• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.175-183
• /
• 2008

Liver regeneration is a result of highly coordinated proliferation of hepatocytes and non-parenchymal liver cells. At this process, induction of metallothionein (MT), which is low molecular and cysteine rich, has been reported. The present study was carried to find the ultrastructure of hepatocytes and determine the expression of MT in regenerating rat liver after partial hepatectomy. As a result, the remnant liver after PH grew fast from 1 day until 7 days. Various changes were morphologically observed. Disintegration of cell plates and liver lobule appeared shortly after PH. And hepatocytes showed the rapid proliferation, characterized by high nuclear cytoplasmic ratio, weak intercellular junctional complexes, chromatin condensation, increase of ribosomes and mitochondria, and temporary increase of lipid droplets. Finally, remodeling of the liver lobule was completed through the rearrangement of blood vessels and cell plates by 7 days after PH. On histochemistry, immunoreactivity indicating the presence of MT appeared moderately throughout the cytoplasm of control rat hepatocyte. After PH, positive reactions for MT increased at the cytoplasm and the nucleus. These results suggest that the remnant liver cells immediately entered cell proliferation and increase of MT expression after PH. It is thought that MT protein might be associated with transfer of some factors needed to cell division from the cytoplasm to the nucleus for regeneration of the liver after PH.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.64 no.5
• /
• pp.362-368
• /
• 2008

Background: LKB1(STK11) is a serine/threonine kinase that functions as a tumor growth suppressor. The functions of LKB1 in lung cancer are not completely understood. This study evaluated the relationship between LKB1 protein expression and the clinicopathological features in lung cancer tissues. Methods: The expression of LKB1 was studied in paraffin-embedded tumor blocks, which were obtained from 77 patients who had undergone surgery at Wonkwang University Hospital. The expression of the LKB1 protein was considered positive if the staining intensity in the tumor tissue adjacent to the normal airway epithelium was >30%. Results: The LKB1 expression was positive in 31 (40%) of samples. Loss of LKB1 expression was significantly associated with being male, smoking history, and squamous cell carcinoma. In the peripheral sites, the loss of LKB1 expression was strongly associated with a smoking history. A loss of LKB1 expression was more frequently associated with progression according to TNM staging, particularly more than T2, N progression. Conclusion: There was a significant relationship between the loss of the LKB1 protein and gender, smoking history, and histological type in primary lung cancer. Although LKB1 expression was not found to be a significant prognostic factor, further studies with a larger cohort of patient's lung cancer tissue samples will be needed to confirm this.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.171-178
• /
• 2004

Metallothionein (MT) is a family of ubiquitous, low molecular weight (6-7 kDa), cysteine-rich protein with a high affinity to metal ions and has no aromatic amino acids and histidine. Some of the known functions of MT include detoxification of heavy metals and alkylating agents and neutralization of free radicals. Also, this protein may affect a number of cellular processes including gene expression, apoptosis, proliferation and differentiation. But, its actual functions are still not clear. The present study was undertaken to examine immunocytochemically the localization of MT in developing rat liver. On the day 11 of gestation, the fetal rat liver has already been formed and contained numerous oval cells with high nuclear cytoplasmic ratio, which were the progenitors of hepatic parenchymal cells, but no reaction products of MT were detected at this time. And then, positive reactions against MT started to appear predominantly in the parenchymal cells of liver from the 13th day after gestation. Reaction products, immunogold particles or brown coloration, were localized at both the nucleus and the cytoplasm of the parenchymal cells, except mitochondria. The intensity of this reaction gradually increased, and exhibited the strongest at birth. The intensity of MT staining and immunogold labelling diminished with growth, and by the 15th day after birth weak positive reaction was observed in the cells. In brief, positive reactions for MT were observed in the oval cells and the parenchymal cells during fetal stage, meanwhile they were present only in the parenchymal cells after birth. The present results suggest that MT possibly involves parechymal cell proliferation and differentiation through the storage or the supply of various metal ions in the developing rat liver.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.217-229
• /
• 2010

Objective: Apoptosis plays an important role for the maintenance of the normal pregnancy. Expression of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) is able to effectively prevent apoptosis and controls trophoblast cells death throughout placental development, but it is still unknown in the function of XIAP in trophoblast cells exposed to hypoxic condition, which is one of the factors causing preeclampsia. Therefore, we conducted to compare XIAP expression in normal and pre-eclamptic placenta tissues and analyzed the function of XIAP in HTR-8/SVneo trophoblast cell line exposed to hypoxic condition. Methods: The expression of XIAP was analyzed in placental tissues from the following groups of patients (none underwent labor): 1) term normal placenta (n=15); 2) term with pre-eclamptic placeneta (n=15); and 3) pre-term with pre-eclamptic placenta (n=11) using semi-quantitative RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot. In order to evaluate the function of XIAP in HTR-8/SVneo trophoblast cells under hypoxic condition, HIF-$1{\alpha}$ plasmids, and hypoxic condtion were transfected and treated into HTR-8/SVneo trophoblast cells for 24 hours, respectively. Results: We observed that XIAP are expressed in the syncytiotrophoblasts and syncytial knot of placental villi. The expression of XIAP was significantly decreased in preeclamptic placenta tissues than in normal placenta tissues without labor (p<0.05). Furthermore, we confirmed the XIAP expression in HTR-8/SVneo trophbolast cells exposed to hypoxia was translocated from cytoplasm into nucleus and decreased XIAP by hypoxic condition induced apoptosis in HTR-8/SVneo trophoblast cells through up-regulation of pro-apoptotic proteins. Conclusion: These results suggest that the expression of XIAP is involved in placental development as well as decreased expression of XIAP by hypoxia is associated with pre-eclampsia through inducing trophoblast cells apoptosis.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.23 no.12
• /
• pp.1557-1561
• /
• 2013

Carbonic anhydrase isozymes are a widespread, zinc-containing metalloenzyme family. The enzyme catalyzes the reversible inter-conversion of $CO_2$ and $HCO_3$. This reaction is the main role played by CA enzymes in physiological conditions. This enzyme has been found in virtually all organisms, and at least 16 isozymes have been isolated in mammals. Unlike mammals, there is little information available regarding CA isozymes in the tissues of non-mammalian groups, such as fish. Carbonic anhydrase is very important in the osmotic and acid-base regulation in fish. It is well-known that the gills of fish play the most important role in acid-base relevant ion transfer, the transfer of $H^+$ and/or $HCO_3^-$, for the maintenance of systemic pH. Rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, is the most important freshwater fish species in the aquaculture industry of Korea, with annual production increasing each year. In addition, environmental toxicology research has shown that rainbow trout is known to be the species that is most susceptible to environmental toxins. Consequently, carbonic anhydrase was detected in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. The isolated protein showed the specific band with a molecular weight of 30 kDa and pI of 7.0, and it was identified as being carbonic anhydrase. The immunohistochemical result demonstrated that the carbonic anhydrase was located in the epithelial cells of the gills.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.33 no.6
• /
• pp.523-529
• /
• 2023

Ubiquitination is a post-translational modification that is involved in the quality control of proteins and responsible for modulating a variety of cellular physiological processes. Protein ubiquitination and deubiquitination are reversible processes that regulate the stability of target substrates. The ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) helps regulate tumor-promoting processes, such as DNA repair, cell cycle, apoptosis, metastasis, and angiogenesis. The UPS comprises a combination of ubiquitin, ubiquitin-activating enzymes (E1), ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes (E2), and ubiquitin-ligase enzymes (E3), which complete the degradation of target proteins. Ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes (UBE2s) play an inter-mediate role in the UPS process by moving activated ubiquitin to target proteins through E3 ligases. UBE2s consist of 40 members and are classified according to conserved catalytic ubiquitin-conjugating (UBC) domain-flanking extensions in humans. Since UBE2s have specificity to substrates like E3 ligase, the significance of UBE2 has been accentuated in tumorigenesis. The dysregulation of multiple E2 enzymes and their critical roles in modulating oncogenic signaling pathways have been reported in several types of cancer. The elevation of UBE2 expression is correlated with a worse prognosis in cancer patients. In this review, we summarize the basic functions and regulatory mechanisms of UBE2s and suggest the possibility of their use as therapeutic targets for cancer.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.522-529
• /
• 2008

High-temperature requirement A2(HtrA2) has been known as a human homologue of bacterial HtrA that has a molecular chaperone function. HtrA2 is mitochondrial serine protease that plays a significant role in regulating the apoptosis; however, the physiological function of HtrA2 still remains elusive. To establish experimental system for the investigation of new insights into the function of HtrA2 in mammalian cells, we first obtained $HtrA2^{+/+}$ and $HtrA2^{-/-}$ MEF cells lines and identified those cells based on the expression pattern and subcellular localization of HtrA2, using immunoblot and biochemical assays. Additionally, we observed that the morphological characteristics of $HtrA2^{-/-}$ MEF cells are different form those of $HtrA2^{+/+}$ MEF cells, showing a rounded shape instead of a typical fibroblast-like shape. Growth rate of $HtrA2^{-/-}$ MEF cells was also 1.4-fold higher than that of $HtrA2^{+/+}$ MEF cells at 36 hours. Furthermore, we verified both MEF cell lines induced caspsase-dependent cell death in response to apoptotic stimuli such as heat shock, staurosporine, and rotenone. The relationship between HtrA2 and heat shock-induced cell death is the first demonstration of the research field of HtrA2. Our study suggests that those MEF cell lines are suitable reagents to further investigate the molecular mechanism by which HtrA2 regulates the balance between cell death and survival.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.177-187
• /
• 1999

Ultrastructure of gametes in the three-spine stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus aculeatus was observed, utilizing light, scanning and transmission electron microscopes. The egg of three-spine stickleback is spherical and demersal type. The eggs are highly adhesived to each other but not to substrates. There are many oil droplets in vitelline membrane. The outer surface of egg envelope is arranged by mushroom-like structures and pore canals. The egg have a micropyle, sperm entry site, in the area of the animal pole. The egg envelope consists of three layers, an outer layer with high electron density, a middle layer consisting two layers and an inner layer consisting of 16 to 20 layers. In the fertilized egg envelope, the molecular weights of these components ranged from 14 kDa to 205 kDa. The molecular weights of nam protein bands are 19.4 kDa, 36.7 KDa, 39.4 kDa, 42.9 kDa, 46.1 kDa and 53.0 kDa. The head of spermatozoa is spherical shape and the acrosome is absent. The mitochondria in midpiece are arranged from one to three layers and separated from the axoneme by the cytoplasmic canal. The tail has two lateral fins and the axoneme is of the 9+2 structure.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.46 no.4
• /
• pp.585-592
• /
• 2004

Our previous studies demonstrated that relaxin in concert with estrogen promotes development of the mammary parenchyma during the last third of gestation in gilts, and the specific relaxin-binding sites were present in the mammary gland. This study was conducted to determine if relaxin-binding sites in the mammary gland were functional relaxin receptors. Three cycling cross-bred gilts were bilaterally ovariectomized on day 0 of the experiment. Beginning on day 15 and continuing through day 29 post-surgery, the gilt received an im. injection of estradiol benzoate at 12-hr intervals. Beginning on day 22 post-surgery, highly purified porcine relaxin was administered(lug/hr) into the left fourth mammary gland from the anterior end via miniature osmotic pump. Physiological saline was administered to the right fourth mammary gland. The gilt was sacrificed on day 29 post-surgery and histological characteristics of the mammary parenchyma were examined. The mammary glands treated locally with saline showed little, if any, lobulo-alveolar development, whereas the mammary glands treated with relaxin showed not only marked lobulo-alveolar development but also prominent secretions in the alveoli. The saline-treated glands were characterized by relatively dense and highly organized collagen fiber bundles. Whereas, in the relaxin-treated mammary glands, collagen fiber bundles were dispersed and loosely organized. In conclusion, relaxin-binding sites in the mammary gland are functional relaxin receptors and relaxin acts directly on the pig mammary gland to promote development of the alveoli and remodeling of the extracellular matrix.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.24 no.6
• /
• pp.664-670
• /
• 2014

In the present study, we investigate the role of V. vulnificus in promoting the inflammation of mouse ileal ephitelium and its related signaling pathways. ICR mice were infected orally with V. vulnificus ($1{\times}10^9CFU$) for 16 h as a representative model of food-borne infection. To find the major portal of entry of V. vulnificus in mouse intestine, we have measured the levels of bacterial colonization in small intestine, colon, spleen, and liver. V. vulnificus appeared to colonize in intestine and colon in the order of ileum >> jejunum> colon, but lack in the duodenum, spleen, and liver. V. vulnificus in ileum caused severe necrotizing enteritis and showed shortened villi heights accompanied by an expanded width and inflammation, compared with the control mice. V. vulnificus induced ileal epithelium inflammation by activating phosphorylation of PKC and membrane translocation of $PKC{\alpha}$. V. vulnificus induced the phosphorylation of ERK and JNK, but did not affect p38 MAPK phosphorylation. Notably, V. vulnificus stimulated the I-${\kappa}B$-dependent phosphorylation of NF-${\kappa}B$ in mouse ileal epithelium. Finally, the ileal infection of V. vulnificus resulted in a significant increase in expression of proinflammatory cytokines and Toll-like receptors, respectively, compared to the control. Collectively, our results indicate that V. vulnificus induces ileal epithelium inflammation by increasing NF-${\kappa}B$ phosphorylation via activation of PKC, ERK, and JNK, which is critical for host defense mechanism in food-borne infection by V. vulnificus.