• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.263-271
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• 2000

A clinical isolate of Klebsiella pneumoniae K7746 produced the extended-spectrum ${\beta}$-lactamase (ESBL) SHV-12. A 6.6 kb BamHI fragment containing the $bla_{SHV-12}$ gene of K7746 strain was cloned into pCRScriptCAM vector resulting in the recombinant plasmid p7746-Cl. The restriction map of 3.6 kb inserted DNA and sequences immediately surrounding $bla_{SHV-12}$ of p7746-C1 were homologous to plasmid pMPA2a carrying $bla_{SHV-2a}$. In addition, both $bla_{SHV-12}$ and $bla_{SHV-2a}$ were expressed from a common hybrid promoter made of the -35 region derived from the left inverted repeat of IS26 and the -10 region from the $bla_{SHV}$ promoter itself. The results indicate that $bla_{SHV-12}$ and $bla_{SHV-2a}$ may have evolved from a common ancestor in the sequential order of $bla_{SHV-2a}$ first, followed by $bla_{SHV-12}$. Furthermore, by the PCR mapping method using primers corresponding to the IS26 and $bla_{SHV}$, the association between IS26 and $bla_{SHV}$ was studied in 12 clinical isolates carrying $bla_{SHV-2a}$, 27 clinical isolates carrying $bla_{SHV-12}$, and 5 reference strains carrying $bla_{SHV-1}$ to $bla_{SHV-5}$. All 39 strains carrying $bla_{SHV-2a}$ or $bla_{SHV-12}$ were positive by the PCR, providing confirmative evidence that IS26 has been involved in the evolution and dissemination of $bla_{SHV-2a}$ and $bla_{SHV-12}$. But 5 reference strains carrying $bla_{SHV-1}$ to $bla_{SHV-5}$ were negative by the PCR. Therefore, we concluded that the molecular evolutionary pathway of $bla_{SHV-2a}$ and $bla_{SHV-12}$ may be different from that of other $bla_{SHV-ESBL}$, e.g., $bla_{SHV-2}$, $bla_{SHV-3}$, $bla_{SHV-4}$, and $bla_{SHV-5}$.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.89-94
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• 2014

DA-6034, a eupatilin derivative of flavonoid, has shown potent effects on the protection of gastric mucosa and induced the increases in fluid and glycoprotein secretion in human and rat corneal and conjunctival cells, suggesting that it might be considered as a drug for the treatment of dry eye. However, whether DA-6034 induces $Ca^{2+}$ signaling and its underlying mechanism in epithelial cells are not known. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism for actions of DA-6034 in $Ca^{2+}$ signaling pathways of the epithelial cells (conjunctival and corneal cells) from human donor eyes and mouse salivary gland epithelial cells. DA-6034 activated $Ca^{2+}$-activated $Cl^-$ channels (CaCCs) and increased intracellular calcium concentrations ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) in primary cultured human conjunctival cells. DA-6034 also increased $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in mouse salivary gland cells and human corneal epithelial cells. $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase of DA-6034 was dependent on the $Ca^{2+}$ entry from extracellular and $Ca^{2+}$ release from internal $Ca^{2+}$ stores. Interestingly, these effects of DA-6034 were related to ryanodine receptors (RyRs) but not phospholipase C/inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate ($IP_3$) pathway and lysosomal $Ca^{2+}$ stores. These results suggest that DA-6034 induces $Ca^{2+}$ signaling via extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ entry and RyRs-sensitive $Ca^{2+}$ release from internal $Ca^{2+}$ stores in epithelial cells.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.6.1-6.4
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• 2014

The aims of study were to investigate the effects of intraperitoneal (i.p.) infusion of ghrelin on pancreatic ${\alpha}$-amylase outputs and the responses of pancreatic proteins to ghrelin that may relate to the pancreatic exocrine. Six male Sprague-Dawley rats (300 g) were randomly divided into two groups, a control group (C, n = 3) and a treatment group (T, $10.0{\mu}g/kg$ BW, n = 3). Blood samples were collected from rat caudal vein once time after one hour injection. The concentrations of plasma ghrelin, cholecystokinin (CCK) and alfa-amylase activity were evaluated by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) kit. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) analysis was conducted to separate the proteins in pancreas tissue. Results showed that the i.p. infusion of ghrelin at doses of $10.0{\mu}g/kg$ body weight (BW) increased the plasma ghrelin concentrations (p = 0.07) and elevated the plasma CCK level significantly (p < 0.05). Although there was no statistically significant, the ${\alpha}$-amylase activity tended to increase. The proteomics analysis indicated that some pancreatic proteins with various functions were up- or down-regulated compared with control group. In conclusion, ghrelin may have role in the pancreatic exocrine, but the signaling pathway was still not clear. Therefore, much more functional studies focus on these found proteins are needed in the near future.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.295-303
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• 2008

The lingual branch of the trigeminal nerve transmitts general sensation from anterior two thirds of the tongue, also bearing within sheath fibers of chordal tympani branch of the facial nerve. Chorda tympani nerve carries special taste sensations from the anterior two thirds of the tongue and sub-serves the existing trigeminal pathway. Chorda tympani nerve and the lingual nerve innervate to fungiform papilla and distribution of fungiform papilla on tongue dorsum is variable according to anatomical location. The purpose of this report is to assess that the relationship of the number of fungiform papilla and the ability of two-point discrimination of tongu dorsum. Twenty-six healthy students(male:female=13:13) whose mean age was $30{\pm}3$ participated in our study. Two-point discrimination thresholds were measured to evaluate the spatial acuity of touch sensation. The measurement was carried out at the tip and posterolateral region of dorsal tongue. After two-point discrimination test, we took the pictures of their dorsal tongue dyed with methylene blue with digital camera. There were no significant differences between the number of fungiform papilla and the two-point discrimination threshold. But, we found that there were the intraregional and intersubject variations of spatial acuity of the tongue. During the test on the posterolateral region of the dorsal tongue, students appealed the difficulty of discrimination of one point and two point.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.287-294
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• 2016

The effect of kaempferol (3,5,7,4-tetrahydroxyflavone), a flavonoid compound that was identified in barnyard millet (Echinochloa crus-galli var. frumentacea) grains, on G₂-checkpoint and apoptotic pathways was investigated in human acute leukemia Jurkat T cell clones stably transfected with an empty vector (J/Neo) or a Bcl-xL expression vector (J/Bcl-xL). Exposure of J/Neo cells to kaempeferol caused cytotoxicity and activation of the ATM/ATR-Chk1/Chk2 pathway, activating the phosphorylation of p53 (Ser-15), inhibitory phosphorylation of Cdc25C (Ser-216), and inactivation of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (Cdk1), with resultant G₂-arrest of the cell cycle. Under these conditions, apoptotic events, including upregulation of Bak and PUMA levels, Bak activation, mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) loss, activation of caspase-9, -8, and -3, anti-poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage, and accumulation of apoptotic sub-G₁ cells, were induced without accompanying necrosis. However, these apoptotic events, except for upregulation of Bak and PUMA levels, were completely abrogated in J/Bcl-xL cells overexpressing Bcl-xL, suggesting that the G₂-arrest and the Bcl-xL-sensitive mitochondrial apoptotic events were induced, in parallel, as downstream events of the DNA-damage-mediated G₂-checkpoint activation. Together these results demonstrate that kaempferol-mediated antitumor activity toward Jurkat T cells was attributable to G₂-checkpoint activation, which caused not only G₂-arrest of the cell cycle but also activating phosphorylation of p53 (Ser-15) and subsequent induction of mitochondria-dependent apoptotic events, including Bak and PUMA upregulation, Bak activation, Δψm loss, and caspase cascade activation.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.392-402
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• 2017

Background: Previously, we reported that Korean Red Ginseng inhibited liver fibrosis in mice and reduced the expressions of fibrogenic genes in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). The present study was undertaken to identify the major ginsenoside responsible for reducing the numbers of HSCs and the underlying mechanism involved. Methods: Using LX-2 cells (a human immortalized HSC line) and primary activated HSCs, MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide) assays were conducted to examine the cytotoxic effects of ginsenosides. $H_2O_2$ productions, glutathione contents, lactate dehydrogenase activities, mitochondrial membrane permeabilities, apoptotic cell subpopulations, caspase-3/-7 activities, transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining, and immunoblot analysis were performed to elucidate the molecular mechanism responsible for ginsenoside-mediated cytotoxicity. Involvement of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-related signaling pathway was examined using a chemical inhibitor and small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection. Results and conclusion: Of the 11 ginsenosides tested, 20S-protopanaxadiol (PPD) showed the most potent cytotoxic activity in both LX-2 cells and primary activated HSCs. Oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis induced by 20S-PPD was blocked by N-acetyl-$\text\tiny L$-cysteine pretreatment. In addition, 20S-PPD concentration-dependently increased the phosphorylation of AMPK, and compound C prevented 20S-PPD-induced cytotoxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction. Moreover, 20S-PPD increased the phosphorylation of liver kinase B1 (LKB1), an upstream kinase of AMPK. Likewise, transfection of LX-2 cells with LKB1 siRNA reduced the cytotoxic effect of 20S-PPD. Thus, 20S-PPD appears to induce HSC apoptosis by activating LKB1-AMPK and to be a therapeutic candidate for the prevention or treatment of liver fibrosis.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.81-100
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• 2000

Transsynaptic tracer이며 신경친화성 virus인 pseudorabies virus(PRV)를 방광(膀胱), 방광유(膀胱兪), 위중(委中) 및 중추(中極)에 주입(注入)한 후 4일간의 생존기간이 경과한 후 희생시켜 면역조직화학침액법(免疫組織化學染色法)에 의하여 뇌척수에 표지된 공통된 영역들을 비교하여 관찰한 결과는 다음과 같다. 1. 방광벽(膀胱壁), 방광유(膀胱兪), 위중(委中) 및 중추(中極)에서 척수에 투사된 영역은 흉수(胸髓), 요수(腰髓) 및 천수(薦髓)에 모두 표지되었으며 공통적으로 표지된 부위는 척수(脊髓)의 층판 IV, V, VII, IX, X영역에 표지되었으나 주로 강하게 표지된 공통된 영역은 층판 VII의 중간외측핵, 가슴기둥 및 층판 X영역이었다. 2. 방광벽(膀胱壁), 방광유(膀胱兪), 위중(委中) 및 중추(中極)에서 뇌(腦)에 투사된 공통된 영역은 연수(延髓)에서는 A1 noradrenalin cells/C1 adrenalin cells/caudoventrolateral reticular nucleus에서 양성반응을 나타내었다. 솔기핵의 경우 아핵인 불명솔기핵, 창백솔기핵 및 큰솔기핵에서 양성반응을 보였다. 다리뇌에서는 청색반점, Barrington's nucleus, A5세포군 및 삼차신경운동핵에서 양성반응을 보였고, 중뇌에서는 눈돌림신경핵, 눈돌림신경섬유 및 다리핵에서 양성반응을 보였다. 간뇌에서는 시상하부(視床下部)의 뇌실(腦室)곁핵과 시상의 뇌실곁핵에서 양성반응을 보였고 대뇌(大腦)에서는 septal nucleus, 피질(皮質)의 뒷다리영역, 마루엽, 이마엽에서 양성반응을 보였다. 이상의 결과를 종합하면 방광(膀胱)에서 투사되는 뇌척수의 영역과 방광유(膀胱兪)나 위중(委中)에서 투사되는 공통된 표지영역들은 방광(膀胱)과 족태양방광경(足太陽膀胱經) 그리고 그 경락(經絡)의 경혈(經穴)들이 어떤 상관성(相關性)을 가지고 연결(連結)되어 있다는 사실을 실험적으로 알 수 있었다. 특히 방광(膀胱)과 방광유(膀胱兪), 위중(委中)에서 투사된 공통된 표지영역, 즉 배뇨중추인 Barrington's nucleus에 표지되는 것은 내장(內臟)-경락(經絡)이 central autonomic pathway에 의하여 서로 연결되었음을 입증하는 중요한 결과(結果)라고 사려(思慮)된다.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.511-518
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• 2012

The mechanisms of Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling have been the focus of extensive studies because TLRs are the target of therapeutic intervention on multiple diseases. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory potential of Vigna angularis (azuki bean) on the TLR signaling. The effect of Vigna angularis extract (JSD) on TLR activation was investigated by assessing NF-${\kappa}B$ and AP-1 inducible secreted embryonic alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) activity. JSD significantly inhibited SEAP activity induced by poly I:C (TLR3 ligand) and poly I (TLR7 ligand) in a dose-dependent manner at concentration below 100 ${\mu}g/ml$ with no sign of cytotoxicity. Pretreatment of JSD markedly suppressed mRNA expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines and adhesive molecules such as TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, RANTES, MCP-1 and ICAM-1 induced by TLR ligands. It also diminished the phosphorylation of $I{\kappa}B$ kinase and $I{\kappa}B$, and followed by $I{\kappa}B$-mediated nuclear translocation of p50, p65, and phosphorylation of p38, JNK, and IRF signaling pathway. In conclusion, our results suggest that Vigna angularis has inhibitory activity on TLR-3 and -7 signaling and it can be further developed as a remedy in curing TLR-related multiple diseases.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.305-311
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• 2019

Background: Gintonin is a ginseng-derived exogenous ligand of the G protein-coupled lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor. We previously reported that gintonin stimulates gliotransmitter release in primary cortical astrocytes. Astrocytes play key roles in the functions of neurovascular systems. Although vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is known to influence the normal growth and maintenance of cranial blood vessels and the nervous system, there is little information about the effect of gintonin on VEGF regulation in primary astrocytes, under normal and hypoxic conditions. Methods: Using primary cortical astrocytes of mice, the effects of gintonin on the release, expression, and distribution of VEGF were examined. We further investigated whether the gintonin-mediated VEGF release protects astrocytes from hypoxia. Results: Gintonin administration stimulated the release and expression of VEGF from astrocytes in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. The gintonin-mediated increase in the release of VEGF was inhibited by the LPA1/3 receptor antagonist, Ki16425; phospholipase C inhibitor, U73122; inositol 1,4,5- triphosphate receptor antagonist, 2-APB; and intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ chelator, BAPTA. Hypoxia further stimulated astrocytic VEGF release. Gintonin treatment stimulated additional VEGF release and restored cell viability that had decreased due to hypoxia, via the VEGF receptor pathway. Altogether, the regulation of VEGF release and expression and astrocytic protection mediated by gintonin under hypoxia are achieved via the LPA receptor-VEGF signaling pathways. Conclusion: The present study shows that the gintonin-mediated regulation of VEGF in cortical astrocytes might be neuroprotective against hypoxic insults and could explain the molecular basis of the beneficial effects of ginseng on the central nervous system.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.126-133
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• 2021

Background: 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (20(S)-PPD), one of the aglycone derivatives of major ginsenosides, has been shown to have an anticancer activity toward a variety of cancers. This study was initiated with an attempt to evaluate its anti-cancer activity toward human endometrial cancer by cell and xenograft mouse models. Methods: Human endometrial cancer (HEC)-1A cells were incubated with different 20(S)-PPD concentrations. 20(S)-PPD cytotoxicity was evaluated using MTT assay. Apoptosis was detected using the annexin V binding assay and cell cycle analysis. Cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and activated caspase-9 were assessed using western blotting. HEC-1A cell tumor xenografts in athymic mice were generated by inoculating HEC-1A cells into the flank of BALB/c female mice and explored to validate 20(S)-PPD anti-endometrial cancer toxicity. Results: 20(S)-PPD inhibited HEC-1A cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50 value of 3.5 μM at 24 h. HEC-1A cells morphologically changed after 20(S)-PPD treatment, bearing resemblance to Taxol-treated cells. Annexin V-positive cell percentages were 0%, 10.8%, and 58.1% in HEC-1A cells when treated with 0, 2.5, and 5 μM of 20(S)-PPD, respectively, for 24 h. 20(S)-PPD subcutaneously injected into the HEC-1A cell xenograft-bearing mice three times a week for 17 days manifested tumor growth inhibition by as much as 18% at a dose of 80 mg/kg, which sharply contrasted to controls that showed an approximately 2.4-fold tumor volume increase. These events paralleled caspase-9 activation and PARP cleavage. Conclusion: 20(S)-PPD inhibits endometrial cancer cell proliferation by inducing cell death via a caspase-mediated apoptosis pathway. Therefore, the 20(S)-PPD-like ginsenosides are endowed with ample structural information that could be utilized to develop other ginsenoside-based anticancer agents.