• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.138-146
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• 2023

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan parasite which can infect most warm-blooded animals and humans. Among the different mouse models, C57BL/6 mice are more susceptible to T. gondii infection compared to BALB/c mice, and this increased susceptibility has been attributed to various factors, including T-cell responses. Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most prominent type of antigen-presenting cells and regulate the host immune response, including the response of T-cells. However, differences in the DC responses of these mouse strains to T. gondii infection have yet to be characterized. In this study, we cultured bone marrow-derived DCs (BMDCs) from BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice. These cells were infected with T. gondii. The activation of the BMDCs was assessed based on the expression of cell surface markers and cytokines. In the BMDCs of both mouse strains, we detected significant increases in the expression of cell surface T-cell co-stimulatory molecules (major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II, CD40, CD80, and CD86) and cytokines (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-12p40, IL-1β, and IL-10) from 3 h post-T. gondii infection. The expression of MHC II, CD40, CD80, CD86, IFN-γ, IL-12p40, and IL-1β was significantly higher in the T. gondii-infected BMDCs obtained from the C57BL/6 mice than in those from the BALB/c mice. These findings indicate that differences in the activation status of the BMDCs in the BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice may account for their differential susceptibility to T. gondii.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Embryo Transfer Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.85-85
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• 2002

Pregnancy block by male pheromones in mice differs in incidence depending on the combination of strains. Female mice of BALB/cA strain mated with BALB/cA males show a 100% pregnancy block when exposed to males of inbred strain DDK shortly after copulation (Chung et al., Biol Reprod 1997). In the present study, BALB/cA females mated with the males of other strains (CBA/J, C3H/HeN, C57BL/6Cr, and IXBL) showed higher pregnancy rates (66.6-87.5%) even when they were exposed to DDK males. In the pharmacological induction of pregnancy block with dopamine agonist (Bromocriptine, 4mg/kg BW), BALB/cA females mated with BALB/cA males showed a 100% pregnancy block. In contrast, BALB/cA females mated with CBA/J, C3H/HeN, and C57BL/6Cr males showed higher pregnancy rates (40-70%). These results suggest that the better pregnancy rate of BALB/cA females mated with alien males may be due to the stronger viability of F 1 embryos. This interpretation was confirmed by an embryo transfer experiment in which a higher implantation rate was observed when BALB/cA embryos grown in BALB/cA females exposed to BALB/cA males were transferred into recipient BALB/cA females exposed to DDK males. These results suggest that the embryonic genotype or viability of the embryo is one factor contributing to the occurrence of pregnancy block by male pheromones in mice.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.44 no.1 s.137
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• pp.55-61
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• 2006

For treating Leishmania major infection in BALB/c mice, we used thalidomide in conjunction with glucantime. Groups of mice were challenged with $5{\time}10^3$ metacyclic promastigotes of L. major subcutaneously. A week after the challenge, drug treatment was started and continued for 12 days. Thalidomide was orally administrated 30 mg/kg/day and glucantime was administrated intraperitoneally (200 mg/kg/day). It was shown that the combined therapy is more effective than single therapies with each one of the drugs since the foot pad swelling in the group of mice received thalidomide and glucantime was significantly decreased (0.9 :t 0.2 mm) compared to mice treated with either glucantime, thalidomide, or carrier alone (1.2 :t 0.25, 1.4 :t 0.3, and 1.7 :t 0.27 mm, respectively). Cytokine study showed that the effect of thalidomide was not dependent on IL-12; however, it up-regulated IFN-yand down-regulated IL-10 production. Conclusively, thalidomide seems promising as a conjunctive therapy with antimony in murine model of visceral leishmaniasis.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1481-1486
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• 2009

The immunomodulating effect of Salicornia herbacea polysaccharides on BALB/c mice splenocytes was investigated. Crude (CS) and fine polysaccharide (PS) extracts with potential biological activity were prepared from S. herbacea. For in vitro experiments, splenocytes and separated T cells were treated with CS and PS (0.5, 1, 2, and 4 mg/mL). For in vivo experiments, the CS and PS were orally administered to BALB/c mice every day for 2 weeks. For basic data analysis, physiological parameters were recorded. Cell proliferation of splenocytes and T cells was used as an index for immunomodulating activity. The proliferation of splenocytes and separated T cells was 3.2 and 3.5 times higher than the control, respectively. Moreover, when splenocytes were treated with mitogen, the highest proliferation rate was observed in splenocytes cultured with PS. Interestingly, the stimulative activity of PS was more strongly exerted through $CD4^+$ T cells than through $CD8^+$ T cells.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.2 s.32
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• pp.303-310
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• 1996

The purpose of this study was to investigate effect of water extract of Carthami Flos on the proliferation of human cancer cell-lines. The effects of Carthami Flos on the proliferation of A431, HeLa, MOLT-4, K562 cells, Balb／c 3T3 cells, mouse thymocytes, splenocytes and human lymphocytes were estimated by MTT colorimetric assay. The results were as follows; 1. Carthami Flos did not effect A431, HeLa, MOLT-4, K562 cells. 2. The cytotoxicity of mitomycin C on K562 cells was increased by the combination of Carthami Flos. 3. Carthami Flos inhibited the proliferation of Balb／c 3T3 cells. 4. Carthami Flos stimulated the proliferation of thymocytes. 5. Carthami Flos stimulated the proliferation of splenocytes. 6. Carthami Flos stimulated the proliferation of human lymphocytes.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.499-499
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• 1997

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Gleditsiae Spina on the pro life-ration of human cancer cell-lines. The effects of Gleditsiae Spina on the proliferation of A431, HeLa. MOLT-4, K562 cells, Balb/c 3T3 cells, mouse thymocytes, splenocytes and human lymphocytes were estimated by MTT colorimetric assay. The results were as follows; 1. Gleditsiae Spina increased the proliferation of HeLa, MOLT-4 and K562 cells. 2. The cytotoxicity of mitomycin C on K562 cells was increased by the combination of Gleditsiae Spina. 3. Gleditsiae Spina did not effect the proliferation of Balb/c 3T3 cells. 4. Gleditsiae Spina stimulated the proliferation of thymocytes. 5. Gleditsiae Spina stimulated the proliferation of splenocytes. 6. Gleditsiae Spina stimulated the proliferation of human lymphocytes.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.231-241
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• 1997

The purpose of this research was to investigate effect of water extract of Euphorbiae Pekinensis Radix and Moutan Cortex Radicis on the proliferation of human cancer cell-lines. The effects of Euphorbiae Pekinensis Radix and Moutan Cortex Radicis on the proliferation of A431, HeLa, MOLT-4, K562 cells, Balb/c 3T3 cells, mouse thymocytes, splenocytes and human lymphocytes were estimated by MTT colorimetric assay. The results were as follows; 1. In proliferation of A431, HeLa, MOLT-4 and K562 cell-lines, Euphorbiae Pekinensis Radix and Moutan Cortex Radicis inhibited the proliferation of K562 cells. 2. In the combined effect of Euphorbiae Pekinensis Radix and mitomycin C, Moutan Cortex Radicis and mitomycin C, all herbs stimulated the proliferation of MOL T-4 cells. 3. Euphorbiae Pekinensis Radix and Moutan Cortex Radicis did not inhibited the proliferation of Balb/c 3T3 cells. 4. Euphorbiae Pekinensis Radix and Moutan Cortex Radicis stimulated the proliferation of mouse thymocytes. 5. Euphorbiae Pekinensis Radix and Moutan Cortex Radicis stimulated the proliferation of mouse splenocytes. 6. Euphorbiae Pekinensis Radix and Moutan Cortex Radicis stimulated the proliferation of human lymphocytes.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.12
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• pp.3715-3721
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• 2013

In this study, the behavior of cells on the modified surface, and the correlation between the modified substrates and the response of cells is described. A close-packed layer of nano-sized silica beads was prepared on a coverslip, and the adhesion, proliferation, and migration of BALB/3T3 fibroblast cells on the silica layer was monitered. The 550 nm silica beads were synthesized by the hydrolysis and condensation reaction of tetraethylorthosilicate in basic solution. The amine groups were introduced onto the surfaces of silica particles by treatment with 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane. The close-packed layer of silica beads on the coverslip was obtained by the reaction of the amine-functionalized silica beads and the (3-triethoxysilyl)propylsuccinic anhydride treated coverslip. BALB/3T3 fibroblast cells were loaded on bare glass, APTMS coated glass, and silica bead coated glass with the same initial cell density, and the migration and proliferation of cells on the substrates was investigated. The cells were fixed and stained with antibodies in order to analyze the changes in the actin filaments and nuclei after culture on the different surfaces. The motility of cells on the silica bead coated glass was greater than that of the cells cultured on the control substrate. The growth rate of cells on the silica bead coated glass was slower than that of the control. Because the close-packed layer of silica beads gave an embossed surface, the adhesion of cells was very weak compared to the smooth surfaces. These results indicate that the adhesion of cells on the substrates is very important, and the actin filaments might play key roles in the migration and proliferation of cells. The nuclei of the cells were shrunk on the weakly adhered surfaces, and the S1 stage in which DNA is duplicated in the cell dividing processes might be retarded. As a result, the rate of proliferation of cells was decreased compared to the smooth surface of the control. In conclusion, the results described here are very important in the understanding of the interaction between implanted materials and biosystems.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.223-229
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• 2012

In this study, we investigated the biological damage and stress responses induced by ion beam (proton beam) irradiation as a basis for the development of protective measures against space radiation. We examined the biological effects of proton beam produced by MC-50 cyclotron at KIRAMS on the cultured cells and mice. The proton beam energy used in this study was 34.9 MeV and the absorption dose rate for cells and mice were $0.509Gy\;sec^{-1}$ and $0.65Gy\;sec^{-1}$, respectively. The cell survival rates measured by plating efficiency showed the different sensitivity and dose-relationship between CHO cells and Balb/3T3 cells. HGPRT gene mutation frequency in Balb/3T3 was $15{\times}10^{-6}Gy^{-1}$, which was similar to the reported value of X-ray. When stress signaling proteins were examined in Balb/3T3 cells, $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$ decreased markedly whereas p53, phospho-p53, and Rb increased after proton beam irradiation, which implied that the stress signaling pathways were activated by proton beam irradiation. In addition, cellular senescence was induced in IMR-90 cells. In the experiments with C57BL/6 mouse, the immune cells (white blood cells, lymphocytes) in the peripheral blood were greatly reduced following proton beam irradiation whereas red blood cells and platelets showed relatively little change. These results can be utilized as basic data for studying the biological effects of proton beam using MC-50 cyclotron with respect to proton therapy research as well as space radiation research.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.139-143
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• 2015

In the present study, we investigated the oral toxicity of Amomum tsao-ko Crevost et Lemaire, (Zingiberaceae) extract in Balb/c mice (BALB, n=60) for 3 weeks. Balb/c mice (10 mice/group, 6 group, $20{\pm}2g$, 6 weeks) were orally administered for 21 days, with dosage of 250, 500, 1000, 2000 mg/kg/day. Ethanol extract of A. tsao-ko did not affect any significant change of mortality, clinical signs, organs and body weights. Also, there were not significantly difference from the naive group (control) in hematological and serum biochemical examination. Consequently, these findings indicate that 3-week treatment with the ethanol extract of A. tsao-ko was not any toxic effects in Balb/c mice and the no-observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) for oral toxicity was determined to be 2000 mg/kg/day under our experimental conditions.