Raepenol™ Cream, a Complex of Natural Compounds, Promotes Wound Healing and Relieves Pruritus .

Background/aim: Skin wound healing is a physiological process restoring the structural and functional integrity of injured skin. During this process, wound management preventing bacterial infection and complications is important for the regeneration of skin layers and adnexa, as well as the protective function of the skin. Therefore, the development of an effective ointment to promote wound healing without complications is beneficial.

Recombinant Human IL-32θ Induces Polarization Into M1-like Macrophage in Human Monocytic Cells.

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is formed by several immune cells. Notably, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are existed in the TME that induce angiogenesis, metastasis, and proliferation of cancer cells. Recently, a point-mutated variant of IL-32θ was discovered in breast cancer tissues, which suppressed migration and proliferation through intracellular pathways.

Development and Optimization of a Rapid Colorimetric Membrane Immunoassay for .

() is a major bacterial pathogen that causes periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory disease of tissues around the teeth. Periodontitis is known to be related to other diseases, such as oral cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and rheumatism. Thus, a precise and sensitive test to detect is necessary for the early diagnosis of periodontitis.

Honokiol Inhibits Melanoma Growth by Targeting Keratin 18 and .

Honokiol, a natural compound, derived from , has been shown to have anti-cancer effect in several cancer types. However, the underlying molecular mechanism associated with its anti-cancer properties has not been fully elucidated. In the current study, we showed that honokiol inhibited the growth of melanoma cells in a dose and time-dependent manner.

Carnosol suppresses patient-derived gastric tumor growth by targeting RSK2.

Carnosol is a phenolic diterpene that is isolated from rosemary, sage, and oregano. It has been reported to possess anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties. However, the molecular mechanism of carnosol's activity against gastric cancer has not been investigated.

Targeting PRPK and TOPK for skin cancer prevention and therapy.

Solar ultraviolet (sUV) irradiation is a major environmental carcinogen that can cause inflammation and skin cancer. The costs and morbidity associated with skin cancer are increasing, and therefore identifying molecules that can help prevent skin carcinogenesis is important. In this study, we identified the p53-related protein kinase (PRPK) as a novel oncogenic protein that is phosphorylated by the T-LAK cell-originated protein kinase (TOPK).

Targeting PRPK Function Blocks Colon Cancer Metastasis.

The biological functions of the p53-related protein kinase (PRPK) remain unclear. We have previously demonstrated that PRPK is phosphorylated by the T-LAK cell-originated protein kinase (TOPK) and that phosphorylated PRPK (p-PRPK) promotes colon cancer metastasis. Here, we analyzed colon adenocarcinomas from 87 patients and found that higher expression levels of p-PRPK were associated with later stages of metastatic dissemination (stage III and IV) as compared with earlier stages (stages I and II).

The CUG-translated WT1, not AUG-WT1, is an oncogene.

The Wilms' tumor 1 (WT1) gene is believed to act as a canonical tumor suppressor. However, it has also been reported to function as an oncogene. Germline WT1 deletion is associated with Wilms' tumor, and exogenous WT1 cDNA introduction into cells induces the transcriptional suppression of its oncogenic target genes.

Computational and Biochemical Discovery of RSK2 as a Novel Target for Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG).

The most active anticancer component in green tea is epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Protein interaction with EGCG is a critical step for mediating the effects of EGCG on the regulation of various key molecules involved in signal transduction. By using computational docking screening methods for protein identification, we identified a serine/threonine kinase, 90-kDa ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK2), as a novel molecular target of EGCG.

p38α MAPK is required for arsenic-induced cell transformation.

Arsenic exposure has been reported to cause neoplastic transformation through the activation of PcG proteins. In the present study, we show that activation of p38α mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) is required for arsenic-induced neoplastic transformation. Exposure of cells to 0.

Kaempferol targets RSK2 and MSK1 to suppress UV radiation-induced skin cancer.

Solar UV (SUV) irradiation is a major factor in skin carcinogenesis, the most common form of cancer in the United States. The MAPK cascades are activated by SUV irradiation. The 90 kDa ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK) and mitogen and stress-activated protein kinase (MSK) proteins constitute a family of protein kinases that mediate signal transduction downstream of the MAPK cascades.

Eupafolin suppresses prostate cancer by targeting phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-mediated Akt signaling.

Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) loss or mutation consistently activates the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K)/Akt signaling pathway, which contributes to the progression and invasiveness of prostate cancer. Furthermore, the PTEN/PI3-K/Akt and Ras/MAPK pathways cooperate to promote the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis initiated from prostate stem/progenitor cells. For these reasons, the PTEN/PI3-K/Akt pathway is considered as an attractive target for both chemoprevention and chemotherapy.

Polycomb (PcG) proteins, BMI1 and SUZ12, regulate arsenic-induced cell transformation.

Inorganic arsenic is a well-documented human carcinogen associated with cancers of the skin, lung, liver, and bladder. However, the underlying mechanisms explaining the tumorigenic role of arsenic are not well understood. The present study explored a potential mechanism of cell transformation induced by arsenic exposure.

Phosphorylation of histone H2B serine 32 is linked to cell transformation.

Various types of post-translational modifications of the histone tails have been revealed, but a few modifications have been found within the histone core sequences. Histone core post-translational modifications have the potential to modulate nucleosome structure and DNA accessibility. Here, we studied the histone H2B core domain and found that phosphorylation of H2B serine 32 occurs in normal cycling and mitogen-stimulated cells.

Phosphorylation of caspase-7 by p21-activated protein kinase (PAK) 2 inhibits chemotherapeutic drug-induced apoptosis of breast cancer cell lines.

p21-activated kinase (PAK) 2, a member of the PAK family of serine/threonine protein kinases, plays an important role in physiological processes such as motility, survival, mitosis, and apoptosis. However, the role of PAK2 in resistance to chemotherapy is unclear. Here we report that PAK2 is highly expressed in human breast cancer cell lines and human breast invasive carcinoma tissue compared with a human non-tumorigenic mammary epithelial cell line and adjacent normal breast tissue, respectively.

Histone XH2AX is required for Xenopus anterior neural development: critical role of threonine 16 phosphorylation.

A role for histone H2AX, one of the variants of the nucleosome core histone H2A, has been demonstrated in DNA repair, tumor suppression, apoptosis, and cell cycle checkpoint function. However, the physiological function and post-translational modification of histone H2AX during vertebrate development have not been elucidated. Here, we provide evidence showing that Xenopus histone H2AX (XH2AX) has a role in the anterior neural plate for eye field formation during Xenopus embryogenesis.

Role of NEK6 in tumor promoter-induced transformation in JB6 C141 mouse skin epidermal cells.

NEK6 (NIMA-related kinase 6) is a homologue of the Aspergillus nidulans protein NIMA (never in mitosis, gene A). We demonstrate that overexpression of NEK6 induces anchorage-independent transformation of JB6 Cl41 mouse epidermal cells. Tissue arrays and Western immunoblot analysis show that NEK6 is overexpressed in malignant tissues and several cancer cell lines.

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 8-mediated c-Jun phosphorylation increases tumorigenesis of human colon cancer.

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 8 (ERK8), a recently discovered member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase protein family, has been less studied than other family members, leaving its physiologic functions mostly unknown. The biological consequences of overexpression of ERK8 in JB6 Cl41 epidermal skin cells or knockdown of ERK8 in HCT15 colorectal cancer cells was studied. Kinase assays and transient transfection experiments were performed to study the signaling pathway between ERK8 and c-Jun.

The crystal structure of the active form of the C-terminal kinase domain of mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinase 1.

Mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinase 1 (MSK1) is a growth-factor-stimulated serine/threonine kinase that is involved in gene transcription regulation and proinflammatory cytokine stimulation. MSK1 is a dual kinase possessing two nonidentical protein kinase domains in one polypeptide. We present the active conformation of the crystal structures of its C-terminal kinase domain in apo form and in complex with a nonhydrolyzable ATP analogue at 2.

[6]-Gingerol suppresses colon cancer growth by targeting leukotriene A4 hydrolase.

[6]-Gingerol, a natural component of ginger, exhibits anti-inflammatory and antitumorigenic activities. Despite its potential efficacy in cancer, the mechanism by which [6]-gingerol exerts its chemopreventive effects remains elusive. The leukotriene A(4) hydrolase (LTA(4)H) protein is regarded as a relevant target for cancer therapy.

Mitogen- and stress-activated kinase 1-mediated histone H3 phosphorylation is crucial for cell transformation.

Mitogen- and stress-activated kinase 1 (MSK1) belongs to a family of dual protein kinases that are activated by either extracellular signal-regulated kinase or p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases in response to stress or mitogenic extracellular stimuli. The physiologic role of MSK1 in malignant transformation and cancer development is not well understood. Here, we report that MSK1 is involved in 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced or epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced neoplastic transformation of JB6 Cl41 cells.

Ribosomal S6 kinase 2 is a key regulator in tumor promoter induced cell transformation.

The ribosomal S6 kinase 2 (RSK2), a member of the p90(RSK) (RSK) family of proteins, is a widely expressed serine/threonine kinase that is activated by extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and phosphoinositide-dependent kinase 1 in response to many growth factors and peptide hormones. Its activation signaling enhances cell survival. However, the roles of RSK2 in cell transformation have not yet been elucidated.

Myricetin is a novel natural inhibitor of neoplastic cell transformation and MEK1.

Evidence suggests that mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) plays a role in cell transformation and tumor development and might be a significant target for chemoprevention. 3,5,4'-Trihydroxy-trans-stilbene (resveratrol), a non-flavonoid polyphenol found in various foods and beverages, including red wines, is reported to be a natural chemopreventive agent. However, the concentrations required to exert these effects might be difficult to achieve by drinking only one or two glasses of red wine a day.

T-lymphokine-activated killer cell-originated protein kinase functions as a positive regulator of c-Jun-NH2-kinase 1 signaling and H-Ras-induced cell transformation.

T-lymphokine-activated killer cell-originated protein kinase (TOPK) is overexpressed in highly proliferating tumors such as leukemias and myelomas, and seems to play a key role in tumorigenesis or metastasis. However, the precise role and regulatory mechanism explaining the effects of TOPK on tumor cells still remain elusive. Here, we reported that TOPK regulates UVB-induced c-Jun-NH2-kinase 1 (JNK1) activity, and is essential for H-Ras-induced activator protein-1 activity and cell transformation.

Cloning, characterization and regulation of a protein disulfide isomerase from the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

To elucidate the physiological roles and regulation of a protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) from the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the full-length PDI gene was ligated into the shuttle vector pRS316, resulting in pPDI10. The determined DNA sequence carries 1,636 bp and encodes the putative 359 amino acid sequence of PDI with a molecular mass of 39,490 Da. In the amino acid sequence, the S.