Publications by authors named "Sung Sook Yu"

Injection of the cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) is closely associated with the development of chronic gastritis and gastric cancer. Individuals infected with possessing the CagA protein produce more reactive oxygen species (ROS) and show an increased risk of developing gastric cancer. Sirtuins (SIRTs) are nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)-dependent deacetylases and mitochondrial SIRT3 is known to be a tumor suppressor via its ability to suppress ROS and hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α).

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The elucidation of the molecular mechanisms that govern the differentiation and proliferation of human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hASCs) could improve hASC-based cell therapy. In this study, we examined the roles of microRNA (miRNA)-196a on hASC proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. Lentiviral overexpression of miR-196a decreased hASC proliferation and enhanced osteogenic differentiation, without affecting adipogenic differentiation.

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beta-Catenin/Tcf and NF-kappaB pathways play an important role in biological functions. We determined the underlying mechanisms of differential interaction between two pathways in various human cancer cell lines. NF-kappaB positively regulated beta-catenin/Tcf pathways in human glioblastoma, whereas it has an opposite effect on beta-catenin/Tcf pathways in colon, liver, and breast cancer cells.

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Our previous study indicated that interleukin (IL)-1beta induces expression of several Wnt proteins in chondrocytes and causes chondrocyte dedifferentiation via the c-Jun/activator protein-1 (AP-1) pathway. This study examined whether Wnt-3a causes chondrocyte dedifferentiation via the c-Jun/AP-1 pathway. Wnt-3a inhibited chondrogenesis of mesenchymal cells by stabilizing cell-cell adhesion in a manner independent of beta-catenin transcriptional activity.

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Interleukin (IL)-1beta is a major catabolic pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in cartilage destruction-associated processes, such as loss of the differentiated chondrocyte phenotype (dedifferentiation) and inflammation. Here, we investigated the role of c-Jun and activator protein-1 (AP-1) in IL-1beta-induced dedifferentiation and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression in primary cultured chondrocytes. IL-1beta induced expression and transient phosphorylation of c-Jun in primary cultured chondrocytes.

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Accumulation of beta-catenin and subsequent stimulation of beta-catenin-T cell-factor (Tcf)/lymphoid-enhancerfactor (Lef) transcriptional activity causes dedifferentiation of articular chondrocytes, which is characterized by decreased type II collagen expression and initiation of type I collagen expression. This study examined the mechanisms of alpha-catenin degradation, the role of alpha-catenin in beta-catenin signaling, and the physiological significance of alpha-catenin regulation of beta-catenin signaling in articular chondrocytes. We found that both alpha- and beta-catenin accumulated during dedifferentiation of chondrocytes by escaping from proteasomal degradation.

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In order to isolate genes relating spermatogenesis with postnatal development and aging, we have attempted to obtain genes showing differences in expression in testis of Japanese monkeys ( Macaca fuscata) by means of differential display PCR, and we have cloned, sequenced and characterized protamine-2 (PRM2) of Japanese monkey. The predicted open reading frame encoded a protein of 103 amino acid residues, most of which are common to those of other mammals. Northern analysis revealed that the PRM2 gene is expressed at adult and aged stages, but not at the juvenile stage.

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A strong signal of cDNA product was identified in adult and senile testes of the Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata) using differential display PCR analysis. Its full-length cDNA was molecular-cloned by RT-PCR using adult testis mRNA as templates. The predicted open reading frame encoded a protein of 242 amino-acid residues.

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