• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.194-204
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• 2020

The detrimental impact of air pollution as a result of frequent exposure to fine particles posed a global public health risk mainly to the pulmonary disorders in pediatric and geriatric population. Here, we reviewed the current literature regarding the role of ginseng and/or its components as antimicrobials, especially against pathogens that cause respiratory infections in animal and in vitro models. Some of the possible mechanisms for ginseng-mediated viral inhibition suggested are improvements in systemic and mucosa-specific antibody responses, serum hemagglutinin inhibition, lymphocyte proliferation, cell survival rate, and viral clearance in the lungs. In addition, ginseng reduces the expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8) and chemokines produced by airway epithelial cells and macrophages, thus preventing weight loss. In case of bacterial infections, ginseng acts by alleviating inflammatory cytokine production, increasing survival rates, and activating phagocytes and natural killer cells. In addition, ginseng inhibits biofilm formation and induces the dispersion and dissolution of mature biofilms. Most clinical trials revealed that ginseng, at various dosages, is a safe and effective method of seasonal prophylaxis, relieving the symptoms and reducing the risk and duration of colds and flu. Taken together, these findings support the efficacy of ginseng as a therapeutic and prophylactic agent for respiratory infections.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1996 no.05
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• pp.97-99
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• 1996

Intracellular gradients of the free calcium concentration are thought to be critical for the localization of functional responses within a cell. The mechanism of mechanotransduction may be associated with the localized accumulation of calcium stores for shear stress-exposed endothelial cells. The distribution of the calcium stores and the formation of the stress fibers were investigated by the indirect double immunofluorescent staining method with the calreticulin antibody and rhodamine phalloidin under flow condition. The shear stress of steady flow reorganized the cytoskeleton structure including the bundling and translocation to focal contacts. The calcium stores translocated from the cytoplasm to the focal contacting area. Consequently. accumulation of the calcium stores may participate in the shear stress-induced cytoskeleton organization of endothelial cells.

• BMB Reports
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• v.53 no.12
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• pp.646-651
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• 2020

Bone resorption is linked to bone formation via temporal and spatial coupling within the remodeling cycle. Several lines of evidence point to the critical role of coupling factors derived from pre-osteoclasts (POCs) during the regulation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs). However, the role of glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in BMMSCs is not completely understood. Herein, we demonstrate the role of POC-derived GDNF in regulating the migration and osteogenic differentiation of BMMSCs. RNA sequencing revealed GDNF upregulation in POCs compared with monocytes/macrophages. Specifically, BMMSC migration was inhibited by a neutralizing antibody against GDNF in pre-osteoclast-conditioned medium (POC-CM), whereas treatment with a recombinant GDNF enhanced migration and osteogenic differentiation. In addition, POC-CM derived from GDNF knock-downed bone marrow macrophages suppressed BMMSC migration and osteogenic differentiation. SPP86, a small molecule inhibitor, inhibits BMMSC migration and osteogenic differentiation by targeting the receptor tyrosine kinase RET, which is recruited by GDNF into the GFRα1 complex. Overall, this study highlights the role of POC-derived GDNF in BMMSC migration and osteogenic differentiation, suggesting that GDNF regulates bone metabolism.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.87-96
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• 2003

The purposes of this study were to find out the optimum intensity of magnetic field where magnetism could promote the activity of osteoblast, and to discover the possibility of clinical application in the areas of dental implants and bone grafts by confirming the effect of clinically increasing bone formation. In this experiment, we used the Neodymium magnet, which had magnetic power six times as strong as the current ones and enabled the resistances against the demagnetization up to 20 to 50 times to be minimized with the size of 1mm in sight. In order to culture cells, a specially designed device was used. It was made to adjust the distance and accordingly to control the intensity of the magnetic field, by placing the cell culture plate in the center with a magnet of 1mm long and thick installed on the both ends. Using MC3T3-E1 cell, a kind of osteoblast-like cell, we cultured, for 24 hours, not only the test group which had been cultured under the magnetic fields with different intensity of 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, and 1000 Gauss, but also the control group excluding the influences of the magnetic field. After observing the cell's form and the density of the culture medium through an inverted microscope, we made a series of proceedings needed for the immunofluoroscence staining, such as fixation, normal serum reaction, primary antibody reaction, and secondary antibody reaction. And with a fluorescence microscope, we observed those-above and compared the frequency of expression of IFG-1 receptor. To make a Western immunoblotting analysis, the cells cultured under the same condition as the above had the procedure of the lysis buffer and the acrylamide gel electrophoresis was carried out. Protein transferred into the nitrocellulose membrane and tested on the primary and the secondary antibody reactions was observed and compared. The results were as follows: When observed through an inverted microscope, the nuclear divisions of the cells under the magnetic field of 10 Gauss were the most active, and the density of the cells could be observed the most enormously. As the result of an immunofluoroscence staining of IGF-1 receptor, the expression of IFG-1 was the most frequently observed under the magnetic field of 10 Gauss. On the other hand, few differences of consideration were made between the test group cultured under the magnetic fields of 5, 500, and 1000 Gauss and the control group. In respect of the expression of IFG-1 receptor, the test group cultured under the magnetic fields of 50 and 100 Gauss were higher than the control group, and lower than that cultured under the magnetic field of 10 Gauss.(p<0.05) According to the Western immunoblotting analysis, the band of IFG-1 receptor which had 85KDa of molecular weight was the darkest. Judging from the above-mentioned results, the growth factor receptor of an osteoblast cell which was an important criterion for the bone formation was increased in maximum under the magnetic field of 10 Gauss. Moreover it was observed that the optimum intensity of magnetic field in which magnetism made the activity of the osteoblast cell increase was about 10 Gauss.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.85-99
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• 2008

Avian reovirus (ARV) is a causative agent of viral arthritis/tenosynovitis, and malabsorption syndrome in broiler. The characteristics of malabsorption syndrome caused by ARV are diarrhea, poor feed conversion and stunting. Therefore, ARV infection has been recognized as one of the most important disease in the poultry industry because of economical losses. However, few study of ARV infection in broiler industry has been conducted in Korea. To evaluate the presence of ARV infection in broiler farms, epidemiological survey such as serological test and virus isolation has been conducted. For the serological survey using ELISA method, we selected five broiler farms which were located at different area and had a history of growth retardation, lameness, diarrhea and poor feathering. From these farms serum samples were collected at 1 day, 14 days and market age. All these farms had no history of vaccination against ARV. In addition to serological survey, we tried to isolate ARV from birds of designated farms at market age and collected feces and tissue samples such as cecal tonsil, intestine and liver. We were identified ARV by RT-PCR and transmissible electron microscopy. The samples were inoculated into 9-day-old embryonated eggs via the chorioallantoic membrane to observe the pock formation. For the pathogenicity test of ARV isolates, we inoculated with the isolates to the right footpad of 3-week-old SPF chicks and observed clinical signs and pathological changes for 14 days after challenge. Most broilers sampled for serological survey have maternal antibodies which were widely distributed at 1 day and decreased by 14 days. However, at the market age several broiler farms showed fairly high antibody titer against ARV. This increase of antibody titer at market age means the possible infection of ARV during the grow-out period. Among total 15 samples for the isolation of ARV. 2 samples were positive by RT-PCR and finally identified as a ARV. We inoculated these isolates in the SPF birds and observed that the antibody titer was increased from 7 days after challenge. However, we did not find any clinical signs both control and challenge groups. Based on the above results, it is clear that the ARV infection has been circulated in the broiler industry and caused significant economic losses. Further study is needed to evaluate the virulence of the isolates in the digestive system of broiler and the molecular characteristics of isolates.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 1997

The skin ulcer in Leishmcnio mcior infection is known to be variable according to the inoculation sites even in a susceptible host. The present study traced the immunoblot patterns by the site of inoculation and duration of infection in BALB/c mice. L. mqior were subcutaneously inoculated on the nose, footpad, and back of the mice, in a dose of 3 × 106 promastigotes. Sera of the mice were collected every 10 days after inoculation. SDS-PAGE separated soluble protein bands of the promastigotes and immunoblot was carried out with the infection sera. The skin ulcer first appeared on the nose at 15 days, and on the footpad at 17 days after inoculation. The ulcer on the back appeared after 90 days. In the mice with ulcer on the nose or footpad, serum IgG antibody reacted to 202, 139, 98, 83, 81, 67, 65, 62, 59, 54, 52, 42, 26, and 23 kDa bands at 20 days after inoculation. In mice inoculated on the back, however, the immunoblot showed visible reactions with 202, 83, 81 74, 67, 65, 62, 59, 54, 52,20 and 17 kDa bands at 90 days after inoculation. The present result showed that the antigenic protein bands of L. mqior promastigotes were differed by the inoculation site and duration of infection. Since the skin ulcer and the serum antibodies to antigenic bands between 67-52 kDa appeared simultaneously, it is suggested that the serum IgG antibodies may play a role in formation of the skin ulcer in BALB/c mice.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.141-148
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• 1987

Circulating antigens in rats experimentally infected with Paragonimus westermani were examined by ELISA. From a total of 22 albino rats, each fed with 25 metacercariae, blood samples were collected until 12 weeks after infection. The specific antibodies against P. westermani in the serum of an infected cat were purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE anion-exchange chromatography and affinity chromatography serially. So-called double antibody sandwich ELISA method was used for the detection of circulating antigens. The results were as follows: Mean value of O.D. in control sera was O. 04 (S.D.=0. 04). After infection, mean O.D.(S.D.) values were changed serially: 0.03(0.01) at 0.5 week(3 days), 0.55(0.50) at 1 week, 0.69(0.45) at 1.5 week, O.20 (0.19) at 2 weeks and O.13(0.10) at 2.5 weeks of infection. They returned, thereafter, to the level before infection. When O. 16 (mean+3 S.D.) were considered as cut-off value, those higher than O. 16 were observed only in the sera collected between 1 and 2.5 weeks after infection. Average 8. 4 immature worms (2.2 from the lungs and pleural cavities; 6.2 from muscles) were recovered in a rat at 12 weeks after infection. The fact that circulating antigens were not detected after 3 weeks of infection was considered to the caused by the formation of antigen-antibady complexs.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 1990

Most of the diagnostic methods currently used for the detection of neoplastic masses provide indirect evidence. To obtain greater specificity in the interpretation of neoplasias by in vivo methods, the immunological approach appears to be most promising. Two problems that interfered with progress in this field were the lack of tumor specific antigen and the lack of well-defined and reproducible antibodies. To improve the sensitivity and specificity of radioimmunoscintigraphy as a technique for tumor localization, the use of monoclonal antibodies, fragments of antibodies and single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) are reasonable. The obvious advantages of monoclonal antibodies are their homogeneity, their specificity for the immunizing antigen and the reaction with a single determinant-thus no large immunecomplexes with antigen are formed. Monoclonal antibody technique has recently provided an opportunity to reevaluate the role of nuclear medicine for the diagnosis of malignant diseases by using the immunological approach. Out first results by means of radioimmunoscintigraphy of CEA and CA 19-9 producing tumors using a cocktail of fragments F $(ab')_2$, of mocolonal antibodies to CA 19-9 and CEA labeled with $^{131}I$ (IMACIS-1) are reported. The aims of this investigation was to evaluate the role of immunoscintigraphy in patients with colorectal and other cancers for diagnosis of local recurrences and metastasis. This report contains results of the first 8 colorectal and pancreas cancer patients with the elevation of the level of serum CEA and/or CA 19-9. IMACIS-1 was injected intravenously during 30 minutes in 100 ml saline solution after skin test. Planar scintigrams were recorded 3, 5 and 7 days after the injection of the IMACIS-1. Anterior, lateral and posterior views of the liver as well as anterior and posterior views of the pelvis were obtained in each patients as an $^{131}I-antibody$ image. We were able to localize exactly the malignant process with the double-nuclide double-compound $^{99m}Tc\;^{131}I$ (Tc+l) scintigrams. In Tc & I double-nuclide scintigraphy, computer subtraction display provided more clear localization of the tumor. We compared the results of radioimmunoscintigraphy with CT, ultrasonograms, conventional scintigrams. The results were as follows: 1) The sensitivity and specificity of radioimmunoscintigraphy using the fragments $F(ab')_2$ of the cocktails of CEA and CA 19-9 monoclonal antibodies were 80% and 100% respectively. 2) Tumor detection rate was not proportionated to the level of serum tumor markets. 3) Second tracer technique was essential for tumor localization as an anatomic landmark using double-nuclide scintigraphy. 4) A slow infusion of the antibodies was necessary to prevent the formation of large immune complexes. 5) Tumor/non-tumor radioactivity was most elevated at 7 days delayed imaging. 6) Using planar scintigraphic technique of $^{131}I$ labeled monoclonal antibodies are possible for imaging most of the tumors.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.165-170
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• 2008

Procaspase-8 is activated by forming a death-inducing signaling complex (DISC) with the Fas-associated death domain (FADD) and the Fas receptor, but the mechanism of its activation is not well understood. Procaspase-8 devoid of the death effector domain at its N-terminus (${\Delta}nprocaspase-8$) was reported to be activated by kosmotropic salts, but it has not been induced to form a DISC in vitro because it cannot interact with FADD. Here, we report the production of full-length procaspase-8 and show that it is activated by adding the Fas death domain (Fas-DD) and the FADD forming the cytoplasmic part of the DISC (cDISC). Furthermore, mutations known to affect DISC formation in vivo were shown to have the same effect on procaspase-8 activation in vitro. An antibody that induces Fas-DD association enhanced procaspase-8 activation, suggesting that the Fas ligand is not required for low-level activation of procaspase-8, but that Fas receptor clustering is needed for high-level activation of procaspase-8 leading to cell death. In vitro activation of procaspase-8 by forming a cDISC will be invaluable for investigating activation of ligand-mediated apoptosis and the numerous interactions affecting procaspase-8 activation.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.409-420
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• 2013

Human serum (HS) has been reported to induce aggregation of human eyelid adipose-derived stem cells (HEACs) during high-density culture in vitro. The present study focused on the role of cell adhesion molecules and gelatinases during HS-induced aggregation of HEACs. HS-induced aggregation occurred between 9-15 days of culture. Cells aggregated by HS medium (HS-agg) showed stronger expression of ${\alpha}2$, ${\alpha}2B$, ${\alpha}X$, and CEACAM1 genes compared to non-aggregated cells in HS medium (HS-ex) or in control FBS-cultured cells. HS-agg were distinctly labeled with antibodies against ${\alpha}2$, ${\alpha}2B$, and ${\alpha}X$ proteins. Western blot results demonstrated that the two integrin proteins were greatly expressed in HS-agg compared to HS-ex and control FBS-cultured cells. Treatment of HEACs with anti-integrin ${\alpha}2$ antibody during culture in HS medium delayed aggregation formation. HS-agg exhibited strong expression of MMP1 and MMP9 compared to HS-ex or FBS-cultured cells. Conditioned media from HS-culture showed remarkable increase of MMP9 gelatinolytic activity in comparison to those from FBS-culture. However, there was no change of TIMP mRNA expression in relation to the HS-induced aggregation. Based on these results, it is suggested that integrin ${\alpha}2$, ${\alpha}2B$, and ${\alpha}X$, and MMP9 might play an important role in the HS-induced aggregation of HEACs.