BK Channel Deficiency in Osteoblasts Reduces Bone Formation via the Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway

Jiang, Lan,Yang, Qianhong,Gao, Jianjun,Yang, Jiahong,He, Jiaqi,Xin, Hong,Zhang, Xuemei Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology 2021 Molecules and cells Vol.44 No.8

Global knockout of the BK channel has been proven to affect bone formation; however, whether it directly affects osteoblast differentiation and the mechanism are elusive. In the current study, we further investigated the role of BK channels in bone development and explored whether BK channels impacted the differentiation and proliferation of osteoblasts via the canonical Wnt signaling pathway. Our findings demonstrated that knockout of Kcnma1 disrupted the osteogenesis of osteoblasts and inhibited the stabilization of β-catenin. Western blot analysis showed that the protein levels of Axin1 and USP7 increased when Kcnma1 was deficient. Together, this study confirmed that BK ablation decreased bone mass via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Our findings also showed that USP7 might have the ability to stabilize the activity of Axin1, which would increase the degradation of β-catenin in osteoblasts.

Does HBV Infection Increase Risk of Endometrial Carcinoma?

Jiang, Xue-Feng,Tang, Qiong-Lan,Zou, Yuan,Xu, Ling,Zeng, Hua,Chi, Cong,Jiang, Jing-Ru,Zhang, Bin-Zhong Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.2

Objective: Connections between chronic inflammation and tumor development and progression are now generally accepted. Recent evidence indicates that hepatitis B is associated with several types of cancer, but whether endometrial carcinoma (EC) is included has not been reported. Methods: We analyzed HBV serum marker status in 398 patients with endometrial cancer, comparing them to 788 control women undergoing health examination. Results: The total prevalence of HBsAg tested positive in cancer group was significantly higher than the control group (12.8% vs 6.0%, P=0.001), while positive HBsAb was significantly lower (41.2% vs 68.5%, P=0.001). Hepatitis B carriers in endometrial cancer group were also more frequent than in the control group (9.3% vs 5.5%, P=0.013). Interestingly, in the endometrial cancer group, 147 cases were HBV serum marker negative, which was also higher than in the control group (36.9% vs 15.6%, P=0.001). Conclusion: There may be a correlation between HBV infection and endometrial carcinoma.

A study on the characteristics of mobile open world games - Case analysis through self-determination theory

Mei-lan Jiang,Gwang-Hyun Go,Hyeon-Seong Do,Eui-Jun Jeong 한국콘텐츠학회 2021 한국콘텐츠학회 ICCC 논문집 Vol.2021 No.12

한국과 중국 기업 근로자들의 행동성과 결정요인 및 차이

강미란(Jiang, Mei Lan),최만기(Choe, Man Kee) 계명대학교 산학연구소 2008 經營經濟 Vol.41 No.2

This study aims at empirically investigating the determinants and differences of behavioral performance in Korean and Chinese companies. In order to achieve the purpose, this study designed a research model and generated hypotheses based on the literature review. Major findings from the analyses based on a questionnaire survey on 334 employees in 9 Korean and 7 Chinese companies are as follows: Firstly, individual characteristics, job characteristics, and organization structural characteristics were significantly related to both organizational commitment and job satisfaction. Specifically, organizational commitment was especially related to age and education among personal characteristics and to skill variety and feedback among job characteristics. On the other hand, job satisfaction had substantial relations with age, gender and education among personal characteristics and task significance, autonomy and feedback among job characteristics. Secondly, in the case of Korean employees, age, feedback and centralization differentiated organizational commitment. On the other hand, only education and job tenure differentiated organizational commitment of Chinese employees. Age, autonomy, feedback and formality differentiated Korean employees’ job satisfaction. In the case of Chinese employees, education, job tenure, and task significance differentiated employees’ job satisfaction. And Finally, Chinese employees’ organizational commitment and job satisfaction were higher than Korean ones’.

Multicolour carbon dots with excitation‑independent emission by microwave solvothermal reaction

Xiao‑Lan Wei,Qin‑Ling Shi,Lan Jiang,Yu Qin 한국탄소학회 2023 Carbon Letters Vol.33 No.1

Carbon dots (CDs) with tunable fluorescence emissions have been developed from a wide range of small organic molecules with various bottom-up syntheses. However, most of them were prepared under high temperatures and high pressures with long reaction times and tedious purification processes. In addition, previously reported carbon dots frequently displayed excitation-dependent emissions, which restrict their further applications. Herein, we present a simple and rapid microwaveassisted solvothermal synthesis of multicolour carbon dots with excitation-independent emissions. In ethylene glycol, the green (G)-CDs emitting at 537 nm with a quantum efficiency (QY) of 15% were obtained by using a single precursor of phloroglucinol, and blue (B)- and yellow (Y)-CDs emitting at 436 nm and 557 nm with QYs of 55% and 28% were derived with additives of o- and m-phenylenediamine, respectively. Analyses of their chemical structures and optical processes suggest that highly polymeric carbon dots were uniformly formed from the small molecules and their fluorescences were predominantly originated from rapid direct recombination. Furthermore, emissions at different wavelengths were mainly attributed to different degrees of oxidation (13.9%, 15.2% and 16.4% oxygen in B-, G- and Y-CDs, respectively) and different proportions of pyrrolic nitrogen (10.4% and 1.40% in B- and Y-CDs, respectively). To demonstrate the application feasibility, the obtained carbon dots were utilized for ion detection and anti-counterfeiting. Based on static quenching of the carbon dots’ fluorescence, micro amounts of ferric ion in water samples were detected selectively and reproducibly. Moreover, the anti-counterfeiting pattern constructed by the carbon dots emitted fluorescence under ultraviolet illumination, but concealed perfectly under daylight. This achievement is of great potential for developing multicolour carbon dots of high qualities.

Study on the Relationship Between CXCR4 Expression and Perineural Invasion in Pancreatic Cancer

Jiang, Yu-Mei,Li, Guang,Sun, Bao-Cun,Zhao, Xiu-Lan,Zhou, Zhong-Kai Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.12

Background: Recent reports have shown that C-X-C chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) plays an important role in metastasis. Despite a clear understanding of the protein's structure and properties, its functional role remains elusive. We conducted the present study to evaluate the expressions of CXCR4 in pancreatic cancer, and to investigate its relationship with clinicopathological parameters, especially perineural invasion(PNI). Materials and Methods: The association between CXCR4 expression and perineural invasion was determined by immunohistochemistry in pancreatic cancer patients (n=51). Results: CXCR4 expression was correlated with the existence of PNI and the type of PNI (p=0.042, p=0.040). TIMP-2 expression was also correlated with the existence, the pathway and degree of PNI (p=0.000, p=0.006, p=0.000). Conclusions: Our results suggest an association between PNI and expression of CXCR4 and TIMP-2 in pancreatic cancer. CXCR4 may promote the occurrence of PNI in pancreatic cancer cells by decreasing the inhibition of TIMPs on MMP.

Effect of Embelin on TRAIL Receptor 2 mAb-induced Apoptosis of TRAIL-resistant A549 Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Cells

Jiang, Lei,Hao, Jin-Li,Jin, Mu-Lan,Zhang, Yun-Gang,Wei, Ping Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.10

Introduction: Some non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tumor cells are insensitive to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) -based therapy. This study was conducted to examine the effect of embelin on the sensitivity of the A549 NSCLC cell line to TRAIL receptor2 (TRAILR2) monoclonal antibodies and to investigate the potential mechanisms. Materials and Methods: A549 cells were treated with embelin, TRAILR2 mAb or a combination of both. Cell viability was measured using ATPlite assay and apoptosis rates were determined by flow cytometry with AnnexinV-FITC and propidium iodide staining, with the expression levels of proteins analyzed by Western blotting. Results: The cell survival rate of separate treatments with 100 ng/ml TRAILR2 antibody or 25 uM embelin were $81.5{\pm}1.57%$ and $61.7{\pm}2.84%$, respectively. Their combined use markedly decreased cell viability in A549 cells to $28.1{\pm}1.97%$ (P<0.05). The general caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK could inhibit the embelin-enhanced sensitivity of A549 cells to TRAILR2 mAb ($75.97{\pm}3.17%$)(P<0.05). Both flow cytometry and cell morphological analysis showed that embelin was able to increase TRAIL-induced apoptosis in A549 cells. Combined treatment with embelin and TRAILR2 mAb augmented the activation of initiator caspases and effector caspase. In addition, A549 cells showed increasing levels of TRAILR2 protein and decreasing levels of Bcl-2, survivin and c-FLIP following the treatment with embelin+TRAILR2 mAb. Conclusions: Embelin could enhance TRAIL-induced apoptosis in A549 cells. The synergistic effect of the combination treatment might be due to modulation of multiple components in the TRAIL receptor-mediated apoptotic signaling pathway, including TRAILR2, XIAP, survivin, Bcl-2 and c-FLIP.

Analysis of the Baroreceptor and Vestibular Receptor Inputs in the Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla following Hypotension in Conscious Rats

Lan, Yan,Lu, Huan-Jun,Jiang, Xian,Li, Li-Wei,Yang, Yan-Zhao,Jin, Guang-Shi,Park, Joo Young,Kim, Min Sun,Park, Byung Rim,Jin, Yuan-Zhe The Korean Society of Pharmacology 2015 The Korean Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology Vol.19 No.2

Input signals originating from baroreceptors and vestibular receptors are integrated in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) to maintain blood pressure during postural movement. The contribution of baroreceptors and vestibular receptors in the maintenance of blood pressure following hypotension were quantitatively analyzed by measuring phosphorylated extracellular regulated protein kinase (pERK) expression and glutamate release in the RVLM. The expression of pERK and glutamate release in the RVLM were measured in conscious rats that had undergone bilateral labyrinthectomy (BL) and/or sinoaortic denervation (SAD) following hypotension induced by a sodium nitroprusside (SNP) infusion. The expression of pERK was significantly increased in the RVLM in the control group following SNP infusion, and expression peaked 10 min after SNP infusion. The number of pERK positive neurons increased following SNP infusion in BL, SAD, and BL+SAD groups, although the increase was smaller than seen in the control group. The SAD group showed a relatively higher reduction in pERK expression when compared with the BL group. The level of glutamate release was significantly increased in the RVLM in control, BL, SAD groups following SNP infusion, and this peaked 10 min after SNP infusion. The SAD group showed a relatively higher reduction in glutamate release when compared with the BL group. These results suggest that the baroreceptors are more powerful in pERK expression and glutamate release in the RVLM following hypotension than the vestibular receptors, but the vestibular receptors still have an important role in the RVLM.

Relationships of uPA and VEGF Expression in Esophageal Cancer and Microvascular Density with Tumorous Invasion and Metastasis

Jiang, Jian-Tao,Zhang, Lan-Fang,Zhou, Bin,Zhang, Shun-Qun,Li, Shao-Min,Zhang, Wei,Zhang, Jin,Qiao, Zhe,Kong, Ran-Ran,Ma, Yue-Feng,Chen, Sheng Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.7

Objective: To investigate uPA and VEGF expression in esophageal cancer and relations with tumorous invasion and metastasis. Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to detect uPA and VEGF expression in the normal epithelial tissue of esophageal mucosa and cancer tissue and detect CD34 labeled micrangium and analyze the relationships with clinical pathological features and tumor angiogenesis. Results: Positive rates for uPA and VEGF protein expression were significantly greater in esophageal cancer than normal epithelial tissue (P < 0.05), the two being linked (P <0.05). In addition, uPA and VEGF protein expression of the high microvessel density (MVD) group was significantly lower than in the low MVD group (P < 0.05), with relation to clinical pathological staging, differentiation and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). Conclusion: In esophageal cancer tissue, uPA and VEGF proteins are overexpressed and promote tumor angiogenesis, indicative of a poor prognosis.

Additive Role of the Vestibular End Organ and Baroreceptors on the Regulation of Blood Pressure in Rats

Lan, Yan,Yang, Yan-Zhao,Jiang, Xian,Li, Li-Wei,Jin, Guang-Shi,Kim, Min Sun,Park, Byung Rim,Jin, Yuan-Zhe The Korean Society of Pharmacology 2013 The Korean Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology Vol.17 No.4

Contribution of the vestibular end organ to regulation of arterial pressure was quantitatively compared with the role of baroreceptors in terms of baroreflex sensitivity and c-Fos protein expression in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM). Baroreflex sensitivity and c-Fos protein expression in the RVLM were measured in conscious rats that had undergone bilateral labyrinthectomy (BL) and/or baroreceptor unloading. BL attenuated baroreflex sensitivity during intravenous infusion of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), but did not significantly affect the sensitivity following infusion of phenylephrine (PE). Baroreflex sensitivity became positive following sinoaortic denervation (SAD) during infusion of PE and attenuated sensitivity during infusion of SNP. Baroreflex sensitivity also became positive following double ablation (BL+SAD) during infusion of PE, and attenuated sensitivity during infusion of SNP. c-Fos protein expression increased significantly in the RVLM in the sham group after SNP administration. However, the BL, SAD, and SAD+BL groups showed significant decreases in c-Fos protein expression compared with that in the sham group. The SAD group showed more reduced c-Fos protein expression than that in the BL group, and the SAD+BL group showed less expression than that in the SAD group. These results suggest that the vestibular system cooperates with baroreceptors to maintain arterial pressure during hypotension but that baroreceptors regulate arterial pressure during both hypotension and hypertension. Additionally, afferent signals for maintaining blood pressure from the vestibular end organs and the baroreceptors may be integrated in the RVLM.