Expression of Chicken Cystatin for Improving Insect Resistance in Rice

Ryu, Sunhyo,Chung, Ki-0Chul,Chi, Youn-Tae,Cheong, Hyeonsook 한국식물학회 2001 Journal of Plant Biology Vol.44 No.4

To become mature and infectious, many viruses and insects require proteolytic cleavage, which can be specifically inhibited by proteinase inhibitors. Oryzacystatin (OC), the first-described cystatin originating from rice seed, consists of two molecular species, OC-Ⅰand OC-Ⅱ, both of which have antiviral activity. These intrinsic rice cystatins show a narrow inhibition spectrum and ordinarily are present in rice seeds at insufficient levels for inhibiting the cysteine proteinases of rice insect pests. In addition, our comparison of inhibitory activity (Ki value) showed that chicken cystatin (Ki 5×10 exp (-12) M) was more powerful than other cystatins, such as OC-Ⅰ(Ki 3.02×10 exp (-8) M) and OC-Ⅱ (Ki 0.83×10 exp (-8) M). Chicken cystatin also possesses a wide inhibitory spectrum against various cysteine proteinases. Here, we introduced the insecticidal chicken cystatin gene into rice plants to improve their insect resistance. Four highly expressive, independent transgenic lines were identified. Molecular analyses revealed that the transferred gene was expressed stably in the independent transgenic lines. Therefore, introducing the insecticidal cysteine proteinase inhibitor gene into rice plants can be part of a general development strategy for pest control.

Antimicrobial and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Cecropin A(1-8)–Magainin2(1-12) Hybrid Peptide Analog P5 against Malassezia furfur Infection in Human Keratinocytes

Ryu, Sunhyo,Choi, Soon-Yong,Acharya, Samudra,Chun, Young-Jin,Gurley, Catherine,Park, Yoonkyung,Armstrong, Cheryl A,Song, Peter I,Kim, Beom-Joon The Society for Investigative Dermatology, Inc 2011 The Journal of investigative dermatology Vol.131 No.8

The lipophilic fungus Malassezia furfur (M. furfur) is a commensal microbe associated with several chronic diseases such as pityriasis versicolor, folliculitis, and seborrheic dermatitis. Because M. furfur-related diseases are difficult to treat and require prolonged use of medications, the treatment for M. furfur-related skin diseases is supposed to gain control over M. furfur growth and the inflammation associated with it, as well as to prevent secondary infections. In this study, we investigated the antifungal and anti-inflammatory effects of cecropin A(1-8)–magainin 2(1-12) hybrid peptide analog P5 on M. furfur. The minimal inhibitory concentration of P5 against M. furfur was 0.39 μM, making it 3–4 times more potent than commonly used antifungal agents such as ketoconazole (1.5 μM) or itraconazole (1.14 μM). P5 efficiently inhibited the expression of IL-8 and Toll-like receptor 2 in M. furfur-infected human keratinocytes without eukaryotic cytotoxicity at its fungicidal concentration. Moreover, P5 significantly downregulated NF-κB activation and intracellular calcium fluctuation, which are closely related with enhanced responses of keratinocyte inflammation induced by M. furfur infection. Taken together, these observations suggest P5 may be a potential therapeutic agent for M. furfur-associated human skin diseases because of its distinct antifungal and anti-inflammatory action.

Mycophenolate Antagonizes IFN-γ-Induced Catagen-Like Changes via β-Catenin Activation in Human Dermal Papilla Cells and Hair Follicles

Ryu, Sunhyo,Lee, Yonghee,Hyun, Moo Yeol,Choi, Sun Young,Jeong, Kwan Ho,Park, Young Min,Kang, Hoon,Park, Kui Young,Armstrong, Cheryl A.,Johnson, Andrew,Song, Peter I.,Kim, Beom Joon MDPI 2014 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES Vol.15 No.9

<P>Recently, various immunosuppressant drugs have been shown to induce hair growth in normal hair as well as in alopecia areata and androgenic alopecia; however, the responsible mechanism has not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, we investigate the influence of mycophenolate (MPA), an immunosuppressant, on the proliferation of human dermal papilla cells (hDPCs) and on the growth of human hair follicles following catagen induction with interferon (IFN)-γ. IFN-γ was found to reduce β-catenin, an activator of hair follicle growth, and activate glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β, and enhance expression of the Wnt inhibitor DKK-1 and catagen inducer transforming growth factor (TGF)-β2. IFN-γ inhibited expression of ALP and other dermal papillar cells (DPCs) markers such as Axin2, IGF-1, and FGF 7 and 10. MPA increased β-catenin in IFN-γ-treated hDPCs leading to its nuclear accumulation via inhibition of GSK3β and reduction of DKK-1. Furthermore, MPA significantly increased expression of ALP and other DPC marker genes but inhibited expression of TGF-β2. Therefore, we demonstrate for the first time that IFN-γ induces catagen-like changes in hDPCs and in hair follicles via inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, and that MPA stabilizes β-catenin by inhibiting GSK3β leading to increased β-catenin target gene and DP signature gene expression, which may, in part, counteract IFN-γ-induced catagen in hDPCs.</P>

Colonization and Infection of the Skin by <i>S. aureus</i> : Immune System Evasion and the Response to Cationic Antimicrobial Peptides

Ryu, Sunhyo,Song, Peter I.,Seo, Chang Ho,Cheong, Hyeonsook,Park, Yoonkyung Molecular Diversity Preservation International (MD 2014 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES Vol.15 No.5

<P><I>Staphylococcus aureus</I> (<I>S. aureus</I>) is a widespread cutaneous pathogen responsible for the great majority of bacterial skin infections in humans. The incidence of skin infections by <I>S. aureus</I> reflects in part the competition between host cutaneous immune defenses and <I>S. aureus</I> virulence factors. As part of the innate immune system in the skin, cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs) such as the β-defensins and cathelicidin contribute to host cutaneous defense, which prevents harmful microorganisms, like <I>S. aureus</I>, from crossing epithelial barriers. Conversely, <I>S. aureus</I> utilizes evasive mechanisms against host defenses to promote its colonization and infection of the skin. In this review, we focus on host-pathogen interactions during colonization and infection of the skin by <I>S. aureus</I> and methicillin-resistant <I>Staphylococcus aureus</I> (MRSA). We will discuss the peptides (defensins, cathelicidins, RNase7, dermcidin) and other mediators (toll-like receptor, IL-1 and IL-17) that comprise the host defense against <I>S. aureus</I> skin infection, as well as the various mechanisms by which <I>S. aureus</I> evades host defenses. It is anticipated that greater understanding of these mechanisms will enable development of more sustainable antimicrobial compounds and new therapeutic approaches to the treatment of <I>S. aureus</I> skin infection and colonization.</P>

암컷 마우스에서 몸무게와 지질대사에 미치는 fenofibrate의 영향

정선효,이형희,한미영,유칠열,윤미정 목원대학교 자연과학연구소 2002 自然科學 硏究論文集 Vol.11 No.1

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α(PPARα)는 지질대사를 조절하며, 지질대사 및 에너지 균형과 관련된 질병들 - 동맥경화증, 비만, 제 2형 당뇨병 등에서 중요한 역할을 담당한다. 본 연구는 폐경 후 비만에 대한 PPARα의 역할을 연구하기 위해서 난소 유무에 따른 PPARα activator인 fenofibrate의 효과를 조사하였다. 그 결과 fenofibrate는 난소를 가진 그룹에 비해 난수가 제거된 그룹에서 high-fat diet에 의해 증가된 몸무게를 효과적으로 감소시켰으며, 복부지방의 무게, 혈중 triglycerides 및 총 cholesterol 농도와 좋은 상관관계를 보임으로써 지방산 산화를 촉진하는 PPARα 와 난소의 유무, 지질대사 그리고 비만이 밀접하게 관련되어 있음을 나타냈다. 따라서 이러한 결과는 PPARα를 통해 폐경 후의 여성에서 발생하는 비만뿐만 아니라 lipid나 lipoprotein 대사의 이상이 동시에 개선될 수 있음을 시사한다. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α(PPARα) is known to modulate lipid metabolism and to have an important role for energy balance associated with metabolic disorders such as atherosclerosis, obesity, and type Ⅱ diabetes. To determine the function of PPARα in obesity of postmenopausal women, this study examined the effects of PPARα activator fenofibrate on body weight gain and lipid metabolism in sham-operated and overiectomized mice. Fenofibrate treatment significantly inhibited geh high-fat diet-induced increase in body weight in overiectomized mice, but not in sham-operated mice. The results of body weight was found to be positively correlated with visceral fat weight, serum total cholesterol and tyglyceride levels, indicating that PPARα, existence of ovary, and lipid metabolism may be closely related with obesity. These results support that PPARα can simultaneously improve obesity and indisposition of lipid metabolism in postmenopausal women.

Claudin-7 is Highly Expressed in Chromophobe Renal Cell Carcinoma and Renal Oncocytoma

Yoo Duk Choi,정상우,최찬,Ki Seung Kim,Sunhyo Ryu,박영규,조남훈,나서희,장자준,Jae Y Ro 대한의학회 2007 Journal of Korean medical science Vol.22 No.2

Claudin-7 has recently been suggested to be a distal nephron marker. We tested the possibility that expression of claudin-7 could be used as a marker of renal tumors originating from the distal nephron. We examined the immunohistochemical expression of claudin-7 and parvalbumin in 239 renal tumors, including 179 clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC)s, 29 papillary RCCs, 20 chromophobe RCCs, and 11 renal oncocytomas. In addition, the methylation specific-PCR (MSP) of claudin-7 was performed. Claudin-7 and parvalbumin immunostains were positive in 3.4%, 7.8% of clear cell RCCs, 34.5%, 31.0% of papillary RCCs, 95.0%, 80.0% of chromophobe RCCs, and 72.7%, 81.8% of renal oncocytomas, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of claudin-7 in diagnosing chromophobe RCC among subtypes of RCC were 95.0% and 92.3%. Those of parvalbumin were 80.0% and 88.9%. The expression pattern of claudin-7 was mostly diffuse in chromophobe RCC and was either focal or diffuse in oncocytoma. All of the cases examined in the MSP revealed the presence of unmethylated promoter of claudin-7 without regard to claudin-7 immunoreactivity. Hypermethylation of the promoter might not be the underlying mechanism for loss of its expression in RCC. Claudin-7 can be used as a useful diagnostic marker in diagnosing chromophobe RCC and oncocytoma.