Seong Hwan Kim

Expression of autotaxin (NPP-2) is closely linked to invasiveness of breast cancer cells

Autotaxin (ATX), originally isolated from human melanoma cells, is a novel metastasis-enhancing motogen and angiogenesis factor. In the present study, we compared the expression level of ATX mRNA between normal and breast cancer tissues and found that the expression of ATX mRNA was closely linked to invasiveness of cancer cells. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemical analysis showed higher cellular ATX mRNA expression in the cancer than normal breast tissues. MDA-MB-435S breast cancer cells, expressing higher amount of ATX mRNA, showed greater relative invasiveness to fibroblast-conditioned medium (FCM) than MCF7, MDA-MB-231, and HBL-100 breast cancer cells. Furthermore, ATX-transfected MCF7 cells showed increased motility and invasiveness than vector-transfected MCF7 cells. Collectively, our results suggest that the expression of ATX is closely linked to the invasiveness of breast cancer cells.

ERK1- and TBK1-targeted anti-inflammatory activity of an ethanol extract of Dryopteris crassirhizoma.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCEnDryopteris crassirhizoma Nakai (Aspiadaceae) has been traditionally used as an herbal medicine for treating various inflammatory and infectious diseases such as tapeworm infestation, colds, and viral diseases. However, no systematic studies on the anti-inflammatory actions of Dryopteris crassirhizoma and its inhibitory mechanisms have been reported. We therefore aimed at exploring the anti-inflammatory effects of 95% ethanol extracts (Dc-EE) of this plant.nnnMATERIALS AND METHODSnThe anti-inflammatory effect of Dc-EE on the production of inflammatory mediators in RAW264.7 cells and HCl/EtOH-induced gastritis was examined. Inhibitory mechanisms were also evaluated by exploring activation of transcription factors, their upstream signalling, and target enzyme activities. Finally, the active components from this extract were also identified using HPLC system.nnnRESULTSnDc-EE diminished the production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin (PG)E(2) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Dc-EE also downregulated the levels of mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory genes such as inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, and TNF-α by inhibiting the activation of activator protein (AP-1) and IRF3. Indeed, the extract strongly blocked the activities of their upstream kinases ERK1 and TBK1. This extract also strongly ameliorated gastritis symptoms stimulated by HCl/EtOH in mice. According to HPLC fingerprinting, resveratrol, quercetin, and kampferol were identified from Dc-EE.nnnCONCLUSIONnDc-EE displays strong anti-inflammatory activity by suppressing ERK/AP-1 and TBK1/IRF3 pathways, which contribute to its major ethno-pharmacological role as an anti-inflammatory and anti-infectious disease remedy.

Methanol extract of Osbeckia stellata suppresses lipopolysaccharide- and HCl/ethanol-induced inflammatory responses by inhibiting Src/Syk and IRAK1

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCEnOsbeckia stellata Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don is traditionally prescribed to treat various inflammatory diseases. However, how this plant is able to modulate inflammatory responses is unknown. This study explored the anti-inflammatory effects of 99% methanol extracts of O. stellata (Os-ME).nnnMATERIALS AND METHODSnThe anti-inflammatory effect of Os-ME was evaluated by measuring the levels of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW264.7 macrophage cells and by determining gastric inflammatory lesions in mice induced by HCl/ethanol (EtOH). The molecular mechanisms of the inhibitions were elucidated by analyzing the activation of transcription factors, upstream signaling cascade, and the kinase activities of target enzymes.nnnRESULTSnOs-ME dose-dependently diminished the release of NO and PGE(2), and suppressed the expression of inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 in LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells. Os-ME clearly inhibited the translocation of c-Rel, a subunit of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), and c-Fos, a subunit of activator protein-1 (AP-1), and their regulatory upstream enzymes including Src, Syk, and IRAK1. Interestingly, orally administered Os-ME ameliorated acute inflammatory symptoms and suppressed the activation of Src, Syk, and IRAK1 induced by HCl/EtOH treatment in mouse stomach.nnnCONCLUSIONnOs-ME can be considered as an orally available anti-inflammatory herbal remedy with Src/Syk/NF-κB and IRAK1/AP-1 inhibitory properties.

Unrecorded Fungal Species Isolated from Greenhouses Used for Shiitake Cultivation in Korea

Fungal contamination is a detrimental factor affecting sawdust media-based shiitake cultivation in greenhouses. During fungal monitoring of greenhouses used for shiitake cultivation, eight fungal species were isolated and identified from indoor air and mushroom flies collected in the greenhouses. The current study reported five species as new in Korea, viz. Ascochyta hordei, Discosia artocreas, Mucor nidicola, Perenniporia medulla-panis, and Pseudozyma prolifica, and confirmed two species, Penicillium charlesii and Penicillium brevicompactum, which were previously recorded in Korea without molecular taxonomic validation. The morphological characteristics and phylogenetic relationships based on nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacer rDNA region or calmodulin gene were described for all identified species.

Identification and Characterization of Paraconiothyrium brasiliense from Garden Plant Pachysandra terminalis

수호초로부터 분리된 DUCC5000 균주를 형태적, 분자생물학적 분류를 통해 Paraconiothyrium brasiliense로 동정하였다. 본 균은 기존에 알려진 P. brasiliense 균주의 ITS 염기서열과 100%의 상동성을 보였다. 계통유전학적 분석 결과 P. brasiliense 균주와 같은 clade를 형성하였다. 서로 다른 영양 배지와 pH 조건 하에서 균사생육 특성을 조사한 결과 oatmeal agar 배지와 pH 9에서 최적의 생장을 보였다. 배지 종류에 따라 그리고 pH 조건에 따라 균총 형태가 달라지는 특성을 지니고 있었다. Chroma 반응배지를 이용하여 7가지 세포외 효소의 분비 능력을 조사한 결과

Protein carboxylmethylation in porcine spleen is mainly mediated by class i protein carboxylO-methyltransferase

{beta}

Undescribed Fungal Species Found in Ulleungdo, Korea

-glucosidase 활성이 가장 활발하였고 CM-cellulase와 xylerase에서는 활성이 미약하였다. 인공 접종하였으나 수호초에 대한 병원성은 나타내지 않았다. 본 균은 수호초에서는 국제적으로 처음 보고되는 균이다. 【A fungal isolate DUCC5000 from a garden plant Pachysandra terminalis was identified as Paraconiothyrium brasiliense based on the results of morphological and molecular studies. The fungus formed brown to black conidiomata of (0.2-0.7)-2(-3.5) mm singly or as a group on PDA. Conidia measured

Apicidin is a histone deacetylase inhibitor with anti-invasive and anti-angiogenic potentials

2-5{times}1.8-3{mu}m

Health risk assessment of airborne microbes in the public facilities

in size, hyaline, ellipsoid to short-cylindrical, and rounded at both ends. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) DNA of the isolate shared 100% nucleotide sequence homology with those of known P. brasiliense isolates. Phylogenetic tree inferred from the ITS sequence analysis showed that the DUCC5000 isolate formed a clade with known isolates of P. brasiliense. The fungal mycelia grew better on oatmeal agar than on MEA and PDA. On PDA media under various pH conditions, fungal mycelial growth was observed at pH 9. Colony morphology of the fungus tended to alter depending on the kinds of nutrient media and pH condition. On chromagenic media, the fungus demonstrated its ability to produce extracellular enzymes including amyalse, avicelase,

Concentration and diversity of mold in indoor air of the houses located at adjacent and nonadjacent Gwangyang iron works

{beta}