• BMB Reports
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• 제43권4호
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• pp.250-256
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• 2010

Natural phosphodiester bond CpG-DNA that contains immunomodulatory CpG motifs (PO-DNA) upregulates the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and induces an Ag-driven Th1 response in a CG sequence-dependent manner in mice. In humans, only phosphorothioate backbone-modified CpG-DNA (PS-DNA) and not PO-DNA has immunomodulatory activity. In this study, we found that liposome-encapsulated PO-DNA upregulated the expression of human $\beta$-defensin-2 (hBD-2) and major histocompatibility class II molecules (HLA-DRA) in a CG sequence-dependent and liposome- dependent manner in human B cells. Of the three different liposomes, DOTAP has the unique ability to enhance the immunomodulatory activity of PO-DNA. In contrast, HLA-DRA and hBD-2 promoter activation can be induced by liposome-encapsulated PS-DNA in a CG sequence-independent manner, depending on the CpG-DNA species. Our observations demonstrate that, when encapsulated with a proper liposome in the immune system, natural PO-DNA has the potential to be a useful therapy for the regulation of the innate immune response.

• 한국가축번식학회지
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.259-264
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• 1996

This study was carried out to investigate on the survival rates and in vitro developmental rates of bisected bovine embryos were by manipulator and micropipette. Bisected embryos were co-cultured in 20% FCS(v/v)＋TCM-199 media containing hormones, oviductal epithelial cells and cumulus cells 0 to 72 hrs after bisection. Survival rate and in vitro fertilization rate were defined as development rate on in vitro culture or FDA-test. The results are summarized as follows ; 1. The in vitro developmental rate of biseciton embryos co-cultured in 20% FCS＋TCM-199 medium containing PMSG, hCG, PMSG＋hCG, hCG＋$\beta$-estradiol 0 to 20 hrs and 20 to 40 hrs were 36.7, 26.7, 33.3, 40.0, and 30.0, and 30.0, 33.3, 30.0, 26.7, and 26.7%, respectively. The survival rate of bisection embryos co-cultured in TCM-199 medium containing hormones was significantly higher than that of non co-culture(25.0%). 2. The in vitro developmental rates of bisection embryos co-cultured in 20% FCS＋TCM-199 medium containing oviductal epithelial cells 4 to 5 hrs and 20 to 24 hrs were 40.0 and 33.3%, respectively. The survival rate of bisection embryos co-cultured in TCM-199 medium containing oviductal epithelial cells was significantly higher than that of non co-culture(25.0%). 3. The in vitro developmental rates of bisection embryos co-cultured in 20% FCS＋TCM-199 medium containing cumulus cells 4 to 5 hrs and 20 to 24 hrs were 43.3 and 36.7%, respectively. The survival rate of bisection embryos co-cultured in TCM-199 medium containing cumulus cells was significantly higher than that of non co-culture (25.0%).

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.231-237
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to elucidate the dynamics of microtubules in post-ovulatory aging in vivo and in vitro of mouse oocytes. The fresh ovulated oocytes were obtained from oviducts of superovulated female ICR mice at 16 hours after hCG injection. The post-ovulatory aged oocytes were collected at 24 and 48 hours after hCG injection from in vivo and in vitro, respectively. Immunocytochemistry was performed on ${\beta}$-tubulin and acetylated ${\alpha}$-tubulin. The microtubules were localized in the spindle assembly, which was barrel-shaped or slightly pointed at its poles and located peripherally in the fresh ovulated oocytes. The frequency of misaligned metaphase chromosomes were significantly increased in post-ovulatory aged oocytes after 48 hours of hCG injection. The spindle length and width of post-ovulatory aged oocytes were significantly different from those of fresh ovulated oocytes, respectively. The staining intensity of acetylated ${\alpha}$-tubulin showed stronger in post-ovulatory aged oocytes than that in the fresh ovulated oocytes. In the aged oocytes, the spindles had moved towards the center of the oocytes from their original peripheral position and elongated, compared with the fresh ovulated oocytes. Microtubule organizing centers were formed and observed in the cytoplasm of the aged oocytes. On the contrary, it was not observed in the fresh ovulated oocytes. The alteration of spindle formation and chromosomes alignment substantiates the poor development and the increase of disorders from the post-ovulatory aged oocytes. It might be important to fertilize on time in ovulated oocytes for the developmental competence of embryos with normal karyotypes.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제31권10호
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• pp.2889-2892
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• 2010

The objective of this study was to validate performance characteristics of the Access 2 (Beckman coulter) system for hCG assays for use as a confirmation test for doping control. The Access 2 assay was linear up to 500 IU/L. The correlation coefficient was higher than 0.999, and the sensitivity of the linearity was 0.82. There were no false positive or false negative cases. LOD was 0.59 IU/L. The method was robust when performed by different people. Repeatability and reproducibility were below 7%. We compared reproducibility and recoveries of Access 2 and Elecsys 2010. Access 2 demonstrated higher reproducibility than Elecsys 2010. Recoveries (accuracy) of Access 2 were between 85 and 105%. Recoveries for Elecsys 2010 were between 91 and 104%.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.43-52
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• 2020

NUCB2/nesfatin-1 known to regulate appetite and energy homeostasis is expressed not only in the hypothalamus, but also in various organs and tissues. Our previous reports also demonstrated that NUCB2/nesfatin-1 was expressed in the reproductive organs, including the ovaries, uterus, and testes of mice. However, it is yet known whether NUCB2/nesfatin-1 is expressed in the oviduct and how its expression is regulated. Therefore, we investigated the expression of NUCB2/nesfatin-1 in the oviduct and its expression is regulated by gonadotropin. Immunohistochemical staining results showed that nesfatin-1 protein was localized in epithelial cells of the oviduct. As a result of quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot, NUCB2/nesfatin-1 was detected strongly in the oviducts. During the estrus cycle, NUCB2/nesfatin-1 expression in the oviducts was markedly higher in the proestrus stage than in other estrus stages. In order to elucidate whether the expression of NUCB2 mRNA is controlled by the gonadotropins, we injected PMSG and hCG and measured NUCB2 mRNA level in the oviduct after injection. Its level was increased in the oviduct after PMSG injection, but no significant change after hCG injection. In addition, NUCB2 mRNA levels were markedly reduced after ovariectomy, while recovered after 17β-estradiol (E2) injection, but not by progesterone (P4). This study demonstrated that NUCB2/nesfatin-1 is highly expressed in the oviduct of mouse and its expression is regulated by E2 secreted by the ovaries. These results suggest that NUCB2/nesfatin-1 expressed by the oviduct may affect the function of the oviduct regulated by the ovaries.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제48권6호
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• pp.435-438
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• 2015

Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) is a condition of uncertain etiology, choriocarcioma, or placental-site hydatidiform moles, invasive moles, choriocarcinoma, and placental-site trophoblastic tumors. It arises from the abnormal proliferation of trophoblastic tissue and spreads beyond the uterus hematogenously. The early diagnosis of GTD is important to ensure timely and successful management and the preservation of fertility. We report the unusual case of a metastatic choriocarcinoma that formed bullae on the lung surface and presented as recurrent pneumothorax in a 38-year-old woman with elevated beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels. She underwent thoracoscopic wedge resection of the involved lung and four subsequent cycles of consolidation chemotherapy. No other evidence of metastatic disease or recurrent pneumothorax was noted during 22 months of follow-up. GTD should be considered in the differential diagnosis of spontaneous pneumothorax in reproductive-age women with an antecedent pregnancy and abnormal beta-hCG levels.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제34권1호
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• pp.47-53
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• 2010

Glycoprotein hormones have a common $\alpha$-subunit that is involved in the signaling pathway together with G protein, adenylcyclase and cAMP induction; however, it is an unclear how this common structure is related to hormonal action. To determine the biological functions of the COOH-terminal amino acids in the $\alpha$-subunit of these glycoprotein hormones, a tethered-molecule was constructed by fusing the $NH_2$-terminus of the $\alpha$-subunit to the COOH-terminus of the $\beta$-subunit of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG). The following deletion mutants were created by PCR; Ile was inserted at position 96 to form ${\Delta}96$, Lys was substituted at position 95 to form ${\Delta}95$, His was inserted at position 93 to form ${\Delta}93$ and Tyr was substituted at position 87 to form ${\Delta}87$. Each mutant was transfected into CHO-K1 cells. Tethered-wt eCG, and ${\Delta}96$, ${\Delta}95$, and ${\Delta}93$ mutants were efficiently secreted into the medium but the ${\Delta}87$ mutant was not secreted. Interestingly, the RT-PCR, real-time PCR, and northern blot analyses confirmed that the RNA was transcribed in the ${\Delta}87$ mutant. However, the ${\Delta}87$ mutant protein was not detected in the medium or the intracellular fraction of the cell lysates. The LH- and FSH-like activities of the recombinant proteins were assayed in terms of cAMP production using rat LH/CG and rat FSH receptors. The metabolic clearance rate (MCR) was determined by injecting rec-eCG (2 IU) into the tail vein. The ${\Delta}95$ and ${\Delta}93$ mutants were completely inactive in both the LH- and FSH-like activity assays. The ${\Delta}96$ mutant showed slight activity in the LH-like activity assay. In comparison to the wild type, the activity of the ${\Delta}96$ mutant in the FSH-like activity assay was the highest among all the mutants. The MCR assay in which rec-eCG was injected showed a peak at 10 min in all the treatment groups, which disappeared 4 h after injection. These results imply a direct interaction between the receptor and the COOH-terminal region of the a-subunit. The data also reveal a significant difference in the mechanism by which the eCG hormone interacts with the rLH and rFSH receptors. The COOH-terminal region of the $\alpha$-subunit is very important for the secretion and functioning of this hormone.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.113-117
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• 2004

본 연구는 돼지 난포란을 이용하여 생산된 1-세포기의 체외수정란을 NCSU-23, PZM-3 및 PZM-4의 세 가지 배양액과 서로 다른 산소농도를 부여하여 돼지 체외수정란의 적합한 체외배양조건을 구명하고자 실시하였다. 돼지 난포란의 체외성숙은 BSA가 미첨가 된 NCSU-23 배앙액에 10% pFF, 0.9 mM crysteine, 25 $\mu/ml \beta$-mercaptoethanol 및 10 ng/$\mu/ml$ epidermal growth factor와 호르몬(10 IU/$ml$ PMSG, hCG)을 첨가하여 20∼22시간과 추가로 호르몬을 제거한 배양액에 20∼22시간을 배양하여 성숙을 유기하였고, 5∼6시간 동안 돼지 액상정액과 공배양함으로써 체외수정을 유기하였다. 체외수정 5∼6시간후 각각 5% 및 20%의 산소조건하의 NCSU-23, PZM-3 및 PZM4 배양액에서 배발달을 유기하였다. 돼지체외수정란을 체외배양하였을 때, 배발달 48시간에 처리구간 난할율에는 차이가 없었으나, 배양 7일째 배반포형성률은 5% 산소조건의 PZM-3 배양액에서 가장 높게 나타났다(19.9 $\pm$ 2.4 vs. 11.1$\pm$2.0 to 16.0$\pm$2.5%, P<0.05). 그리고, 총세포수에 있어서 5%의 산소조건 하에서 배양하는 것이 20% 산소조건보다 유의적(P<0.05)으로 높았으나, 배양액간 차이는 인정되지 않았다. 따라서, 체외생산된 돼지초기수정란의 체외배발달은 5% 산소조건하의 PZM-3 배양액에서 배양하는 것이 좋은 것으로 나타났다.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.317-324
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• 2004

The present study was conducted to investigate the involvement of nitric oxide (NO) in cumulus expansion, oocyte mortality and meiotic maturation of porcine cumulus enclosed oocytes (CEOs) cultured in two different models when gonadotropins, including follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) were presented or not. And the interaction between NO and $\beta$-mercaptoethanol ($\beta$-ME), a free radical scavenger was also investigated. Two models refer to spontaneous maturation model and hypoxanthine (HX) medium model. All the 3,433 eligible CEOs were incubated at $39^{\circ}C$ and the cumulus expansion, oocyte morphology and nuclear phase were evaluated 44 h after incubation. (1) In spontaneous maturation model, NO stimulates the cumulus expansion and $\beta$-ME delayed it. NO doesn't affect the oocyte meiotic resumption but inhibits the oocytes to develop to metaphase II. (2) In HX medium model, NO or $\beta$-ME doesn't affect the expansion in the absence of gonadotropins, but in the presence of gonadotropins, NO or $\beta$-ME inhibits the expansion. In the presence of gonadotropins, NO inhibits the oocyte meiotic resumption and it especially inhibits the oocyte to develop to metaphase II, and $\beta$-ME reverses such inhibitory effects. The cooperation of gonadotropins and $\beta$-ME stimulates the meiotic resumption and especially, promotes the CEOs to develop to metaphase II in both models. Moreover, HX might contribute to the fragility of oocyte zona pellucida and gonadotropins, nitric oxide and $\beta$-ME could alleviate it separately, and cooperatively. It is concluded that NO exerts different functions in two models and $\beta$-ME affected the functions of NO in different models.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.59-67
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• 1999

초기배아의 발생과정동안 배아와 모체에서 발현되는 여러 cytokine은 착상을 위한 신호물질로 중요한 역할을 한다. 그 중 interleukin-1$\beta$ (IL-1$\beta$)는 배아와 모체간의 상호 신호전달체로서 성공적인 착상을 위한 필수적인 요소로 작용한다고 알려져 있다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 초기배아의 발생과정에 있어서 IL-1$\beta$ 유전자의 역할을 규명하기 위해 생쥐 초기배아에서의 IL-l$\beta$ 유전자의 발현양상을 역전사중합효소연쇄반응을 통해 조사하였고, IL-l$\beta$ 유전자의 발현에 미치는 수란관과 자궁내막세포의 영향을 밝혀보기 위해 공배양방법을 이용하였다. 그 결과 IL-l$\beta$ in vivo 에서는 4-세포기부터 포배기까지, in vitro에서는 상실배부터 부화중 포배기까지 발현하는 양상을 보였다. 또한 수란관과 자궁내막세포와의 공배양시 대조군과 비교하였을 때 실험군에서 IL-l$\beta$ 유전자의 발현이 촉진되었다. 이러한 결과는 IL-l$\beta$ 의 존재가 착상전 초기배아의 발생에 중요한 역할을 한다는 것을 의미한다. 또한 수란관과 자궁내막세포와의 공배양을 통해 IL-1$\beta$ 유전자의 발현이 수란관과 자궁요소에 의해 조절됨을 확인하였다.