• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.62-62
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• 2003

Aquaporin (AQP) family protein은 일종의 수분 전달 통로 역할을 하는 단백질로 AQP를 통한 수분의 조절은 삼투압을 통한 물의 이동과 함께 조직내 정상적인 수분의 상성 유지에 필수적이다. 현재까지 11종의 AQP이 신장·뇌·정소·안구 등에서 발현이 확인되었다. AQP9은 물 뿐 아니라 carbamide, polyol, purine, pyrimidine, urea, glycerol 등의 이동에 관여한다. 본 연구에서는 생쥐에서 출생 후 성체에 이르는 동안 정소 내 AQP9의 발현, Leydig cell의 분화에 따른 AQP9의 발현을 조사하였다. 1, 2, 4, 8주령의 정소로부터 semiquantitative RT-PCR 및 real time PCR 법으로 AQP9의 발현을 분석한 결과 1주령에서는 발현되지 않았고 2주령에서는 미량이 발현되기 시작하였고, 4주령에서는 성체의 1/2수준으로 발현량이 급격히 증가하였고 성체에서는 다량으로 발현됨이 확인되었다. Semiquantitative RT-PCR 법과 real time PCR법을 비교할 때 주령별 발현 양상은 유사하였으나 4주령과 성체에서는 두 시험법 사이에 양적인 차이가 있었다. 면역조직화학염색 결과 주로 Leydig cell에서 AQP9의 발현이 확인되었다. 성체의 정소 균질액의 Western blot 상에서 분자량 80, 55, 35 및 23 kDa의 항원이 검출되어 dimer, trimer 형태로 존재할 가능성과 당쇄 결합에 의한 단백질의 변형이 있는 것으로 추정된다. 미성숙 개체의 정소에서는 23 form이 확인되는 반면 성체에서는 35 kDa form이 주로 발현되므로 정소에서 발현되는 AQP9의 경우 Post-translation 수준에서 AQP9의 변형이 수반되는 것으로 사료되며 AQP9의 기능과의 연관성은 추후 연구되어야 할 것이다. Leydig cell은 fetal 및 adult type 2종의 세포가 정소발달 과정에 출현, 사멸, 분화하며 이들은 각기 정소발달, 성숙과 정자형성에 필요한 steroidogenesis에 관여한다. 정소 내 AQP9의 발현은 17beta HSD의 발현 양상과 같게 나타나므로 성적 성숙에 따른 정소 내 AQP9의 발현의 증가는 adult type Leydig cell의 분화와 관련된 것으로 추측된다. 성체의 정소로부터 분리한 Leydig cell-enriched culture에 hCG를 처리한 결과 배양체의 AQP9의 발현이 증가하므로 AQP9은 LH 수용체 하위 신호전달과정을 통해 Leydig cell의 steroidogenesis 또는 생성된 steroids의 분비에 요구되는 수분 및 중성용질의 이동에 관여하는 것으로 사료된다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Biotechnology Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.71-80
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• 2005

Effects of low temperature ($8^{\circ}C$) on the hydraulic conductivity of young roots of a chilling-sensitive (cucumber; Cucumis sativus L.) and a chilling-resistant (figleaf gourd; Cucurbita ficifolia Bouche) crop have been measured at the levels of whole root systems (root hydraulic conductivity, $Lp_r$) and of individual cortical cells (cell hydraulic conductivity, Lp). In figleaf gourd, there was a reduction only in hydrostatic $Lp_r$ but not in osmotic $Lp_r$ suggesting that the activity of water channels was not much affected by low root temperature (LRT)treatment in this species. Changes in cell Lp in response to chilling and recovery were similar asroot level, although they were more intense at the root level. Roots of figleaf gourd recovered better from LRT treatment than those of cucumber. In figleaf gourd, recovery (both at the root and cell level) often resulted in Lp and $Lp_r$ values which were even bigger than the original, i.e. there was an overshoot in hydraulic conductivity. These effects were larger forosmotic (representing the cell-to-cell passage of water) than for hydrostatic $Lp_r$. After a short term (1 d) exposure to $8\;^{\circ}C$ followed by 1 d at $20\;^{\circ}C$, hydrostatic $Lp_r$ of cucumber nearly recovered and that of figleaf gourd still remained higher due to the overshoot. On the contrary, osmotic $Lp_r$ and cell Lp in both species remained high by a factor of 3 as compared to the control, possibly due to an increased activity of water channels. After pre-conditioning of roots at LRT, increased hydraulic conductivitywas completely inhibited by $HgCl_2$ at both the root and cell levels. Different from figleaf gourd, recovery from chilling was not complete in cucumber after longer exposure to LRT. It is concluded that at LRT, both changes in the activity of aquaporins and alterations of root anatomy determine the water uptake in both species. To better understand the aquaporin function in plants under various stress conditions, we examined the transgenic Arabidopsisand tobacco plants that constitutively overexpress ArabidopsisPIP1;4 or PIP2;5 under various abiotic stress conditions. No significant differences in growth rates were found between the transgenic and wild-type plants under favorable growth conditions. By contrast, overexpression of PIP1;4 or PIP2;5 had a negative effect on seed germination and seedling growth under drought stress, whereas it had a positive effect under cold stress and no effect under salt stress. Measurement of water transport by cell pressure probe revealed that these observed phenotypes under different stress conditions were closely correlated with the ability of water transport by each aquaporin in the transgenic plants. Together, our results demonstrate that PIP-type aquaporins play roles in seed germination, seedling growth, and stress response of Arabidopsis and tobacco plants under various stress conditions, and emphasize the importance of a single aquaporin-mediated water transport in these cellular processes.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.116-124
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• 2018

Lysozyme is known as a key substance of the innate immunity and have antibacterial effect in the mucosal tissues, especially middle ear. Aquaporin (AQP) functions as water movement in the tissue and has been expected to be participated in the inflammatory responses. In the present study, we investigated to reveal association of lysozymes and AQPs in otitis media. The gene expression of lysozyme genes, homo sapiens lysozyme (hLYZ), homo sapiens lysozyme M (hLYZ M), and homo sapiens lysozyme G like-2 (hLYGH), and AQP genes (AQP 0 - AQP 12) were measured from postauricular skin, mastoid mucosa, inflamed mastoid mucosa, and middle ear mucosa. The hLYZ, hLYZ M and hLYGH gene were expressed in mastoid mucosa, inflamed mastoid mucosa, middle ear mucosa. Of AQP genes, all AQP gene except AQP 3 gene were expressed in the tissue of middle ear. Among them, AQP 4, AQP 8, AQP 9, AQP 10, AQP 11 and AQP 12 were highly expressed in the inflamed mastoid mucosa and normal mastoid mucosa (P<0.001). Interestingly, expression levels of AQP 4, AQP 9, and AQP 12 gene were significantly higher in the inflamed mastoid mucosa compared to normal middle ear mucosa (P<0.05). These results suggest that lysozyme and AQPs could be associated with inflammatory response in the middle ear.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.1375-1383
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• 2015

Background: Objective Myocardin-related transcription factor (MRTF)-A is a Rho signaling-responsive co-activator of serum response factor (SRF). The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of MRTF-A and AQP1 (aquaporin 1) in pathological vascular remodeling. Materials and Methods: MRTF-A, AQP1 and neointima expression was detected both in the wire injured femoral arteries of wild-type mice and the atherosclerotic aortic tissues of $ApoE^{-/-}$ mice. Expression of ICAM-1, matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9) and integrin ${\beta}1$ were also assayed. The intercourse relationship between the molecules were investigated by interfering RNA and inhibitor assay. Results: MRTF-A and AQP1 expression were significantly higher in the wire injured femoral arteries of wild-type mice and in the atherosclerotic aortic tissues of $ApoE^{-/-}$ mice than in healthy control tissues. Both in wire-injured femoral arteries in MRTF-A knockout ($Mkl1^{-/-}$) mice and atherosclerotic lesions in $Mkl1^{-/-}$; $ApoE^{-/-}$ mice, neointima formation were significantly attenuated and the expression of AQP1 were significantly decreased. Expression of ICAM-1, matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9) and integrin ${\beta}1$, three SRF targets and key regulators of cell migration, and AQP1 in injured arteries was significantly weaker in $Mkl1^{-/-}$ mice than in wild-type mice. In cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), knocking down MRTF-A reduced expression of these genes and significantly impaired cell migration. Underlying the increased MRTF-A expression in dedifferentiated VSMCs were the down-regulation of microRNA-300. Moreover, the MRTF-A inhibitor CCG1423 significantly reduced neointima formation following wire injury in mice. Conclusions: MRTF-A could be a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of vascular diseases.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.183-191
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• 2011

This study was undertaken to collect basic knowledge of Jatropha which is one of bio-energy crops, based on the understanding of physiological and molecular aspects under salt and drought conditions. The treatments were followed as: 100, 200 and 300 mM NaCl for salt stress and 5, 10, 20 and 30% PEG for drought stress for 8 days, respectively. Leaf growth, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll fluorescence and gene expression of aquaporin (JcPIP2) of Jatropha were investigated. From 2 days after treatments, plants treated with higher than 100 mM NaCl and 10% PEG respectively were significantly suppressed in leaf length, width, and stomatal conductance, but 5% PEG treatment showed that plant growth was improved more than control plant. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analyses revealed that the JcPIP2 gene was expressed in root, stem, cotyledon and leaves. It was not detected in leaves at 200 and 300 mM NaCl treatments. However, transcripts of JcPIP2 were induced in roots and stems under salt and drought conditions compared to those of healthy plants. Therefore, it was concluded that JcPIP2 plays an important role in improving drought tolerance.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.53-60
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• 2015

Environmental conditions during early mammalian embryo development are critical and some adaptational phenomena are observed. However, the mechanisms underlying them remain largely masked. Previously, we reported that AQP5 expression is modified by the environmental condition without losing the developmental potency. In this study, AQP11 was examined instead. To compare expression pattern between in vivo and in vitro, we conducted quantitative RT-PCR and analyzed localization of the AQP11 by whole mount immunofluorescence. When the fertilized embryos were developed in the maternal tracts, the level of Aqp11 transcripts was decreased dramatically until 2-cell stage. Its level increased after 2-cell stage and peaked at 4-cell stage, but decreased again dramatically until morula stage. Its transcript level increased again at blastocyst stage. In contrast, the levels of Aqp11 transcript in embryos cultured in vitro were as follows. The patterns of expression were similar but the overall levels were low compared with those of embryos grown in the maternal tracts. AQP11 proteins were localized in submembrane cytoplasm of embryos collected from maternal reproductive tracts. The immune-reactive signals were detected in both trophectoderm and inner cell mass. However, its localization was altered in in vitro culture condition. It was localized mainly in the plasma membrane of the blastocysts contacting with external environment. The present study suggests that early stage embryo can develop successfully by themselves adapting to their environmental condition through modulation of the expression level and localization of specific genes like AQP11.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 2009

The epididymis in the male reproductive tract is the site where spermatozoa produced from the testis become mature. The epididymis is divided into 4 different segments, initial segment and caput, corpus, and caudal epididymis, depending upon functional and morphological features. Aquaporins (Aqps) are water channel molecules, which are present in the epididymis and play a major role in removal of epididymal water, resulting in creation of microenvironment for sperm maturation and concentration of sperms. Nandrolone decanoate (ND) is a synthetic anabolic-androgenic steroid, which is used to treat clinical diseases and improve physical ability and appearance. Even though it is well determined that the ND causes the male infertility by affecting the testis, little is known the effect of the ND on the epididymis. The present study was focused to examine the effect of ND at different treatment doses and periods on expression of Aqp1 and Aqp9 genes in the epididymis of pubertal rats. Results showed that mRNA expression of Aqp1 and Aqp9 genes among the parts of the epididymis was differentially regulated by ND treatment doses. In addition, treatment periods of ND caused differential expression of Aqp1 and Aqp9 mRNAs among segments of the epididymis. Therefore, it is believed that male infertility induced by ND could be resulted not only from malfunction of the testis but also from aberrant gene expression of Aqp1 and Aqp9 in the epididymis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.330-336
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• 2006

Background : Aquaporins (AQPs) may play a role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary inflammation and edema. This study investigated the role ofAQPs in acute lung injury following bleomycin inhalation in rats. Methods : Sprague-Dawley rats were treated via inhalation with 10 U/kg bleomycin hydrochloride dissolved in 5 ml of normal saline. The control rats were treated with 5 ml normal saline. The animals (n = 6-8 rats per group) were sacrificed at 4, 7, and 14 d. The changes in AQP1, AQP4, and AQP5 expression levels over time were analyzed by Western blotting. The nitrate and nitrite concentrations in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured using a modified Griess reaction. ELISA was used to check cytokines. Results : The respiration rates were significantly higher 4 and 7 days after the bleomycin treatment compared with those of the control rats. The tidal volume was lower in rats at 4 days after the bleomycin treatment, and the wet/dry weights of the lung were significantly higher than those of the control group. The nitrite and nitrate concentrations in the BALF from the rats at 4 days after exposure to bleomycin were greater than those from the saline-treated rats. Immunoblotting studies demonstrated that the AQP1 and AQP4 expression levels were lower in the rats at 4 days. However, the AQP4 expression level was higher at 7 days. The AQP5 expression level increased at 4, 7 and 14 days after the bleomycin treatment. Conclusion : This study demonstrates that AQPs are expressed differently in bleomycin-induced pulmonary edema.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 2004

Aquaporins(AQPs) are a family of transmembrane water channel proteins that are widely distributed in various tissues throughout the body and play a major role in Oanscellular and Oansepithelial water movement. Uterine endometrium undergoes recurrent uterine stromal edema in response to hormonal stimuli, however, the mechanism regulating the fluid transport during the estrous cycle has not been fully understood. To investigate the possible role of AQPs in water movement in uterus during the estrous cycle, expression patterns of AQP -1, -3, -4, -5, -8, and -9 UMh in mouse uterus were analyzed by using semiquantitative reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction(RT-nR). We employed a combination of laser capture microdissection(LCM) and RT-PCR to examine the expression patterns in specific uterine cell types luminal epithelial cells(LE) and stromal cells(S). Our results showed that the level of AQP-4 mRNA was significantly increased while the level of AQP-3 mRNA was significantly decreased during the proestous through the estrus stage. In addition LCM revealed that AQP-4 and -8 mRNAs were highly expressed in LE compared with S. Taken together, these results suggest that AQPs may have an important function in physiological changes of mouse uterus during the estrous cycle.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.1199-1209
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• 2020

The glymphatic system hypothesis is a concept describing the clearance of waste products from the brain. The term "glymphatic system" combines the glial and lymphatic systems and is typically described as follows. The perivascular space functions as a conduit that drains cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) into the brain parenchyma. CSF guided to the perivascular space around the arteries enters the interstitium of brain tissue via aquaporin-4 water channels to clear waste proteins into the perivascular space around the veins before being drained from the brain. In this review, we introduce the glymphatic system hypothesis and its association with fluid dynamics, sleep, and disease. We also discuss imaging methods to evaluate the glymphatic system.