay. Implementing this method in routine practice in clinical laboratories will assist in solving difficult problems regarding alloantibodies to high-prevalence RBC antigens and ultimately aid in providing safe and timely transfusions and proper patient care.

한국인 좌심실 비대증 환자들에서 파브리병 선별검사의 의의

박형두,조성윤,이수연,전은석,박승우,이상훈,이상철,최진오,박성지,장성아,김형관,기창석,김종원,진동규,Park, Hyeong-Du,Jo, Seong-Yun,Lee, Su-Yeon,Jeon, Eun-Seok,Park, Seung-U,Lee, Sang-Hun,Lee, Sang-Cheol,Choe, Jin-O,Park, Seong-Ji,Jang, Seong-A,K 대한유전성대사질환학회 2014 대한유전성대사질환학회지 Vol.14 No.2

목적: 파브리병(Fabry disease)은 alpha-galactosidase A의 결핍으로 인하여 리소좀에 globotriaosylceramide(Gb3)가 축적되어 여러 장기에 이상을 일으키는 질병이다. 본 연구에서는 파브리병의 만성 합병증 중 심장 질환을 주로 보이는 환자들, 그 중에서도 좌심실 비대증을 보이는 한국인 환자들을 대상으로 파브리병의 빈도를 알아보고자 하였다. 방법: 좌심실비대증을 진단받은 환자 257명을 연구대상으로 선정하였고, 남성이 172명(평균 56세, 범위 30-81세), 여성이 84명(평균 66세, 범위 45-85세)이었다. 파브리병 선별을 위하여 고성능액체크로마토그래피-탠덤질량분석기를 이용하여 소변 Gb3 농도를 측정하였다. 확진은 형광분석법에 의한 말초혈액의 alpha-galactosidase A 활성도와 염기서열분석법에 의한 GLA 유전자 돌연변이 유무를 검사하여 이루어졌다. 결과: 소변 Gb3 검사에서 cutoff (25 ug/mmoL creatinine)를 초과하는 환자는 4명이었지만, 최종적으로 추가 검사를 통해 진단된 파브리병 환자는 여성 환자 한 명이었다(1/257명, 0.4%). 확진된 환자는 54.3 ug/mmoL creatinine의 Gb3 농도와 15.5 nmole/hr/mg protein (참고범위, $55.2{\pm}12.7nmole/hr/mg$ protein)의 alpha-galactosidase A 활성도를 보였다. GLA 유전자에서는 c.796G>A (p.D266N) 돌연변이가 이형접합체로 관찰되었다. 추가로 시행한 가족검사에서 환자의 딸은 아직 파브리병의 증상을 보이지 않았지만, 엄마와 같은 GLA 돌연변이(c.796G>A)를 가지고 있었으며, alpha-galactosidaseA 활성도는 42.5 nmole/hr/mg protein, 소변 Gb3 농도는 25.5 ug/mmoL creatinine을 나타냈다. 결론: 한국인 좌심실 비대증을 가진 환자들에서 파브리병의 유병율은 0.4%였다. 유병율이 낮아 보임에도 불구하고, 파브리병 진단 전 환자와 가족 구성원을 발견할 수 있는 장점 덕분에 선별검사의 의의가 있는 것으로 사료된다. Objectives: Fabry disease (FD) is a lysosomal storage disease caused by the inappropriate accumulation of globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) in tissues due to a deficiency in the enzyme ${\alpha}$-galactosidase A. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is one of the chronic complications of FD. We tried to evaluate the prevalence of Fabry disease in the Korean patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Methods: A total of 257 patients with LVH were recruited and they were 172 males (mean 56 years, range 30-81 years) and 84 females (mean 66 years, range 45-85 years). Urinary Gb3 was used to screen FD by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Confirmatory tests were done by alpha-galactosidaseA activity using fluorometric assay and by GLA mutation analysis using sequencing. Results: Four patients were screening positive by urinary Gb3 analysis (cutoff, 25 ug/mmol creatinine). But, one female patient was diagnosed with FD confirmed by enzyme analysis in leukocytes as well as by genetic analysis (1/257 patients, 0.4%). She showed 54.3 ug/mmoL creatinine of Gb3 and 15.5 nmole/hr/mg protein (reference range, $55.2{\pm}12.7nmole/hr/mg$ protein) of alphagalactosidase A activity. And she had a heterozygous GLA mutation of c.796G>A (p.D266N). Her daughter was found to be a carrier for FD confirmed by GLA mutation analysis. Asymptomatic carrier showed 25.5ug/mmol creatinine of Gb3 and 42.5 nmole/hr/mg protein (reference range, $55.2{\pm}12.7nmole/hr/mg$ protein) of alpha-galactosidase A activity. Conclusions: The prevalence of FD in Koran patients with LVH was detected as 0.4%. Although the prevalence seems to be low, screening studies are of great importance for detecting hidden cases as well as for identifying other effected family members.

경기도 식중독에서 분리된 Clostridium perfringens의 유전적 특성 분석

박성희,최옥경,정진아,김운호,이예은,박광희,윤미혜,Park, Sung-Hee,Choi, Ok-Kyung,Jeong, Jin-A,Kim, Woon-Ho,Lee, Yea-Eun,Park, Kwang-Hee,Yoon, Mi-Hye 한국미생물학회 2016 미생물학회지 Vol.52 No.3

질병관리본부에서 2012년 이후 수인성식품매개질환 실험실 진단실무지침에 cpb2 유전자를 포함시킨 후, 2013-2014년 경기도의 C. perfringens에 의한 식중독이 원인불명을 제외하고 가장 많이 발생되었으며, 그 발생률이 2011-2012년에 비해 큰 폭으로 증가하였다. 따라서 경기도내 유행하는 toxinotype을 파악하고, PFGE, MLST를 통해 이들의 분자역학적 연관성을 연구함으로서 C. perfringens에 의한 식중독 발생 시 역학조사 기초자료로 활용하고자 하였다. 2013-2014년 경기도에서 분리된 120주의 C. perfringens 중 cpe 보유균주는 49주, cpb2 보유균주는 71주였다. 발생건별로 살펴보면, cpe 단독발생건은 2건(10주), cpb2 단독발생건은 7건(45주), cpe, cpb2 혼합발생건은 7건(65주)로 cpb2 단독발생과 cpe, cpb2 혼합발생이 대부분을 차지하였다. Toxinotype PCR 결과, 120주 모두 C. perfringens에 의한 식중독의 주요 타입인 A로 밝혀졌다. PFGE 분석 결과, 53.5-100%의 유사도와 75 유형으로 나뉘었다. 65% 이상을 기준으로 했을 때 5가지 그룹으로 나뉘어졌다. A, C, D, E 그룹은 1개의 균주를 제외하고 모두 cpb2 보유균주로 이루어졌고, B 그룹은 1개의 균주를 제외하고 모두 cpe 보유균주로 구성되었다. 2014년 안산상록구 식중독 4주와 2014년 수원 권선구 식중독 3주를 제외하고, 64 cpb2 보유균주들은 대부분 다양한 유전자패턴을 보였다. 41 cpe 보유균주 중 3개의 균주를 제외하고, 2013년 부천원미구, 성남분당구, 2014년 안산상록구, 평택, 김포, 화성 식중독 모두 각각 동일한 유전자 패턴을 보였다. 2013 수원영통구 식중독은 2가지 cpe 유전형 패턴을 보였다. MLST 분석 결과, 크게 P-cpe 및 cpb2 그룹과 C-cpe 그룹으로 나뉘어 졌고, 세세하게 11개의 cluster로 나뉘어졌다. 경기도에서 분리된 31개 균주 중, 16 cpb2 보유균주와 2014-06-03 cpe 보유균주는 1-7 cluster에 속해있었고, 14 cpe 보유균주는 모두 8-11 cluster에 속해있었다. 하나의 cpe 보유균주를 포함하여 cpb2 보유균주들은 P-cpe 그룹과 건강한 사람에서 분리된 cpb2 그룹들 사이에 산재되어 cluster되었고, cpe 보유균주는 C-cpe 그룹에 속해있었다. 2014-06-03주의 cpe gene은 plasmid에 존재하고, 나머지 cpe 보유균주의 cpe gene은 모두 chromosome에 존재함을 추정 할 수 있었다. PFGE 및 MLST 분석 결과, cpe 보유균주에 비해 cpb2 보유균주가 훨씬 다양하고 복잡한 유전자패턴을 나타내며, cpe 유전자 보유균주의 경우 단일 유전자형이거나 유사도가 높은 유전자형으로 이루어져 있음을 알 수 있었다. cpe 보유균주의 경우 집단식중독의 원인균 파악이 용이하였으나, cpb2 보유균주의 경우 2 발생건을 제외하고 역학적인 연관성이 낮음을 확인 할 수 있었다. Clostridium perfringens is both a ubiquitous environmental bacterium and a major cause of human gastrointestinal disease, and C. perfringens food poisoning ranks among the most common gastrointestinal diseases in developed countries. 120 isolates of C. perfringens were obtained from food-poisoning outbreaks in 2013~2014, Gyeonggi-do. Using PCR, all 120 isolates were identified as C. perfringens type A. Of the tested isolates, 49 isolates carried the cpe gene, 71 isolates carried the cpb2 gene. The outbreak cases of cpb2 and cpe /cpb2 genes were 7 and 7, whereas the outbreak cases of cpe-gene were 2. The epidemiological relationship between C. perfringens isolates has previously been investigated chiefly by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multi-locus sequence typing (MLST). The genetics relatedness of the isolates raged from 53.5-100% and 75 district PFGE type were observed. The PFGE results revealed a wide genetic diversity among the 64 cpb2 carrying isolates (except 7 isolates), while 46 cpe-carrying isolates (except 3 isolates) showed a high genetic similarity. The MLST analysis revealed that 14 cpe isolates (cpe-chromosomal isolates) belong to a distinct cluster that is significantly distant from all the other cpb2 isolates (cpe-plasmid carrying and cpe-negative isolates). The isolates carrying a cpb2 appear to be rarely related, and are more variable than chromosomal cpe isolates. The results suggest that the cpe-positive outbreak isolates showed close genetic relation, whereas the cpb2-positive isolates revealed a wide genetic diversity.

Intestinal Nematodes from Small Mammals Captured near the Demilitarized Zone, Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea

Deok-Gyu Kim,Jae-Hwan Park,Jae-Lip Kim,Bong-Kwang Jung,Sarah Jiyoun Jeon,Hyemi Lim,Mi Youn Lee,Eun-Hee Shin,Terry A. Klein,Heung-Chul Kim,Sung-Tae Chong,Jin-Won Song,Luck-Ju Baek,Jong-Yil Chai 대한기생충학열대의학회 2015 The Korean Journal of Parasitology Vol.53 No.1

A total of 1,708 small mammals (1,617 rodents and 91 soricomorphs), including Apodemus agrarius (n = 1,400), Microtus fortis (167), Crocidura lasiura (91), Mus musculus (32), Myodes (= Eothenomys) regulus (9), Micromys minutus (6), and Tscherskia (= Cricetulus) triton (3), were live-trapped at US/Republic of Korea (ROK) military training sites near the demilitarized zone (DMZ) of Paju, Pocheon, and Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province from December 2004 to December 2009. Small mammals were examined for their intestinal nematodes by necropsy. A total of 1,617 rodents (100%) and 91 (100%) soricomorphs were infected with at least 1 nematode species, including Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, Heligmosomoides polygyrus, Syphacia obvelata, Heterakis spumosa, Protospirura muris, Capillaria spp., Trichuris muris, Rictularia affinis, and an unidentified species. N. brasiliensis was the most common species infecting small mammals (1,060; 62.1%) followed by H. polygyrus (617; 36.1%), S. obvelata (370; 21.7%), H. spumosa (314; 18.4%), P. muris (123; 7.2%), and Capillaria spp. (59; 3.5%). Low infection rates (0.1-0.8%) were observed for T. muris, R. affinis, and an unidentified species. The number of recovered worms was highest for N. brasiliensis (21,623 worms; mean 20.4 worms/infected specimen) followed by S. obvelata (9,235; 25.0 worms), H. polygyrus (4,122; 6.7 worms), and H. spumosa (1,160; 3.7 worms). A. agrarius demonstrated the highest prevalence for N. brasiliensis (70.9%), followed by M. minutus (50.0%), T. triton (33.3%), M. fortis (28.1%), M. musculus (15.6%), C. lasiura (13.2%), and M. regulus (0%). This is the first report of nematode infections in small mammals captured near the DMZ in ROK.

Echinostome Infections in the Striped-Field Mouse, Apodemus agrarius, and the Ussuri White-Toothed Shrew, Crocidura lasiura, Caught Near the Demilitarized Zone, Gyeonggi-do (Province), Republic of Korea

Jong-Yil Chai,Jae-Hwan Park,Bong-Kwang Jung,Sang-Mee Guk,Jae-Lip Kim,Eun-Hee Shin,Terry A. Klein,Heung-Chul Kim,Sung-Tae Chong,Luck Ju Baek,Jin-Won Song 대한기생충학열대의학회 2009 The Korean Journal of Parasitology Vol.47 No.3

A total of 1,498 small mammals (rodents and insectivores), including Apodemus agrarius (n = 1,366), Crocidura lasiura (54), Mus musculus (32), Micronytus fortis (28), Eothenomys regulus (9), Micronys minutes (6), and Cricetulus triton (3), were live-trapped in Gyeonggi-do (Province) (Paju-si, Pocheon-gun, and Yeoncheon-gun) near the demilitarized zone (DMZ) from December 2004 to September 2005. A. agrarius was found to be infected with 3 species of echinostomes (Echinostoma hortense, Echinostoma cinetorchis, and Euparyphium murinum), while C. lasiura was infected with 1 species (Echinochasmus japonicas) of echinostome. Other mammals were free from echinostome infections. Total 16 E. hortense were detected in 7 (0.5%) mice, 9 E. cinetorchis from 5 (0.4%), and 3 E. murinum from 2 (0.1%) out of 1.366 A. agrarius examined. E. japonicus was found only in 1 (1.9%; total 3 specimens) C. lasiura. These results demonstrate that A. agrarius and C. lasiura, inhabiting near the DMZ of Gyeonggi-do serve as the natural definitive hosts for several species of echinostomes, although their infection rates are low. This is the first record of natural infections of A. agrarius with E. cinetorchis and C. lasiura with E. japonicus in the Republic of Korea.

Attenuation of β-amyloid-induced neuroinflammation by KHG21834 in vivo

( Eun A Kim ),( Hoh Gyu Hahn ),( Tae Ue Kim ),( Soo Young Choi ),( Sung Woo Cho ) 생화학분자생물학회 2010 BMB Reports Vol.43 No.6

Beta-Amyloid (Aβ)-induced neuroinflammation is one of the key events in the development of neurodegenerative disease. We previously reported that KHG21834, a benzothiazole derivative, attenuates Aβ-induced degeneration of cortical and mesencephalic neurons in vitro. In the present work, we show that KHG21834 reduces Aβ-mediated neuroinflammation in brain. In vivo intracerebroventricular infusion of KHG21834 leads to decreases in the numbers of activated astrocytes and microglia and level of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α induced by Aβ in the hippocampus. This suppression of neuroinflammation is associated with decreased neuron loss, restoration of synaptic dysfunction biomarkers in the hippocampus to control level, and diminished amyloid deposition. These results may suggest the potential therapeutic efficacy of KHG21834 for the treatment of Aβ-mediated neuroinflammation. [BMB reports 2010; 43(6): 413-418]

MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY OF AVIAN POXVIRUS IN THE ORIENTAL TURTLE DOVE (<i>STREPTOPELIA ORIENTALIS</i>) AND THE BITING MIDGE (<i>CULICOIDES ARAKAWAE</i>) IN THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA

Lee, Hae Rim,Koo, Bon-Sang,Kim, Jong-Taek,Kim, Heung-Chul,Kim, Myung-Soon,Klein, Terry A.,Shin, Man-Seok,Lee, Sanghun,Jeon, Eun-Ok,Min, Kyung-Cheol,Lee, Seung Baek,Bae, Yeonji,Mo, In-Pil Wildlife Disease Association 2017 JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE DISEASES Vol.53 No.4

<P>A total of 600 wild birds were analyzed for the causes of mortality in the Republic of Korea (ROK) from 2011 to 2013. Avian poxvirus (APV) infections were identified as the primary cause of mortality in 39% (29/74) Oriental Turtle Doves (Streptopelia orientalis). At necropsy, all 29 S. orientalis birds, of which, 76% (22/29) were juveniles, had severe diphtheritic lesions in their oral and nasal cavities and on their eyelids, which were the lesions of APV that resulted in mortality. We detected APV infection by chorioallantoic membrane inoculation and molecular study of the partial region of the P4b gene. All isolates belonged to the same APV strain and were identical to strains isolated from several different pigeon species in South Africa. Phylogenetically, the APV strain identified in S. orientalis belonged to subclade A2, which includes isolates from several species of pigeons from different parts of the world, including the United Kingdom, Germany, India, Egypt, Hawaii, Georgia, Hungary, South Africa, Tanzania, and the ROK. This identity indicated that this diphtheritic APV strain may be a potential pathogen of other pigeon species in the ROK and neighboring countries throughout the range of S. orientalis. However, reticuloendotheliosis virus insertion into the APV genome was not detected by PCR in any of the 29 APV infections. An identical strain of APV observed in S. orientalis was also detected in Culicoides arakawae (biting midge), with annual peak populations corresponding to the presence of APV in S. orientalis. Culicoides arakawae may be a primary vector of APV in S. orientalis. Active surveillance of APVs in wild birds and C. arakawae is needed to better understand the epidemiology of APVs, host-vector relationships, and its ecological effects on S. orientalis in the ROK.</P>

Characterization of the autophosphorylating kinase, PkaF, in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) M130

Oh, Eun A.,Chi, Won-Jae,Kim, Mi-Soon,Kang, Sang Sun,Chun, Jaesun,Hong, Soon-Kwang Springer-Verlag 2011 Archives of microbiology Vol.193 No.12

<P>Streptomyces coelicolor, the model species for morphologically complex actinomycete bacteria, has unique characteristics such as morphological and physiological differentiation, which are controlled by various factors and several protein kinases. From the whole genomic sequence of S. coelicolor A3(2), 44 putative serine/threonine (Ser/Thr) protein kinases were identified, and the pkaF gene was chosen as the best-conserved protein for typical Ser/Thr protein kinases. pkaF encodes a 667-amino acid protein with a predicted N-terminal Ser/Thr kinase domain and four repeated C-terminal penicillin-binding domains and Ser/Thr kinase-associated (PASTA) domains. Based on PCR, a pkaF gene was cloned and heterologously expressed. PkaF expressed in Escherichia coli had the bigger molecular size than the expected value (75 kDa) and was further purified by Ni2+-NTA agarose affinity column chromatography to homogeneity. The purified PkaF was autophosphorylated through the transfer of the gamma-phosphate group of ATP. The extent of phosphorylation was proportional to the amount of PkaF, and the phospho-PkaF was dephosphorylated by the addition of the cell lysate of S. coelicolor A3(2). Although no change was observed in the pkaF disruptant, overexpression of pkaF induced severe repression of morphogenesis and actinorhodin production, but not undecylprodigiosin production, implying that PkaF specifically regulates morphogenesis and actinorhodin production in S. coelicolor.</P>