Hypoxia Mediates Runt-Related Transcription Factor 2 Expression via Induction of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells

Manjing Deng,Qian Xu,Zhihua Liu1,Ling Guo,Rui Liu,Rulei Li,Xiang Chu,Jiajia Yang,Jia Luo,Faming Chen 한국분자세포생물학회 2019 Molecules and cells Vol.42 No.11

Periodontitis is characterized by the loss of periodontal tissues, especially alveolar bone. Common therapies cannot satisfactorily recover lost alveolar bone. Periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) possess the capacity of self-renewal and multilineage differentiation and are likely to recover lost alveolar bone. In addition, periodontitis is accompanied by hypoxia, and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is a master transcription factor in the response to hypoxia. Thus, we aimed to ascertain how hypoxia affects runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), a key osteogenic marker, in the osteogenesis of PDLSCs. In this study, we found that hypoxia enhanced the protein expression of HIF-1α, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and RUNX2 ex vivo and in situ. VEGF is a target gene of HIF-1α, and the increased expression of VEGF and RUNX2 proteins was enhanced by cobalt chloride (CoCl2, 100 μmol/L), an agonist of HIF-1α, and suppressed by 3-(5′-hydroxymethyl-2′-furyl)-1-benzyl indazole (YC-1, 10 μmol/L), an antagonist of HIF-1α. In addition, VEGF could regulate the expression of RUNX2, as RUNX2 expression was enhanced by human VEGF (hVEGF165) and suppressed by VEGF siRNA. In addition, knocking down VEGF could decrease the expression of osteogenesis-related genes, i.e., RUNX2, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and type I collagen (COL1), and hypoxia could enhance the expression of ALP, COL1, and osteocalcin (OCN) in the early stage of osteogenesis of PDLSCs. Taken together, our results showed that hypoxia could mediate the expression of RUNX2 in PDLSCs via HIF-1α-induced VEGF and play a positive role in the early stage of osteogenesis of PDLSCs

Smartphone, promising battlefield for hackers

Bo Li1,Eul Gyu Im 보안공학연구지원센터(JSE) 2011 보안공학연구논문지 Vol.8 No.1

As smartphnoe becomes popular and the processing power is catching up with PC, although it brings much convenience to people’s daily life from fast access to latest information to efficient financial activities, more potential security threatens needs to be solved. As the mobile operation systems in different devices become common like Symbian and Windows Mobile, it is more possible for fast virus propagation and large scale damage soon. There have been several attacks targeting smartphone till now and it is a trend that hackers may move the battlefield from PCs to smartphones because of promising profit and smartphones’ limitations for antivirus work. This paper will present several security issues, predict possible attack forms and give some defense suggestions for smartphone security protection.

Protective effects of vitamins C and E on dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane-induced genotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in human liver cells

Xiao Ting Jin,Li Song,Xiang Yuan Liu,Hang Qing Li,Long Cheng,Zhuo Yu Li1,,Z. Y. Li 대한독성 유전단백체 학회 2017 Molecular & cellular toxicology Vol.13 No.2

Dichlorodiphenoxytrichloroethane (DDT), a persistent organic pollutant and hepatotoxicant, is used to control the malaria. However, scarce information exists on relevant effective inhibitors of DDT’ toxicity. The aim of this study was to investigate protective effects of natural antioxidants vitamin C (VC) or/and vitamin E (VE) on p,pʹ-DDT-induced genotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in human liver cells. p,pʹ-DDT exposure increased levels of chromatin condensation, comet parameter, micronucleus induction and DPC coefficient of HL-7702 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Also, an increase in mRNA levels of CYP1A1 as well as CYP3A4, and a decrease in UGT along with GST were observed. Interestingly, supplementation with VC or/and VE prevented p,pʹ-DDT-caused alterations in DNA damage and phase metabolism gene expressions, and the combination of VC and VE had a more protective effect than VC or VE alone. These findings illustrated that VC or/and VE could be beneficial for the alleviation of p,pʹ-DDT-incurred toxicity in human liver cells.

Lipolysis Effect of Daucosterol Isolated from Mulberry (Morus alba) Leaves

Ke Li1(이커),Mi Lim Lee(이미림),Lu Que(루쿼),Mae Li(이매),Jum Soon Kang(강점순),Yung Hyun Choi(최영현),Kyung Mi Kim(김경미),Jae-Chul Jung(정재철),Dae Youn Hwang(황대연),Young Whan Choi(최영환) 한국생명과학회 2017 생명과학회지 Vol.27 No.12

뽕나무는 약 40여 속과 1,000여 종이 있는 것으로 알려져 있으며, 항염증, 항진정, 지사작용, 노화억제 및 신경보호작용이 있는 것으로 알려져 있다. 본 연구에서는 아시아 지역에서 전통 한약재로 사용되는 뽕 나무 잎의 지방분해 활성에 관여하고 있는 물질을 스크린하기 위하여 뽕잎 분말을 헥산, 에틸 아세테이트 및 메탄올로 순차 추출하였다. 뽕 잎의 EtOAc 추출물로부터 daucosterol이 순수분리 되었으며, 그 구조는 1H, 13C, DEPT, COSY, HSQC 및 HMBC 등의 NMR스펙트럼 분석에 의해 밝혀졌다. Daucosterol은 농도 의존적으로 지질분해 효과를 나타내었는데, 본 연구의 결과로부터 뽕나무 잎으로부터 순수분리한 daucosterol의 지분분해 활성은 다양한 질병을 치료하기 위한 천연물 소재 또는 지표성분으로서 활용이 가능할 것으로 생각된다. 그러나 보다 효율적으로 이용하기 위해서는 daucosterol의 비만에 관한 생리활성 기작에 대한 추가적인 연구가 필요할 것이다. Plants are reservoirs of naturally occurring chemical compounds and of structurally diverse bioactive molecules. The aim of this investigation was to screen for the presence of phytochemicals responsible for the lipolysis activity in mulberry (Morus alba) leaves, which are important in traditional Asian medicinal plants. Powdered mulberry leaves were extracted with hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol. Daucosterol was isolated from the EtOAc extract of mulberry leaves, and its structure was elucidated by NMR spectral analyses. The NMR assignments for the compound were determined using 1H, 13C, DEPT, COSY, HSQC, and HMBC NMR spectral data. Daucosterol showed a concentration-dependent lipolysis activity that may impart medicinal properties that can be exploited by medical practitioners for the treatment of various diseases. However, further studies should be conducted to elucidate additional mechanisms of daucosterol.

Effect of aberrantly methylated androgen receptor target gene PCDH7 on the development of androgen-independent prostate cancer cells

Siqi Xu,Xiaoyan Wu,Zhihua Tao,Hongsheng Li1,Chenliang Fan,Songjin Chen,Jianwei Guo,Yao Ning,Xuqi Hu 한국유전학회 2020 Genes & Genomics Vol.42 No.3

Background Androgen-independent prostate cancer (AIPC) is an extremely malignant tumor developed from the androgen dependent (ADPC). However, the mechanism of transition process from ADPC to AIPC remains unknown. Objective Here we aimed to identify the androgen receptor (AR) target gene and its roles in AIPC. Methods Target genes of AR were identified by ChIP-seq in AIPC cells. AR target gene PCDH7 was detected by real time PCR and western blot. Methylation of PCDH7 was measured by bisulfite sequencing and bisulfite amplicon sequencing. Cell growth, invasion and apoptosis were measured by CCK-8, transwell and flow cytometry, respectively. Results AR was significantly enriched in the upstream of PCDH7 gene. The expression of PCDH7 was significantly decreased, while the methylation of PCDH7 was increased in the AIPC cells compared to the ADPC cells. DNA methyltransferase inhibitor significantly suppressed the methylation and increased the mRNA and protein level of PCDH7. Moreover, overexpression of DNMT1 remarkably reduced the mRNA and protein level of PCDH7. DNA methyltransferase inhibitor decreased the cell growth and invasion while promote the cell apoptosis in the AIPC cells. AR significantly target PCDH7, whose hypermethylation may repress cell growth and invasion, and promote apoptosis in AIPC. Conclusions This study might provide a novel potential target for the treatment of AIPC.

Survival and Performance of Two Cellulose-Degrading Microbial Systems Inoculated into Wheat Straw-Amended Soil

( Pei Pei Li ),( Dong Dong Zhang ),( Xiao Juan Wang ),( Xiao Fen Wang ),( Zong Jun Cui1 ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2012 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.22 No.1

A cellulose-degrading composite microbial system containing a mixture of microbes was previously shown to demonstrate a high straw-degrading capacity. To estimate its potential utilization as an inoculant to accelerate straw biodegradation after returning straw to the field, two cellulose-degrading composite microbial systems named ADS3 and WSD5 were inoculated into wheat straw-amended soil in the laboratory. The microbial survival of the inoculant was confirmed by a denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis, whereas the enhancement of straw degradation in soil was assessed by measuring the mineralization of the soil organic matter and the soil cellulase activity. The results indicated that most of the DGGE bands from ADS3 were detected after inoculation into straw-amended autoclaved soil, yet only certain bands from ADS3 and WSD5 were detected after inoculation into straw-amended non-autoclaved soil during five weeks of incubation; some bands were detected during the first two weeks after inoculation, and then disappeared in later stages. Organic matter mineralization was significantly higher in the soil inoculants ADS3 and WSD5 than in the uninoculated controls during the first week, yet the enhanced degradation did not persist during the subsequent incubation. Similar to the increase in soil organic matter, the cellulase activity also increased during the first week in the ADS3 and WSD5 treatments, yet decreased during the remainder of the incubation period. Thus, it was concluded that, although the survival and performance of the two inoculants did not persist in the soil, a significant enhancement of degradation was present during the early stage of incubation.

Systemic Family Therapy of Comorbidity of Anxiety and Depression with Epilepsy in Adolescents

Jing Li1,Xuefeng Wang,Huaqing Meng,Kebin Zeng,Fengying Quan,Fang Liu 대한신경정신의학회 2016 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.13 No.3

ObjectiveaaThe aim of this study was to find if systemic family therapy (SFT) does work in anxiety and depression with epilepsy in adolescents (ADAE). Methodsaa104 adolescents with epilepsy, aged 13–20 years old, were included from December 2009 to December 2010, the enrolled patients were with anxiety [Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) score ≥14 points] or depression [Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) score ≥20 points]. The patients were randomly divided into the control group (n=52) treated with antiepileptic drugs (AED) and the intervention group (n=52) undergone Systemic Family Therapy (SFT) as well as AED. The AED improvements, anxiety and depression scores, Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), Family Assessment Device (FAD) and scale of systemic family dynamics (SSFD) were observed after 3-month treatment. ResultsaaThe frequencies of epileptic seizures in intervention group was decreased much more significantly than the control group (4.22±3.54 times/month vs. 6.20±5.86 times/month, p=0.04); and the scores of anxiety (9.52±6.28 points vs. 13.48±8.47 points, p=0.01) and depression (13.86±9.17 points vs. 18.89±8.73 points, p=0.02) were significantly decreased than the control group; meanwhile, the family dynamics and family functions were significantly improved, and the social support was also increased (p<0.05). ConclusionaaSFT combined with AEDs had better efficacies than AEDs alone, not only the frequency of epileptic seizures was decreased, but also the patients’ anxiety and depression were improved, and the family dynamics, family functions and social support were improved.

High-Frequency Dimmable Electronic Ballast for Automotive HID Lamps

Huang-Jen Chiu1,Hsiu-Ming Huang,Li-Wei Lin,Shann-Chyi Mou,Pang-Jung Liu 제어로봇시스템학회 2005 제어로봇시스템학회 국제학술대회 논문집 Vol.2005 No.6

Identification of lead inhibitors targeting influenza A virus nucleoprotein through surface plasmon resonance screening

Chun-Yeung Lo,Sze-Ting Choi,Olive Tin-Wai Li,Jacky Chi-Ki Ngo,David Chi-Cheong Wan,Leo Lit-Man Poon,Pang-Chui Shaw1 한국구조생물학회 2015 Biodesign Vol.3 No.3

Currently, many strains of influenza A virus have developed resistance against anti-influenza drugs, and it is essential to find new chemicals to combat this virus. The viral nucleoprotein (NP) is a major component of the ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex for the transcription and replication of the virus. In this study, we have employed surface plasmon resonance direct binding screening on the influenza A NP and found a hit compound 16 that can subdue influenza RNP activities. Subsequently, two analogs (compounds 55 & 58) from compound 16 were identified which inhibit RNP activities of various influenza A subtypes and viral growth at micromolar levels. These analogs were also shown to directly interact with NP, with KD 12.0±1.25 and 41.6±1.93 μM respectively by surface plasmon resonance assay.

Towards Attacks and Defenses of Anonymous Communication Systems

Tianbo Lu,Puxin Yao1,Lingling Zhao,Yang Li,Feng Xie,Yamei Xia 보안공학연구지원센터 2015 International Journal of Security and Its Applicat Vol.9 No.1

Anonymous communication system has been hot topic in the field of information security, and attack techniques against anonymous systems are endless. This paper first classifies and summarizes the study of attacks against anonymous communication system in recent years, then analyzes the trend of the research on different attack technologies; secondly, it provides a comparative analysis of defense capability the mainstream anonymous communication system to the various attacks; Finally, combining the advantages and disadvantages of different systems, the authors propose an improved node selection and router forwarding algorithms for anonymous communication systems, and design an architecture of anonymous communications software based on the algorithm.