Young Suk Jo

Chungnam National University, Seongnam, Gyeonggi, South Korea

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Publications (27)121.25 Total impact

  • Article: Crif1 Deficiency Reduces Adipose OXPHOS Capacity and Triggers Inflammation and Insulin Resistance in Mice.
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    ABSTRACT: Impaired mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) has been proposed as an etiological mechanism underlying insulin resistance. However, the initiating organ of OXPHOS dysfunction during the development of systemic insulin resistance has yet to be identified. To determine whether adipose OXPHOS deficiency plays an etiological role in systemic insulin resistance, the metabolic phenotype of mice with OXPHOS-deficient adipose tissue was examined. Crif1 is a protein required for the intramitochondrial production of mtDNA-encoded OXPHOS subunits; therefore, Crif1 haploinsufficient deficiency in mice results in a mild, but specific, failure of OXPHOS capacity in vivo. Although adipose-specific Crif1-haploinsufficient mice showed normal growth and development, they became insulin-resistant. Crif1-silenced adipocytes showed higher expression of chemokines, the expression of which is dependent upon stress kinases and antioxidant. Accordingly, examination of adipose tissue from Crif1-haploinsufficient mice revealed increased secretion of MCP1 and TNFα, as well as marked infiltration by macrophages. These findings indicate that the OXPHOS status of adipose tissue determines its metabolic and inflammatory responses, and may cause systemic inflammation and insulin resistance.
    PLoS Genetics 03/2013; 9(3):e1003356. · 8.69 Impact Factor
  • Article: Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation reserve is required for hormone- and PPARγ agonist-induced adipogenesis.
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    ABSTRACT: Adipocyte differentiation requires the coordinated activities of several nuclear transcription factors. Recently, mitochondria biogenesis was reported to occur during adipocyte differentiation and following treatment with thiazolidinediones in vitro and in vivo. Crif1 is a translational factor for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and is important for transcription of the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) complex. To investigate the role of OXPHOS in adipogenesis, we analyzed adipocyte differentiation following disruption of Crif1 in vitro and in vivo. The adipose-specific Crif1 knockout mouse had a lower body weight and less fat mass than wild-type mice. Furthermore, adipocytes were smaller and had a dysplastic morphology in the adipose-specific Crif1 knockout mouse. 3T3-L1 adipocytes or adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) that lacked Crif1 expressed lower levels of mtDNA-encoded OXPHOS subunits, and adipocyte differentiation was disrupted. Rosiglitazone treatment did not induce adipogenesis or mitochondria biogenesis in Crif1 knockout ADSCs. These results show that mitochondrial OXPHOS and Crif1 are required for rosiglitazone- and hormone-induced adipogenesis.
    Molecules and Cells 02/2013; 35(2):134-41. · 2.18 Impact Factor
  • Article: Prediction of Occult Central Lymph Node Metastasis in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma by Preoperative BRAF Analysis Using Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy: A Prospective Study.
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    ABSTRACT: Context:Few reports have determined whether preoperative detection of the BRAF V600E mutation in fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) may influence determination of surgical extent such as prophylactic central lymph node dissection (CLND) in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).Objectives:Our objectives were to investigate whether preoperative BRAF analysis may assist determination of surgical extent, including prophylactic CLND with variable clinicopathological risk factors for central lymph node metastasis, in patients with PTC and clinically node-negative neck.Patients and Methods:From July 2009 to May 2011, we prospectively enrolled 148 PTC patients with clinically node-negative neck who received a total thyroidectomy and prophylactic CLND. BRAF mutation by pyrosequencing was tested on preoperative FNAB specimens. The relationships between occult central lymph node metastasis and preoperative BRAF mutation or clinicopathological factors were analyzed. Additionally, we assessed the associations between preoperative BRAF mutation status and various clinicopathological characteristics of PTC revealed postoperatively.Results:The prevalence of the BRAF V600E mutation was 53.4%, and the rate of occult central lymph node metastasis was 25.7%. Multivariate analysis showed that tumor size over 1 cm [P = 0.006; odds ratio (OR) = 3.559], perithyroidal invasion (P = 0.023; OR = 2.893), and preoperative positive BRAF mutation (P = 0.029; OR = 2.727) were independent risk factors for the presence of occult central lymph node metastasis. BRAF mutation examined in FNAB specimens, compared with the wild-type allele, strongly predicted perithyroidal invasion (48 vs. 29%; P = 0.017), extracapsular spread (65 vs. 45%; P = 0.017), occult central lymph node metastasis (35 vs. 15%; P = 0.004), and advanced TNM stage (44 vs. 28%; P = 0.035). In the multivariate analysis, patients with preoperative positive BRAF mutation were significantly more likely (P = 0.023; OR = 2.848) to have occult central lymph node metastasis.Conclusion:Preoperative BRAF analysis by FNAB and primary tumor size based on ultrasonography may assist in predicting occult central lymph node metastasis in patients with PTC and clinically node-negative neck.
    The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 08/2012; · 6.50 Impact Factor
  • Article: CRIF1 is essential for the synthesis and insertion of oxidative phosphorylation polypeptides in the mammalian mitochondrial membrane.
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    ABSTRACT: Although substantial progress has been made in understanding the mechanisms underlying the expression of mtDNA-encoded polypeptides, the regulatory factors involved in mitoribosome-mediated synthesis and simultaneous insertion of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) polypeptides into the inner membrane of mitochondria are still unclear. In the present study, disruption of the mouse Crif1 gene, which encodes a mitochondrial protein, resulted in a profound deficiency in OXPHOS caused by the disappearance of OXPHOS subunits and complexes in vivo. CRIF1 was associated with large mitoribosomal subunits that were located close to the polypeptide exit tunnel, and the elimination of CRIF1 led to both aberrant synthesis and defective insertion of mtDNA-encoded nascent OXPHOS polypeptides into the inner membrane. CRIF1 interacted with nascent OXPHOS polypeptides and molecular chaperones, e.g., Tid1. Taken together, these results suggest that CRIF1 plays a critical role in the integration of OXPHOS polypeptides into the mitochondrial membrane in mammals.
    Cell metabolism 07/2012; 16(2):274-83. · 17.35 Impact Factor
  • Article: Dual specificity phosphatase 6 as a predictor of invasiveness in papillary thyroid cancer.
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    ABSTRACT: The genetic mutations causing the constitutive activation of MEK/ERK have been regarded as an initiating factor in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). The ERK-specific dual specificity phosphatase 6 (DUSP6) is part of the ERK-dependent transcriptional output. Therefore, the coordinated regulation of the activities of ERK kinases and DUSP6 may need to be reestablished to make new balances in PTC. To investigate the role of DUSP6 in the regulation of ERK1/2 (MAPK3/1)-dependent transcription, 42 benign neoplasms and 167 PTCs were retrospectively analyzed by immunohistochemistry with dideoxy sequencing to detect BRAF(V600E) mutation. The expressions of total ERK1/2, DUSP6, c-Fos (FOS), c-Myc (MYC), cyclin D1, and PCNA were markedly increased in PTC compared with those in benign neoplasms. However, phospho-ERK1/2 was detected in only eight (4.8%) cases out of 167 PTC samples. Unexpectedly, the staining intensity and nuclear localization of ERK1/2 were not affected by the presence or absence of the BRAF(V600E) mutation. However, the expressions of c-Fos and PCNA were elevated in BRAF(V600E)-positive PTC compared with those in BRAF(V600E)-negative PTC. Interestingly, the higher staining intensities of DUSP6 were associated with the level of total ERK1/2 expression (P=0.04) and with high-risk biological features such as age (P=0.05), tumor size (P=0.01), and extrathyroidal extension (linear by linear association, P=0.02). In addition, DUSP6 silencing significantly decreased the cell viability and migration rate of FRO cells. The coordinated upregulation of total ERK1/2 and its phosphatase, DUSP6, is related to bare detection of phospho-ERK1/2 in PTC regardless of BRAF(V)(600E) mutation status. A link between DUSP6 expression and high-risk features of PTC suggested that DUSP6 is an important independent factor affecting the signaling pathways in established PTC.
    European Journal of Endocrinology 04/2012; 167(1):93-101. · 3.42 Impact Factor
  • Article: Aberrant l1 cell adhesion molecule affects tumor behavior and chemosensitivity in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma.
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    ABSTRACT: Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is one of the most invasive human cancers and has a poor prognosis. Molecular targets of ATC that determine its highly aggressive nature remain unidentified. This study investigated L1 cell adhesion molecule (L1CAM) expression and its role in tumorigenesis of ATCs. Expression of L1CAM in thyroid cancer was evaluated by immunohistochemical analyses of tumor samples from patients with thyroid cancer. We investigated the role of L1CAM in proliferation, migration, invasion, and chemoresistance using short hairpin RNA (shRNA) knockdown experiments in human ATC cell lines. Finally, we evaluated the role of L1CAM on tumorigenesis with ATC xenograft assay in a nude mouse model. L1CAM expression was not detectable in normal follicular epithelial cells of the thyroid or in differentiated thyroid carcinoma. In contrast, analysis of ATC samples showed specifically higher expression of L1CAM in the invasive area of the tumor. Specific knockdown of L1CAM in the ATC cell lines, FRO and 8505C, caused a significant decrease in the proliferative, migratory, and invasive capabilities of the cells. Suppression of L1CAM expression in ATC cell lines increased chemosensitivity to gemcitabine or paclitaxel. Finally, in an ATC xenograft model, depletion of L1CAM markedly reduced tumor growth and increased the survival of tumor-bearing mice. We report that L1CAM is highly expressed in the samples taken from patients with ATCs. L1CAM plays an important role in determining tumor behavior and chemosensitivity in cell lines derived from ATCs. Therefore, we suggest that L1CAM may be an important therapeutic target in patients with ATCs.
    Clinical Cancer Research 04/2012; 18(11):3071-8. · 7.74 Impact Factor
  • Article: Pyrosequencing cut-off value identifying BRAFV600E mutation in fine needle aspiration samples of thyroid nodules.
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    ABSTRACT: Recently, tremendous efforts have been made towards the development of sensitive techniques to detect the BRAF(V600E) mutation in fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) samples. However, newly developed quantitative and semi-quantitative methods, such as dual-priming oligonucleotide (DPO)-based multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR), have the potential to generate false-positive (FP) results. To eliminate the possibility of FP results, we generated a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of pyrosequencing using quantitative data. Cytological diagnoses of 983 thyroid nodules were made according to the Bethesda System 2007. The BRAF(V600E) mutation was analysed by pyrosequencing, and statistical analyses were performed. Of the 983 nodules, 902 were adopted to evaluate the diagnostic value of pyrosequencing. The number of pathologically confirmed malignancies was 192, of which 182 were papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). By generating an ROC curve, we defined the optimal cut-off value of the mutant allele peak as 5·95% (area under the curve, 0·849; sensitivity, 0·55; 1-specificity, 0). When we applied this selective cut-off value, the number of PTCs positive for BRAF(V600E) was 99 (54·4% of the total number of PTCs). With cytology alone, the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of detecting malignancy were 71·2% and 100%, respectively. Pyrosequencing improved the diagnostic sensitivity from 71·2% to 78·5% (McNemar's test, P < 0·001), without any change in the diagnostic specificity. When 'suspicious for malignancy' was considered a positive cytological outcome, pyrosequencing increased the diagnostic sensitivity of cytology from 95·8% to 96·9%; however, this improvement did not show statistical significance (McNemar's test, P > 0·05). Pyrosequencing is an effective method for detecting the BRAF(V600E) mutation in FNAB samples. By allowing the optimal cut-off value to be determined, pyrosequencing improves the diagnostic sensitivity while eliminating the possibility of FP results.
    Clinical Endocrinology 05/2011; 75(4):555-60. · 3.17 Impact Factor
  • Article: L1 cell adhesion molecule as a novel independent poor prognostic factor in gallbladder carcinoma.
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    ABSTRACT: Gallbladder carcinoma is a lethal malignancy and is hard to cure by current treatment. Thus, identification of molecular prognostic markers to predict gallbladder carcinoma as therapeutic targets is urgently needed. Recent studies have demonstrated that L1 cell adhesion molecule is associated with the prognosis of variable malignancy. Here, we investigated L1 cell adhesion molecule expression in gallbladder carcinoma and its prognostic significance. In this study, we examined L1 cell adhesion molecule expression in tumor specimens from 69 patients with gallbladder carcinoma by immunohistochemistry and analyzed the correlation between L1 cell adhesion molecule expression and clinicopathologic factors or survival. L1 cell adhesion molecule was not expressed in the normal epithelium of the gallbladder but in 63.8% of gallbladder carcinomas, remarkably at the invasive front of the tumors. In addition, L1 cell adhesion molecule expression was significantly associated with high histologic grade, advanced pathologic T stage and clinical stage, and positive venous/lymphatic invasion. Multivariate analyses showed that L1 cell adhesion molecule expression (hazard ratio, 3.503; P = .028) and clinical stage (hazard ratio, 3.091; P = .042) were independent risk factor for disease-free survival. L1 cell adhesion molecule expression in gallbladder carcinoma was significantly correlated with tumor progression and unfavorable clinicopathologic features. L1 cell adhesion molecule expression was an independent poor prognostic factor for disease-free survival in patients with gallbladder carcinoma. Taken together, our findings suggest that L1 cell adhesion molecule expression could be used as a novel prognostic factor for patient survival and might be a potential therapeutic target in gallbladder carcinomas.
    Human pathology 04/2011; 42(10):1476-83. · 3.03 Impact Factor
  • Article: Downregulation of erythropoietin receptor by overexpression of phospholipase C-gamma 1 is critical for decrease on focal adhesion in transformed cells.
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    ABSTRACT: Phospholipase C-γl (PLC-γl) is known to play a critical role in cell adhesion and migration and is highly expressed in metastatic tumors. In the current study, we found that cells transformed by PLC overexpression (PLC-γl cells) exhibited a marked decrease in expression of the Epo receptor (EpoR). Here, we assessed the role of EpoR-dependent signaling pathways in PLC-γl-dependent regulation of cell adhesion and migration. Expression and phosphorylation of EpoR and its functional role in PLC-γl cells were evaluated by immunoblot analysis or cell adhesion assay. The mechanism for PLC-γ1-induced EpoR downregulation was analyzed by blockage of proteosomal degradation with MG132. EpoR expression was also confirmed in colorectal cancer tissues in which PLC-γl was highly expressed. EpoR was present on rat fibroblasts, where it functionally active and capable of increasing cell adhesion and migratory activity. However, PLC-γl cells significantly decreased the Epo-dependent effects via ubiquitination-proteosomal degradation of EpoR. A marked decrease of EpoR expression was confirmed in colorectal cancer tissues that showed high-level of PLC-γl expression. The Epo/EpoR complex plays a critical role in the adhesion and migration of rat fibroblasts, and its functional inactivation is associated with PLC-γl-dependent reduction of cell-matrix adhesion and this also affects cell migration.
    Cellular oncology (Dordrecht). 02/2011; 34(1):11-21.
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    Article: Cross-regulation between oncogenic BRAF(V600E) kinase and the MST1 pathway in papillary thyroid carcinoma.
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    ABSTRACT: The BRAF(V600E) mutation leading to constitutive signaling of MEK-ERK pathways causes papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Ras association domain family 1A (RASSF1A), which is an important regulator of MST1 tumor suppressor pathways, is inactivated by hypermethylation of its promoter region in 20 to 32% of PTC. However, in PTC without RASSF1A methylation, the regulatory mechanisms of RASSF1A-MST1 pathways remain to be elucidated, and the functional cooperation or cross regulation between BRAF(V600E) and MST1,which activates Foxo3,has not been investigated. The negative regulators of the cell cycle, p21 and p27, are strongly induced by transcriptional activation of FoxO3 in BRAF(V600E) positive thyroid cancer cells. The FoxO3 transactivation is augmented by RASSF1A and the MST1 signaling pathway. Interestingly, introduction of BRAF(V600E)markedly abolished FoxO3 transactivation and resulted in the suppression of p21 and p27 expression. The suppression of FoxO3 transactivation by BRAF(V600E)is strongly increased by coexpression of MST1 but it is not observed in the cells in which MST1, but not MST2,is silenced. Mechanistically, BRAF(V600E)was able to bind to the C-terminal region of MST1 and resulted in the suppression of MST1 kinase activities. The induction of the G1-checkpoint CDK inhibitors, p21 and p27,by the RASSF1A-MST1-FoxO3 pathway facilitates cellular apoptosis, whereas addition of BRAF(V600E) inhibits the apoptotic processes through the inactivation of MST1. Transgenic induction of BRAF(V600E)in the thyroid gland results in cancers resembling human papillary thyroid cancers. The development of BRAF(V600E)transgenic mice with the MST1 knockout background showed that these mice had abundant foci of poorly differentiated carcinomas and large areas without follicular architecture or colloid formation. The results of this study revealed that the oncogenic effect of BRAF(V600E) is associated with the inhibition of MST1 tumor suppressor pathways, and that the activity of RASSF1A-MST1-FoxO3 pathways determines the phenotypes of BRAF(V600E) tumors.
    PLoS ONE 01/2011; 6(1):e16180. · 4.09 Impact Factor
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    Article: Antidiabetic and antiobesity effects of Ampkinone (6f), a novel small molecule activator of AMP-activated protein kinase.
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    ABSTRACT: Adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP) activated protein kinase (AMPK) has emerged as an attractive target molecule for the treatment of metabolic disorders, including obesity and type 2 diabetes. In this study, we identified a novel small molecule, ampkinone (6f), as an indirect AMPK activator, which was derived from the small molecule library constructed by diversity-oriented synthesis. Ampkinone stimulated the phosphorylation of AMPK via the indirect activation of AMPK in various cell lines. Ampkinone-mediated activation of AMPK required the activity of LKB1 and resulted in increased glucose uptake in muscle cells. In addition, ampkinone-treated DIO mice significantly reduced total body weight and overall fat mass. Histological examination and measurement of lipid parameters showed that ampkinone effectively improved metabolic abnormalities in the DIO mice model. Our results demonstrate that ampkinone, a small molecule with a privileged benzopyran substructure, has a potential as a new class of therapeutic agent for antidiabetic and antiobesity treatment via the indirect stimulation of AMPK.
    Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 10/2010; 53(20):7405-13. · 4.80 Impact Factor
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    Article: Bone mineral density in prediabetic men.
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    ABSTRACT: There are many studies regarding the effects of insulin on bone metabolism and changes in bone mineral density (BMD) in the setting of diabetes. The effect of prediabetes on BMD is not known. A total of 802 men participated in the Korea Rural Genomic Cohort Study (in Geumsan County). According to the results of an oral glucose tolerance test, subjects were classified into normal, prediabetic, and diabetic categories. One hundred twenty-four subjects diagnosed with type 2 diabetes were excluded, leaving 678 subjects for the study inclusion. BMD was estimated with a quantitative ultrasonometer. The average BMD T scores of normal and prediabetic subjects were -1.34 ± 1.42 and -1.33 ± 1.30, respectively; there was no significant difference in the BMD T scores between these groups. The BMD T score was inversely associated with age and positively correlated with body weight, body mass index, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and HbA1c. On multiple linear regression analysis, low density lipoprotein cholesterol was the only statistically significant variable for prediabetes (β = 0.007, P = 0.005). On the stepwise regression analysis, age (β = -0.026, P < 0.001), the body mass index (β = 0.079, P < 0.001), and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (β = 0.004, P = 0.016) were significant variables for prediabetes. There was no significant difference in the BMD T score between the normal and prediabetic subjects. Further studies are needed regarding the association of fracture risk and changes in BMD with the development of overt diabetes.
    Korean Diabetes Journal 10/2010; 34(5):294-302.
  • Article: Mitochondrial localization and regulation of BRAFV600E in thyroid cancer: a clinically used RAF inhibitor is unable to block the mitochondrial activities of BRAFV600E.
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    ABSTRACT: The oncogenic BRAF(V600E) mutation results in an active structural conformation characterized by greatly elevated ERK activity. However, additional cellular effects caused by subcellular action of BRAF(V600E) remain to be identified. To explore these effects, differences in the subcellular localization of wild-type and mutant BRAF in thyroid cancer were investigated. A significant proportion of endogenous and exogenous BRAF(V600E), but not wild-type BRAF, was detected in the mitochondrial fraction, similar to other BRAF mutants including BRAF(V600D), BRAF(V600K), BRAF(V600R), and BRAF(G469A), which showed elevated kinase activity and mitochondrial localization. Induced expression of BRAF(V600E) suppressed the apoptotic responses against staurosporine and TNFα/cycloheximide. Interestingly, the mitochondrial localization and antiapoptotic activities of BRAF(V600E) were unaffected by sorafenib and U0126 suppression of MAPK kinase (MEK) and ERK activities. Similarly, although the RAF inhibitor sorafenib effectively inhibited MEK/ERK activation, it did not block the mitochondrial localization of BRAF(V600E). In addition, inducible expression of BRAF(V600E) increased the glucose uptake rate and decreased O(2) consumption, suggesting that BRAF(V600E) reduces mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, a signature feature of cancer cells. Again, these metabolic alterations resulted by BRAF(V600E) expression were not affected by the treatment of thyroid cells by sorafenib. Therefore, RAF and MEK inhibitors are unable to block the antiapoptotic activity of BRAF(V600E) or correct the high glucose uptake rate and glycolytic activity and suppressed mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation induced by BRAF(V600E). The mitochondrial localization observed in oncogenic BRAF mutants might be related to their altered responses to apoptotic stimuli and characteristic metabolic phenotypes found in thyroid cancer. The inability of MEK and RAF inhibitors, U0126 and sorafenib, respectively, to block the mitochondrial localization of BRAF(V600E) has additional therapeutic implications for BRAF(V600E)-positive thyroid cancers.
    The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 10/2010; 96(1):E19-30. · 6.50 Impact Factor
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    Article: Genetic analyses of the chimeric CYP11B1/CYP11B2 gene in a Korean family with glucocorticoid-remediable aldosteronism.
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    ABSTRACT: Glucocorticoid-remediable aldosteronism (GRA) is an autosomal-dominant inheritable form of hyperaldosteronism with early onset hypertension. GRA is caused by unequal crossing-over of the steroid 11 beta-hydroxylase (CYP11B1) and aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) genes. As a result of chimeric gene duplication, aldosterone is ectopically synthesized in the adrenal zona fasciculata under the control of adrenocorticotropin. Here, we describe three cases of GRA in a Korean family. The proband-a 21-yr-old female-was incidentally found to have high blood pressure (170/108 mmHg). Her 46-yr-old father had been treated twice for cerebral hemorrhage at the ages of 29 and 39 yr. Her 15-yr-old brother had a 2-yr history of hypertension; however, he was never treated. Their laboratory test results showed normokalemia, hyporeninemia, hyperaldosteronism, and a high plasma aldosterone concentration-to-plasma renin activity ratio. Normal saline loading failed to suppress aldosterone secretion. However, dexamethasone administration effectively suppressed their plasma aldosterone concentrations. Following genetic analyses with PCR and direct sequencing to document the chimeric gene and crossover site, respectively, we identified CYP11B1/CYP11B2 and determined the breakpoint of unequal crossover to be located between intron 2 of CYP11B1 and exon 3 of CYP11B2.
    Journal of Korean medical science 09/2010; 25(9):1379-83. · 0.84 Impact Factor
  • Article: L1 cell adhesion molecule is a novel independent poor prognostic factor of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.
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    ABSTRACT: Cholangiocarcinomas (CC) are associated with poor survival, but diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets have not yet been elucidated. We previously found aberrant expression of L1 cell adhesion molecule in intrahepatic CC and a role for L1 in the progression of intrahepatic CC. Here, we analyzed L1 expression in extrahepatic CC (ECC) and evaluated its prognostic significance. We examined L1 expression in tumors from 75 ECC patients by immunohistochemistry. We analyzed the correlations between L1 expression and clinicopathologic factors as well as patient survival. L1 was not expressed in normal extrahepatic bile duct epithelium but was aberrantly expressed in 42.7% of ECC tumors. High expression of L1 was detected at the invasive front of tumors and was significantly associated with perineural invasion (P < 0.01). Univariate analysis indicated that various prognostic factors such as histologic grade 3, advanced pathologic T stage and clinical stage, perineural invasion, nodal metastasis, and high expression of L1 were risk factors predicting patient survival. Multivariate analyses done by Cox's proportional hazards model showed that high expression of L1 (hazard ratio, 2.171; 95% confidence interval, 1.162-4.055; P = 0.015) and nodal metastasis (hazard ratio, 2.088; 95% confidence interval, 1.159-3.764; P = 0.014) were independent risk factors for patient death. L1 was highly expressed in 42.7% of ECC and its expression was significantly associated with perineural invasion. High expression of L1 and nodal metastasis were independent poor prognostic factors predicting overall survival in patients with ECC.
    Clinical Cancer Research 11/2009; 15(23):7345-51. · 7.74 Impact Factor
  • Article: Clinical characteristics of primary thyroid lymphoma in Koreans.
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    ABSTRACT: Primary thyroid lymphoma is a very rare tumor and its prevalence is approximately 0.1% of all thyroid cancers in Korea. Its clinical experience is limited and not familiar to physicians. Therefore, we performed this study to investigate the clinical characteristics of primary thyroid lymphoma in Koreans. We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of the 44 patients with primary thyroid lymphoma from 1991 to 2006 at four major referral hospitals in Korea. Out of 44 patients, eight patients were male and 36 patients were female and their average age was 57 years. Fifty-six percent of patients had underlying Hashimoto's thyroiditis. All but two patients had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with B cell origin, and eighty percent of patients presented with stage IE or IIE. Twenty-one of 44 patients (48%) had diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and 17 (39%) had MALT lymphoma. Malignancies originating from lymphoid cells were suspected in 10 of eighteen patients with DLBCL (56%) by using fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), and no difference was noted compared with MALT lymphoma (64%). Compared with DLBCL, the patients with MALT lymphoma were more frequently presented with stage I disease (DLBCL vs. MALT lymphoma: 32% vs. 65%, P=0.04). Moreover, in contrast to DLBCL, most of the patients with MALT lymphoma achieved complete response with treatments (DLBCL vs. MALT lymphoma: 53% vs. 94%, P<0.01). Because of the low diagnostic accuracy of FNAC, thyroid biopsy should be considered for the diagnosis of thyroid lymphomas in suspicious cases. The patients with MALT lymphoma were more frequently presented with early stage diseases and this might lead to the favorable outcome to treatments than those with DLBCL.
    Endocrine Journal 03/2009; 56(3):399-405. · 2.03 Impact Factor
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    Article: Pharmacological stimulation of NADH oxidation ameliorates obesity and related phenotypes in mice.
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    ABSTRACT: Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotides (NAD+ and NADH) play a crucial role in cellular energy metabolism, and a dysregulated NAD+-to-NADH ratio is implicated in metabolic syndrome. However, it is still unknown whether a modulating intracellular NAD+-to-NADH ratio is beneficial in treating metabolic syndrome. We tried to determine whether pharmacological stimulation of NADH oxidation provides therapeutic effects in rodent models of metabolic syndrome. We used beta-lapachone (betaL), a natural substrate of NADH:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), to stimulate NADH oxidation. The betaL-induced pharmacological effect on cellular energy metabolism was evaluated in cells derived from NQO1-deficient mice. In vivo therapeutic effects of betaL on metabolic syndrome were examined in diet-induced obesity (DIO) and ob/ob mice. NQO1-dependent NADH oxidation by betaL strongly provoked mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation in vitro and in vivo. These effects were accompanied by activation of AMP-activated protein kinase and carnitine palmitoyltransferase and suppression of acetyl-coenzyme A (CoA) carboxylase activity. Consistently, systemic betaL administration in rodent models of metabolic syndrome dramatically ameliorated their key symptoms such as increased adiposity, glucose intolerance, dyslipidemia, and fatty liver. The treated mice also showed higher expressions of the genes related to mitochondrial energy metabolism (PPARgamma coactivator-1alpha, nuclear respiratory factor-1) and caloric restriction (Sirt1) consistent with the increased mitochondrial biogenesis and energy expenditure. Pharmacological activation of NADH oxidation by NQO1 resolves obesity and related phenotypes in mice, opening the possibility that it may provide the basis for a new therapy for the treatment of metabolic syndrome.
    Diabetes 02/2009; 58(4):965-74. · 8.29 Impact Factor
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    Article: Diagnostic value of pyrosequencing for the BRAF V600E mutation in ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy samples of thyroid incidentalomas.
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    ABSTRACT: Dideoxy sequencing is the most commonly used method for detecting the BRAF(V600E) mutation in thyroid cancer and melanoma. However, this gold standard method often makes less definite results in detecting the BRAF(V600E) mutation when there are relatively low amounts of the mutant template in biopsy specimens, which are invariably contaminated with normal tissues. Pyrosequencing, which measures the incorporation of each of the four nucleotides at each template position and indicates the amounts of mutant template present, may be more useful in such situations. To investigate the diagnostic efficiency of pyrosequencing for the mutant BRAF allele in ultrasound (US)-guided fine needle aspiration biopsies (FNABs) of thyroid incidentalomas. A total of 101 thyroid incidentaloma cases were included prospectively. Cytological diagnoses of the FNAB samples were made according to the American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines, 2006. The presence of the BRAF(V600E) mutation was investigated by pyrosequencing and dideoxy sequencing. On the basis of cytological analysis, the thyroid incidentalomas were classified into benign (n = 43), malignant (n = 30), indeterminate or suspicious neoplasm (n = 24), and nondiagnostic (n = 4) categories. Pyrosequencing detected the BRAF(V600E) mutation in 30 cases: 22 malignant cases, 7 indeterminate cases, and 1 nondiagnostic case. Dideoxy sequencing also detected the BRAF(V600E) mutation in 28 of the same cases but failed to clearly distinguish the mutant allele from the wild-type allele in one indeterminate case and one nondiagnostic case. Histopathological analysis ascertained that all BRAF(V600E)-positive cases were papillary thyroid carcinomas. Pyrosequencing may be suitable for detecting the BRAF(V600E) mutation in thyroid incidentaloma and may be superior to dideoxy sequencing when low amounts of the mutant template are present in the biopsy.
    Clinical Endocrinology 06/2008; 70(1):139-44. · 3.17 Impact Factor
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    Article: Regulation of inhibitors of differentiation family proteins by thyroid-stimulating hormone in FRTL-5 thyroid cells.
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    ABSTRACT: Members of the inhibitors of differentiation (Id) family of helix-loop-helix (HLH) proteins are known to play important roles in the proliferation and differentiation of many cell types. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) regulates proliferation and differentiation by activating TSH receptor (TSHR) in thyrocytes. In this study, we found that Id2, one of the Id family proteins, is a major target for regulation by TSH in FRTL-5 thyroid cells. TSH rapidly increases the Id2 mRNA level in FRTL-5 thyroid cells but the Id2 protein showed biphasic regulatory patterns, being transiently reduced and subsequently induced by TSH treatment. Transient reduction of Id2 protein was noted within 2 hr of TSH treatment and was mediated by proteasomal degradation. Moreover, reduced Id2 expression correlated with the activity of the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase pathway, which is activated by TSH. Although TSH increases the activity of the Id2 promoter, TSH-induced activation of this promoter was independent of c-Myc. Id2 did not alter TTF-1- and Pax-8-mediated effects on the regulation of the Tg promoter. Thus, in summary, we found that TSH regulates Id2 expression, but that Id2 does not alter the expression of thyroid-specific genes, such as Tg, in FRTL-5 thyroid cells.
    Journal of Korean Medical Science 05/2008; 23(2):262-9. · 0.99 Impact Factor
  • Article: Significance of the expression of major histocompatibility complex class II antigen, HLA-DR and -DQ, with recurrence of papillary thyroid cancer.
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    ABSTRACT: Normal thyroid epithelial cells lack major histocompatibility complex (MHC) Class II antigen. Oncogenic kinases involved in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) trigger the expression of Class II transactivator and MHC Class II complex. However, the relationship between MHC Class II antigen expression and clinical outcome in PTC is unknown. To investigate the frequency of MHC Class II antigen expression in PTC and to identify the effects of MHC Class II antigen expression on clinical outcomes in PTC patients, the expression of HLA-DR/-DQ antigen was analyzed in surgical specimens from 77 PTCs and 44 benign nodules (23 nodular hyperplasias, 21 follicular adenomas). Of the 77 PTC cases, 36 (46.8%) cases expressed HLA-DR and 41 (53.2%) cases expressed HLA-DQ. Next, we investigated clinicopathological characteristics and found that HLA-DR(+) and/or HLA-DQ(+) PTC tended to present without nodal metastasis. Multivariate analyses clearly showed that HLA-DR(+) or HLA-DQ(+) PTC has a low risk of recurrence (HLA-DR OR = 0.22, CI, 0.06-0.9; p = 0.03, HLA-DQ OR = 0.25, CI, 0.07-0.9, p = 0.03). The Kaplan-Meier estimate revealed a significantly lower recurrence-free probability in patients with HLA-DR(-) PTC and HLA-DQ(-) PTC (Log-rank test; chi(2) = 4.59 and 6.07, p = 0.03 and 0.01, respectively). In conclusion, PTC frequently expresses MHC Class II antigen, and the expression of MHC Class II antigen correlated inversely with the risk of recurrence of PTC.
    International Journal of Cancer 03/2008; 122(4):785-90. · 5.44 Impact Factor