• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.2903-2908
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• 2013

Background: Various oncogenes related to cancer have been extensively studied and several polymorphisms have been found to be associated with breast cancer. The current report outlines analysis of germ-line polymorphisms for C677T, A1298C (MTHFR), Leiden, R2 (FV) and 5G/4G (PAI-1) in Turkish breast cancer patients. We studied 51 cases diagnosed with invasive ductal and operable with lymph node-positive breast cancer and 106 women as a control group. Materials and Methods: Peripheric blood-DNA samples were used for genotyping by StripAssay technique which is based on the reverse-hybridization principle and real-time PCR methods and results were compared statistically. Results: The frequency of the MTHFR gene 677T and 1298A alleles were significantly higher in cancer patients than in the healthy subjects. The T allele frequency in codon 677 was 2.3-fold and C allele frequency was 3.1-fold increased in BC when compared to the control group for the MTHFR gene. Both differences were statistically significant (OR: 2.295, CI: 1.283-4.106), p<0.006 and (OR: 3.131, CI:1.826-5.369), p<0.0001 respectively. The R2 allele frequency of FV gene was 5.1-fold increased in the current BC when compared to the control group and that difference was also statistically significant (OR: 5.133, CI: 1.299-20.28), p<0.02. Conclusions: The present data suggest that germ-line polymorphisms of C677T, C1298A for MTHFR and R2 for FV are associated in breast cancer and may be additional prognostic markers related to breast cancer survival. The results now need to be confirmed in a larger group of patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.5489-5494
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• 2013

In the current study we aimed to show the common YMDD motif mutations in viral polymerase gene in chronic hepatitis B patients during lamivudine and adefovir therapy. Forty-one serum samples obtained from chronic hepatitis B patients (24 male, 17 female; age range: 34-68 years) were included in the study. HBV-DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood of the patients using an extraction kit (Invisorb, Instant Spin DNA/RNA Virus Mini Kit, Germany). A line probe assay and direct sequencing analyses (INNO-LIPA HBV DR v2; INNOGENETICS N.V, Ghent, Belgium) were applied to determine target mutations of the viral polymerase gene in positive HBV-DNA samples. A total of 41 mutations located in 21 different codons were detected in the current results. In 17 (41.5%) patients various point mutations were detected leading to lamivudin, adefovir and/or combined drug resistance. Wild polymerase gene profiles were detected in 24 (58.5%) HBV positive patients of the current cohort. Eight of the 17 samples (19.5%) having rtM204V/I/A missense transition and/or transversion point mutations and resistance to lamivudin. Six of the the mutated samples (14.6%) having rtL180M missense transversion mutation and resistance to combined adefovir and lamivudin. Three of the mutated samples (7.5%) having rtG215H by the double base substituation and resistance to adefovir. Three of the mutated samples (7.5%) having codon rtL181W due to the missense transversion point mutations and showed resistance to combined adefovir and lamivudin. Unreported novel point mutations were detected in the different codons of polymerase gene region in the current HBV positive cohort fromTurkish population. The current results provide evidence that rtL180M and rtM204V/I/A mutations of HBV-DNA may be associated with a poor antiviral response and HBV chronicity during conventional therapy in Turkish patients.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.80-86
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• 2007

Background: CD40-activated B (CD40-B) cells might be an attractive source of autologous antigen-presenting cells (APCs) for immunotherapy due to the convenience to obtain from peripheral blood and expand in vitro. Moreover, CD40-B cells were found to be comparable with DCs in their capacity to raise antigen-specific CD8+ T cells. Here, we have established K562 cells expressing CD40L to expand CD40-activated B cells used for APCs. Methods: After activation of B cell by K562/CD40L, CD40-B cells were examined by counting B cell numbers. Surface expression of CD54, CD80, CD86 and HLA class II was measured by flow cytometry. The CD40-B cells were tested for its function as APC by mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR) and by induction of T cell responses specific for pp65 peptide in vitro. Results: The expansion of B cells by K562/CD40L increased about 6-folds compared with anti-CD40 or K562. Furthermore, the expression of CD54, CD80, CD86 and HLA class II was up-regulated by K562/CD40L. B cells by K562/CD40L showed comparable antigen presentation activity with mature DCs as shown in MLR, INF-${\gamma}$ ELISPOT assay. Conclusion: These results suggest that K562/CD40L could be used to generate activated B cells as potent APCs which could be useful for cellular vaccination and adoptive immunotherapy.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.7-16
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• 2005

Objectives : Scrophulariae Radix (SRE) is commonly used in combination with other herbs as a nutrient and health strengthening agent, and to remove 'heat' and replenish vital essence. The water-based extract of this herb can lower blood pressure in both anesthetized and concious animals, and exhibits an anti-inflammatory activity. But, there is lack of studies regarding the effects of SRE on the immunological activities in molecular levels. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of SRE on the regulatory mechanism of cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) in Raw 264.7 cells. Method : After the treatment of Scrophulariae Radix methanol extract, cell viability was measured by MTT assay, NO production was monitored by measuring the nitrite content in culture medium. COX-2 and iNOS were determined by Immunoblot analysis, and levels of cytokine were analyzed by sandwich immunoassays. Results : Results provided evidence that SRE inhibited the production of nitrite and nitrate (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), $interleukin-1{\beta}\;(IL-1{\beta})$ and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and the activation of phospholylation of inhibitor ${\kappa}B{\alpha}\;(p-I{\kappa}B{\alpha})$ in Raw 264.7 cells activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Conclusion : These findings suggest that Scrophulariae Radix can produce anti-inflammatory effect, which may playa role in adjunctive therapy in Gram-negative bacterial infections.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.325-332
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• 2007

Cell-mediated immune response (CMI) is a major immune protective mechanism against tuberculosis (TB) infection. Among several components involved in CMI, recent studies suggest that CD8+ T cells are important in controlling TB infection. In our previous report, we defined four Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) derived epiotpe peptides specific for HLA-A*0201-restricted CD8+ T cells. These four peptides are $PstAl_{75-83}$, $ThyA_{30-38}$, $RpoB_{127-135}$ and $85B_{15-23}$. In this study, these epitope peptides specific CD8+ T cell responses in tuberculous pleurisy were investigated using ex vivo $IFN-\gamma$ elispot assay and intracellular $IFN-\gamma$ staining method. As a result, we observed these epitope peptide specific CD8+ T cell responses are induced in all three patients with tuberculous pleurisy suggesting that CD8+ T cells are involved in protective immune mechanism against MTB infection in tuberculous pleurisy. However, the CMI to mitogens and MTB antigens from pleural fluids of patients with tuberculous pleurisy does not seem to correlate with that from peripheral blood, although the sample size is too small to make any conclusion. In sum, the MHC I restricted CD8+ T cell responses seem to be induced efficiently in the pleural fluids, at the site of TB infection, in which the CMI is actively induced. In addition, these experiments suggest that MHC I restricted CD8+ T cell mediated immune responses are also involved in protective mechanism against MTB infection in extra-pulmonary TB.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.32-44
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• 2004

Objectives : This study was undertaken to prove the effect of GSHT on the glutamate receptor, free radical and brain damage in rats subjected to brain ischemia Methods : Levels of cultured cortical neuron death caused by toxic chemicals were measured by LDH release assay. Neuroprotective effects of GSHT on brain tissues were examined in vivo by ischemic model of middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion. Results : GSHT showed significant inhibitory effect on LDH release induced by NMDA-kinate-Fe/sup 2+/. GSHT remarkably decreased coma duration time in a nonfatal dose of KCN and showed higher survival rate in a fatal dose. GSHT remarkably decreased ischemic area and edema induced by the MCA blood flow block. GSHT showed high improvement of forelimb and hind limb test after MCA occlusion in neurological examination. GSHT showed no significant change after MCA occlusion in pathological observation of the normal group. Conclusions : These results indicate that GSHT can be used to treat the brain damage caused by brain ischemia. Further study will be needed about the functional mechanism, etc.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.219-240
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• 2006

Objective : This experimental study was designed to determine the anti-obestic effects of Bangpoongtongsungcankamibang(BTSK). Method : In vitro, BTSK extracts of various concentration (50,100, 200 $200{\mu}g/ml$)were added examination. The protein and mRNA expression of $C/EBP{\alpha}$ and $PPAR{\gamma}$ receptor was measured by western blot assay and RT-PCR. In vivo, BTSK extracts of various concentration (100, $200{\mu}g/ml$) were orally administered to induced hyperlipidemic rats by poloxamer-407 for consecutive four weeks and serum triglyceride, total cholesterol were measured. This method applied to induced hyperlipidemic rats by triton WR-1339, too. Obesity induced rats by the high fat-diet for six weeks were orally administered BTSK extracts of various concentration (100, $200{\mu}g/ml$) and serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, hydroxy radical, superoxide dismuatse activity were measured. Results : I. In vitro 1. The 3T3-L1 cells' differentiation was significantly decreased by BTSK. 2. expression of $C/EBP{\alpha}$ and $PPAR{\gamma}$ was was significantly decreased by BTSK. II. In vitro 1. BTSK significantly reduced serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, contents in poloxamer-407 treated rat. 2. BTSK significantly reduced serum triglyceride, contents in Triton WR-1339 treated rat. But Total cholesterol did not show a significant change. 3. BTSK significantly reduced body weight gain of rat and adipose tissue mass of rats and serum triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, contents and significantly increased HDL-cholesterol, HTR(HDL-cholesterol/Total-cholesterol) in rats with obesity induced by the high fat-diet. 4. BTSK reduced blood lipid peroxide, hydroxy radical and increased superoxied dismuatse(SOD) activity.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.139-145
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• 2002

Hen egg-white lysozyme, ovalbumin, egg-yolk phosvitin, acid-precipitated soy protein and $\alpha$$_{sl}$ milk casein were covalently linked with galactomannan through a controlled dry-heating at 6$0^{\circ}C$ under 79% relative humidity without any chemical reagent. Neoglycosylation by the covalent binding of polysaccharide chains brought a significant improvement into the surface functionalities of food proteins. Excellent emulsifying properties and foaming properties were observed in all protein-galactomannan conjugates. Bacterial mutagenesis tests and animal dose test were done to evaluate the food safety of the protein-galactomannan conjugates. The neo-glycoproteins were negative for Ames test using Salmonella typhimurium TA100 (hisG46) and TA98 (hisD3052) strains, and rec-assay using Bacillus subtilis Hl7 (rec) and M45 (re $c^{+}$) strains. All substances were also nontoxic for oral administration to rats. L $D_{50}$ 's of these substances were all more than 7.5 g/kg body-weight of rat. No effect was also observed in the weight increases and the concentrations of total cholesterol, triglyceride and phospholipids in blood serum of the administrated rats with 7.5 g/kg conjugates. Thus, Maillard-type protein-polysaccharide conjugates prepared by covalent attachment of galactomannan to food proteins were proposed to be useful as a safe functional biopolymer in this study.y.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.311-317
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• 1999

Human T-cell leukemia virus Type-I (HTLV-I) is etiologically associated with rare adult T-cell leukemia, a malignant T-cell disorder. cDNAs encoding p24 (gag), gp21(env), and pXII of HTLV-I were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the genomic DNA extracted from HUT102 cell line as a template. The amplified cDNAs were cloned into the Escherichia coli expression vectors and over-expression of the recombinant proteins were achieved by adding IPTG into the culture media in order to induce the promoter. The molecular weights of the recombinant p24, gp21, and pXII, determined by SDS-PAGE, were found to be approximately 28 kDa, 23 kDa, and 15 kDa, respectively. Reactivity of the recombinant proteins with human sera was tested by the immunoblot assay. The gp21 and p24 reacted against the sera obtained from HTLV-I-infected individuals but not against the sera obtained from normal persons. These results suggest that the recombinant proteins expressed in E. coli were recognized by antibodies in sera from HTLV-I infected patients. These recombinant proteins would be applicable for detecting the presence of antibodies against HTLV-I in human blood samples.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.5 no.5
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• pp.423-431
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• 2001

Some recent investigations revealed that vasodilatory action of adenosine is mainly not mediated by surface A2 receptor and suggested the existence of an intracellular action site. In the present study, we tried to differentiate intracellular from extracellular site of adenosine action in the regulation of coronary flow. In perfused rabbit hearts, concentration-response curve of coronary flow to exogenous adenosine was constructed in the presence or absence of dipyridamole, an inhibitor of transmembrane purine transport. Inhibition of cellular adenosine uptake by dipyridamole suppressed the increase of flow rate while enhancing the decrease in heart rate induced by exogenous adenosine. In another series of experiments, perfused rabbit hearts were subjected to energy deprivation in order to increase the production of endogenous adenosine. Energy deprivation along with dipyridamole administration resulted in higher coronary flow rate. Lower perfusate adenosine concentration was observed along with higher tissue adenosine content in this group. These results implied that coronary flow rate is determined not by interstitial adenosine concentration but by intracellular activity of adenosine. To confirm the effects of dypiridamole in vivo, direct measurement of interstitial adenosine concentration by mycrodialysis along with the assay of intracellular adenosine content was performed after intranenous dipyridamole administration. After dipyridamole infusion, intracellular adenosine content was markedly increased while interstitial adenosine concentration was not altered. In another series of experiments, the right shift of concentration-response curve of adenosine-induced vasodilation by 8-phenyltheophilline, a representative adenosine receptor antagonist, was mostly abolished by prior administration of prazosin, indicating that the influence of 8-PT on the adenosine action is not attributed to the inhibition of A2 receptor but related to the suppression of ${\alpha}-adrenoceptor$ activation. From these results, we concluded that adenosine acts intracellularly to regulate the coronary blood flow.