1.The Emerging Threat of Micro- and Nanoplastics on the Maturation and Activity of Immune Cells
Kang-Bin DAN ; Ji Yoon YOO ; Hyeyoung MIN
Biomolecules & Therapeutics 2025;33(1):95-105
With the increasing use of plastics worldwide, the amount of plastic waste being discarded has also risen. This plastic waste undergoes physical and chemical processes, breaking down into smaller particles known as microplastics (MPs) or nanoplastics (NPs). Advances in technology have enhanced our ability to detect these smaller particles, and it has been confirmed that plastics can be found in marine organisms as well as within the human body. However, research on the effects of MPs or NPs on living organisms has only recently been started, and our understanding remains limited. Studies on the immunological impacts are still ongoing, revealing that MPs and NPs can differentially affect various immune cells based on the material, size, and shape of the plastic particles. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of the effects of MPs and NPs on the immune system. We will also explore the methods for plastic removal through physicochemical, microbial, or biological means.
2.The Emerging Threat of Micro- and Nanoplastics on the Maturation and Activity of Immune Cells
Kang-Bin DAN ; Ji Yoon YOO ; Hyeyoung MIN
Biomolecules & Therapeutics 2025;33(1):95-105
With the increasing use of plastics worldwide, the amount of plastic waste being discarded has also risen. This plastic waste undergoes physical and chemical processes, breaking down into smaller particles known as microplastics (MPs) or nanoplastics (NPs). Advances in technology have enhanced our ability to detect these smaller particles, and it has been confirmed that plastics can be found in marine organisms as well as within the human body. However, research on the effects of MPs or NPs on living organisms has only recently been started, and our understanding remains limited. Studies on the immunological impacts are still ongoing, revealing that MPs and NPs can differentially affect various immune cells based on the material, size, and shape of the plastic particles. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of the effects of MPs and NPs on the immune system. We will also explore the methods for plastic removal through physicochemical, microbial, or biological means.
3.The Emerging Threat of Micro- and Nanoplastics on the Maturation and Activity of Immune Cells
Kang-Bin DAN ; Ji Yoon YOO ; Hyeyoung MIN
Biomolecules & Therapeutics 2025;33(1):95-105
With the increasing use of plastics worldwide, the amount of plastic waste being discarded has also risen. This plastic waste undergoes physical and chemical processes, breaking down into smaller particles known as microplastics (MPs) or nanoplastics (NPs). Advances in technology have enhanced our ability to detect these smaller particles, and it has been confirmed that plastics can be found in marine organisms as well as within the human body. However, research on the effects of MPs or NPs on living organisms has only recently been started, and our understanding remains limited. Studies on the immunological impacts are still ongoing, revealing that MPs and NPs can differentially affect various immune cells based on the material, size, and shape of the plastic particles. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of the effects of MPs and NPs on the immune system. We will also explore the methods for plastic removal through physicochemical, microbial, or biological means.
4.A comparative study of the effect of root planing methods and various conditioning agents.
Seung Mo KANG ; Ki Seok HONG ; Sung Bin LIM ; Chin Hyung CHUNG
The Journal of the Korean Academy of Periodontology 2005;35(3):719-730
The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of tetracycline HCL, Citric acid and PrefGel applied on the root surfaces that planed with periodontal curret with Roto bur. In this study, 20 extracted teeth with advanced periodontal disease were used. The teeth were root planing with periodontal curette and Roto bur. Following root planing, each agents was burnished on the prepared root surface for 3 minutes to find opened dentinal tubules. And then, each specimens were investigated using scanning electron microscope. Amount of remained cementum by loss of tooth substance index and the number of opened dentinal tubules were evaluated to each specimens The results were as follows. 1. Groups treated with periodontal curette were almost seemed no removed. Other groups treated with Roto bur showed partially opened dentinal tubule orifices. 2. Loss of tooth substance index were compared between groups. There was no statistically difference between periodontal curette groups. Between Roto bur groups was alike. But there were statistically differences between periodontal curette and Roto bur groups. 3. At comparing with various root conditioning agents, Tetracycline HCL group took statistically higher than Citric acid and PrefGel in opened dentinal tubules. On the other hand, there was no statistically difference between Citric acid group and PrefGel group. As a result of this study, groups treated with Roto bur showed more cementum removed than groups treated with periodontal curette. In a treatment for regeneration of periodontal tissue, it was regarded that Roto bur should be used and that Tetracycline HCL would be more effective as chemical root conditioning agent.
5.Analysis of the expression of Slit/Robo genes and the methylation status of their promoters in the hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines.
Dan ZHENG ; Bin-Bin LIU ; Yin-Kun LIU ; Xiao-Nan KANG ; Lu SUN ; Kun GUO ; Rui-Xia SUN ; Jie CHEN ; Yan ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Hepatology 2009;17(3):198-202
OBJECTIVETo analyze the expression of genes in the Slit/Robo signaling pathway, and the methylation status of their promoters in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines.
METHODSGenomic DNA and total RNA were isolated from 9 HCC cell lines of different metastatic ability (Hep3B, HepG2, PLC/PRF/5, SMMC-7721, BEL-7402, MHCC97-H, MHCC97-L, LM3, LM6) and a control cell line L-02. The expression profiles of Slit1, Slit2, Slit3, Robo1, and Robo3 were analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The methylation status of the promoters was detected by methylation specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP).
RESULTSThe promoters of Slit1, Slit2 and Slit3 genes were almost methylated in all the HCC cell lines. The Slit1 and Slit3 RNAs were not detected in most of the cell lines. Furthermore, the mRNA Slit2 was decreased gradually as the metastatic potential of the cell lines increased. As the candidate ligand of the Slit2 gene, Robo1 was frequently methylated in HCC cell lines whereas its mRNA was detected in all of these cells except SMMC-7721, BEL-7402 and L-02. Robo3 was unmethylated in HCC cell lines while its mRNA was not detected in these HCC cell lines.
CONCLUSIONThe hypermethylation status of Slit/Robo signaling pathway related genes is a universal event in the HCC. The hypermethylation status of Slit1, Slit2, Slit3 genes associated with the loss of expression or reduced expression. Those data suggest that Slit/Robo pathway may play a significant role in the progress or metastasis of HCC.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; CpG Islands ; genetics ; DNA Methylation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Receptors, Immunologic ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Signal Transduction
6.Screening for differential methylation status by CpG island microarray in the hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines.
Dan ZHENG ; Bin-Bin LIU ; Yin-Kun LIU ; Xiao-Nan KANG ; Lu SUN ; Kun GUO ; Rui-Xia SUN ; Jie CHEN ; Yan ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Oncology 2008;30(12):891-896
OBJECTIVETo profile the methylation alterations of CpG islands in hetpatocellular carcinoma cell lines.
METHODSA global analysis of DNA methylation using the Human CpG-island 12K Array (HCGI12K) from Canada University Health Network was performed on nine human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines (Hep3B, HepG2, PLC/RPF/5/RPF/5, SMMC-7721, BEL-7402, MHCC97-H, MHCC97-L, HCCLM3, HCCLM6) and a control cell line Chang's liver. Metastatic potential related alterations were also screened in MHCC97 series cell lines (MHCC97-H, MHCC97-L, HCCLM3, HCCLM6), using MHCC97-L, a cell line with low metastatic potential, as control. To screen the key genes which are hypermethylation or hypomethylation in the HCC cell lines compared with the normal liver cell line by normalization processing and cluster analysis of microarray data. Two randomly selected genes was analyzed by methylation specific PCR to verify the chip results.
RESULTSBy a standard of methylation alteration ratio > or = 2 or < or = 0.5, fifty-eight CpG island cloning sites and sixty-six upstream or downstream tumor-related genes were identified. The genes were oncogenes, tumour suppressor genes and their ligand genes, apoptosis-related genes, cell proliferation and differentiation genes, cell cycle-related gene and cell signaling pathway key genes such as Wnt, ras, and FGF pathway-related genes. The methylation specific PCR results were consistent with those obtained by chips.
CONCLUSIONThe results of this study demonstrate that there are a series of CpG island methylation alterations in HCC cell lines. The expression of many oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes and other key genes may be up- or down-regulated, respectively, because of their CpG island hypomethylation or hypermethylation accordingly. It may provide a basis for screening HCC biological markers by CpG island methylation profilling.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; pathology ; Cell Line ; Cell Line, Tumor ; CpG Islands ; genetics ; DNA Methylation ; Gene Expression Profiling ; methods ; Genes, Neoplasm ; Humans ; Liver ; cytology ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
7.Piperlongumine suppressed osteoclastogenesis in RAW264.7 macrophages
Sun Mi JIN ; Hae Mi KANG ; Dan Bi PARK ; Su Bin YU ; In Ryoung KIM ; Bong Soo PARK
International Journal of Oral Biology 2019;44(3):89-95
Piperlongumine (PL) is a natural product found in long pepper (Piper longum). The pharmacological effects of PL are well known, and it has been used for pain, hepatoprotection, and asthma in Oriental medicine. No studies have examined the effects of PL on bone tissue or bone-related diseases, including osteoporosis. The current study investigated for the first time the inhibitory effects of PL on osteoclast differentiation, bone resorption, and osteoclastogenesis-related factors in RAW264.7 macrophages stimulated by the receptor activator for nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL). Cytotoxicity was examined using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, and osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption were confirmed by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining and pit formation analysis. Osteoclast differentiation factors were confirmed by western blotting. PL exhibited toxicity in RAW264.7 macrophages, inhibiting osteoclast formation and bone resorption, in addition to inhibiting the expression of osteoclastogenesis-related factors, such as tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6), c-Fos, and NFATc1, in RANKL-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. These findings suggest that PL is suitable for the treatment of osteoporosis, and it serves as a potential therapeutic agent for various bone diseases.
Acid Phosphatase
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Asthma
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Blotting, Western
;
Bone and Bones
;
Bone Diseases
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Bone Resorption
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Macrophages
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Medicine, East Asian Traditional
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Osteoclasts
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Osteoporosis
;
Piper
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RANK Ligand
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
8.Antitumor effects of specific antagonist of estrogen-related receptor alpha XCT790 on H22 tumor-bearing mice in vivo
Li-Xiang YE ; Guan-Yu RUAN ; Bin-Hua DONG ; Ya-Fang KANG ; Fen LIN ; Xiao-Dan MAO ; Peng-Ming SUN
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2018;34(19):2317-2319
Objective To explore the effect of specific antagonist of estrogen-related receptor alpha——XCT790 on tumor growth, weight, liver index(LI), spleen index(SI) and kidney index (KI) in the diffe-rent models of tumor -bearing mice.Methods The H22 ascitic and solid tumor-bearing mice models were established , then mice were ran-domized into five groups , including model group (20%DMSO), control group(cyclophosphamide:CTX 30 mg· kg -1), experimental -L,-M,-H groups(XCT790:2,4,6 mg· kg -1).The samples were obtained in 24 h after continuous intraperitoneal administration of drug or solvent to mice for 7 d.The ascitic volume and tumor weight were measured .The ratios of LI,SI,KI were calculated.Results The ascitic volume of mice in model group, control group,and experimental -L,-M,-H groups were (6.17 ±3.04),(3.28 ±1.62),(3.60 ±1.67),(4.67 ±2.57), (4.73 ±2.66 ) mL; comparing between control group , experimental -L group and model group,the differences were significant(all P<0.01).In H22 solid tumor -bearing mice, the tumor weight of mice in model group, control group, experimental -L,-M,-H groups were (2.53 ±0.39),(1.25 ±0.45),(1.27 ±0.61),(1.14 ±0.56),(1.24 ±0.39) g with significant difference com-pared with model group ( all P<0.05 ) .LI,SI and KI had no statistically significant differences in ascitic or solid tumor-bearing groups(all P>0.05 ) .Conclusion XCT790 had anti -tumor effect on H22 tumor-bearing mice without influences on ratios of liver ,spleen and kidney.
9.Luteolin Induces Apoptosis via Mitochondrial Pathway and Inhibits Invasion and Migration of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Suppressing Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Induced Transcription Factors
Bong Soo PARK ; Jong Jin KIL ; Hae Mi KANG ; Su Bin YU ; Dan Bi PARK ; Jin A PARK ; In Ryoung KIM
International Journal of Oral Biology 2018;43(2):69-76
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common type of oral malignancy. Numerous therapies have been proposed for its cure. Research is continually being conducted to develop new forms of treatment as current therapies are associated with numerous side-effects. Luteolin, a common dietary flavonoid, has been demonstrated to possess strong anti-cancer activity against various human cancer cell lines. Nevertheless, research into luteolin-based anticancer activity against oral cancer remains scarce. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the effect of luteolin as an anti-cancer agent. After treatment with luteolin, Ca9-22 and CAL-27 oral cancer cells showed condensed nuclei and enhanced apoptotic rate with evidence of mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. Epithelialmesenchymal transition (EMT) is closely related to tumor migration and invasion. Luteolin suppressed cancer cell invasion and migration in the current study. Elevated expression of E-cadherin, an adherens junction protein, was evident in both cell lines after luteolin treatment. Luteolin also significantly inhibited transcription factors (i.e., N-cadherin, Slug, Snail, Twist, and ZEB-1) that regulated expression of tumor suppressors such as E-cadherin based on Western blot analysis and quantitative PCR. Thus, luteolin could induce mitochondrial apoptosis and inhibit cancer cell invasion and migration by suppressing EMT-induced transcription factors.
Adherens Junctions
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Apoptosis
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Blotting, Western
;
Cadherins
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Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
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Cell Line
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Epithelial Cells
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Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
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Gastropoda
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Humans
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Luteolin
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Mouth Neoplasms
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Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Snails
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Transcription Factors
10.Protective effect of herba artemisiae scopariae aqueous extract on neonatal parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis induced by multidrug resistance protein 3 gene mutation
Xiufang YANG ; Shuming BIN ; Dan LI ; Huiying LIANG ; Kang CHEN ; Kaijun ZHENG ; Juncai DING ; Qiaowei ZHU ; Shangwen SHI ; Guiling CHEN
Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine in Intensive and Critical Care 2024;31(3):308-314
Objective To investigate the protective effect of herba artemisiae scopariae extract on multidrug resistance protein 3(MDR3)gene mutation-induced neonatal parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis(PNAC)and its possible mechanism.Methods ①Human primary hepatocytes were treated with cell culture in vitro,CRISPR/Cas9 lentivirus infection and MDR3 mutant gene lead-in.The levels of hepatic and biliary biochemical indexes[alanine transaminase(ALT),aspartate transaminase(AST),total bilirubin(TBil),direct bilirubin(DBil),indirect bilirubin(IBil),total bile acid(TBA)]in the supernatant of hepatocytes before and after 16,32,48 hours were compared to determine the time required for fatty acid induction of PNAC hepatocyte model with MDR3 gene mutation.② Human primary hepatocytes were divided into blank control group,MDR3 gene wild type group,MDR3 gene mutation group,and herba artemisiae scopariae extract intervention group according to random number table method.The blank control group was treated with culture medium only,the MDR3 gene wild type group was infected with lentivirus and mixed with wild type MDR3 gene and culture medium,the MDR3 gene mutation group was infected with lentivirus and cultured in culture medium with the mutant genes lead-in of LV-MDR3KI(c.485T>A,c.2793insA,c.1031G>A,c.3347G>A)mutation,while the MDR3 mutant gene was lead-in by lentivirus infection and cultured in culture medium,and then pretreated with 100 g/L herba artemisiae scopariae extract in the herba artemisiae scopariae extract intervention group,then the four groups of hepatocytes were induced with 1%fat emulsion,and the treatment time was the time needed to construct the PNAC hepatocytes model with MDR3 gene mutation.The levels of ALT,AST,TBil,DBil,IBil and TBA in the supernatant of hepatocytes were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The mRNA expression abundance of adenosine triphosphate binding cassette proteins(ABCB4,ABCB11,ABCC2,ABCC3,ABCC4)encoding MDR3,bile salt export pump(BSEP),multidrug resistance associated protein(MRP)2-4,and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)genes were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR).Results Compared to the blank control group and MDR3 gene wild type group,there was no significant difference in the levels of ALT,AST,TBil,DBil,IBil,TBA in the supernatant of MDR3 gene mutant group before and 16 hours after induction with 1%fat emulsion,however after treated with 1%fat emulsion for 32 hours and 48 hours,the levels of ALT,AST,TBil,DBil,IBil,TBA in the supernatant of MDR3 mutant hepatocytes were significantly increased(P<0.05),consequently the time required for fatty acid induction of PNAC hepatocyte model was 32 hours.At 32 hours after treatment with fat emulsion,the levels of ALT,AST,TBil,DBil,TBA in the supernatant of hepatocytes in the herba artemisiae scopariae extract intervention group were significantly decreased[ALT(ng/L):148.3±2.3 vs.164.9±7.0,AST(ng/L):2767.4±78.8 vs.3239.4±107.1,TBil(μmol/L):7.6±0.2 vs.13.6±0.3,DBil(μmol/L):1.8±0.1 vs.5.7±0.2,TBA(μmol/L):3.4±0.2 vs.6.7±0.1,all P<0.05].The ABCB4,ABCC2,ABCC3,ABCC4 mRNA expression of MDR3,MRP2,MRP3,MRP4 in the blank control group,MDR3 wild type group,MDR3 gene mutation group and the herba artemisiae scopariae extract intervention group had no significant difference.The expression of TNF gene mRNA was highly expressed in MDR3 gene mutation group(2-??Ct:1.258±0.200 vs.1.001±0.052),and was low expressed in the herba artemisiae scopariae extract intervention group(2-??Ct:0.387±0.247 vs.1.258±0.200),and there was a significant difference between the two groups(both P<0.05).Compared to the MDR3 gene mutation group,the ABCB11 gene encoding BSEP mRNA expression in the herba artemisiae scopariae extract intervention group was significantly increased(2-??Ct:2.955±0.479 vs.1.333±0.529,P<0.05).Conclusion The herba artemisiae scopariae extract has a protective effect on PNAC induced by MDR3 gene mutation,which may be related to antagonizing inflammatory reaction,decreasing the expression of TNF mRNA and improving the expression of ABCB11 gene encoding BSEP.