• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.154-160
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• 2019

Background: Compound K (CK) is an active metabolite of ginseng saponin, ginsenoside Rb1, that has been shown to have ameliorative properties in various diseases. However, its role in inflammation and the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. In this report, the antiinflammatory role of CK was investigated in macrophage-like cells. Methods: The CK-mediated antiinflammatory mechanism was explored in RAW264.7 and HEK293 cells that were activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or exhibited overexpression of known activation proteins. The mRNA levels of inflammatory genes and the activation levels of target proteins were identified by quantitative and semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. Results: CK significantly inhibited the mRNA expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ and morphological changes in LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells under noncytotoxic concentrations. CK downregulated the phosphorylation of AKT1, but not AKT2, in LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells. Similarly, CK reduced the AKT1 overexpression-induced expression of aldehyde oxidase 1, interleukin-$1{\beta}$, interferon-${\beta}$, and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: Our results suggest that CK plays an antiinflammatory role during macrophage-mediated inflammatory actions by specifically targeting the AKT1-mediated signaling pathway.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.460-474
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• 2019

Background: Ginsenoside compound K (CK) is a promising drug candidate for rheumatoid arthritis. This study examined the impact of polymorphisms in NR1I2, adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette (ABC) transporter genes on the pharmacokinetics of CK in healthy Chinese individuals. Methods: Forty-two targeted variants in seven genes were genotyped in 54 participants using Sequenom MassARRAY system to investigate their association with major pharmacokinetic parameters of CK and its metabolite 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD). Subsequently, molecular docking was simulated using the AutoDock Vina program. Results: ABCC4 rs1751034 TT and rs1189437 TT were associated with increased exposure of CK and decreased exposure of 20(S)-PPD, whereas CFTR rs4148688 heterozygous carriers had the lowest maximum concentration ($C_{max}$) of CK. The area under the curve from zero to the time of the last quantifiable concentration ($AUC_{last}$) of CK was decreased in NR1I2 rs1464602 and rs2472682 homozygous carriers, while $C_{max}$ was significantly reduced only in rs2472682. ABCC4 rs1151471 and CFTR rs2283054 influenced the pharmacokinetics of 20(S)-PPD. In addition, several variations in ABCC2, ABCC4, CFTR, and NR1I2 had minor effects on the pharmacokinetics of CK. Quality of the best homology model of multidrug resistance protein 4 (MRP4) was assessed, and the ligand interaction plot showed the mode of interaction of CK with different MRP4 residues. Conlusion: ABCC4 rs1751034 and rs1189437 affected the pharmacokinetics of both CK and 20(S)-PPD. NR1I2 rs1464602 and rs2472682 were only associated with the pharmacokinetics of CK. Thus, these hereditary variances could partly explain the interindividual differences in the pharmacokinetics of CK.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.201-208
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• 2014

The separation of the bacteria inhibiting Trichoderma sp. mold, the strain causing blue mold disease that occurs frequently when cultivating mushroom while carrying out the efficient fermentation of mushroom medium, from the growth was done. In about 200 strains isolated primarily from fungus garden samples, 6 strains were secondly isolated, which had fast growth rates and a clear zone on the plate medium of SM, AM, and CM. Among the 6 strains isolated, the C-1 strain showed high enzymatic activity of cellulase, amylase, and protease, and strong antibacterial activity for the T. virens and T. harzianum, selected finally. The selected C-1 strain was identified as Paenibacillus polymyxaby the result of the identification by Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology and the analysis of the nucleotide sequence of 16S rRNA, and named as P. polymyxa CK-1. In reviewing the growth conditions of the P. polymyxa CK-1 strain, the optimum cultivation temperature was $45^{\circ}C$, and the optimum pH for growth was in the range of 6.0~7.0. Appropriate incubation time of P. polymyxa CK-1 for the growth inhibition of the fungus T. virens and T. harzianum was 22 to 36 hours. And the fungal growth was not observed, even when leaving two molds inoculated on each petri dishes, which were treated with 24 hour culture solution of P. polymyxa CK-1 strain for 10 days. As a result of studying the thermal stability of the antagonists produced by the P. polymyxa CK-1 strain, no mycelial growth of the two fungi was observed in the test group treated for 20 minutes at $60^{\circ}C$ and $100^{\circ}C$, but mycelial growth was slightly observed in the test group treated for 20 minutes at $121^{\circ}C$. As aresult of reviewing the impact of the P. polymyxa CK-1 culture medium on mushroom mycelial growth, it showed no effect on a variety of mushroom mycelial growth including enoki mushroom and shiitake mushroom.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.1041-1048
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• 2009

The development of skin metastasis is usually a morbid prognostic feature although they occur infrequently. Adenocarcinomas account for up to about 70% of all metastatic skin cancer. In general, adenocarcinomas are the most difficult metastatic tumor to accurately identify the primary site because they don't have distinctive histological features. For this reason, immunohistochemistry have been used to help identify the origin of metastatic adenocarcinomas. This study performed immunohistochemical staining with metastatic adenocarcinomas of the skin using a variety of antisera to find out characteristic immunohistochemical findings of them. This study was made upon the 29 cases of metastatic adenocarcinomas of the skin, which had been confirmed histopathologically in Chonbuk National University Hospital from January, 1986 to April, 2006, Paraffin blocks were colledted and homemade tissue arrays were made. We performed immunohistochemical staning using 12 antibodies (MUC1, 2, 5AC, 6, cytokeratin (CK) 7, 20, thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1), estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), beta-catenin, cox-2, claudin-1). The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 60.7 years and the male to female ratio was 1.2:1.0. The most common primary site was lung, followed by stomach and colorectum. MUC1 was expressed by most colorectal, breast and lung adenocarcinoma. MUC2 was expressed infrequently. MUCSAC was expressed by most gastric and colorectal cancer MUC6 was not specific of any primary site in this series. CK7+/CK20+immunophenotype was observed in gastric, lung, colorectal adenocarcinoma. CK7+/CK20- immunophenotype was observed in breast, lung, endometrial, uterine cervical, bile duct adenocarcinoma, while CK7-/CK20+ immunophenotype was observed only in colorectal adenocarcinoma. This results show the utility of TTF-1 to confirm the pulmonary origin. On the other hand ER and PR were not useful markers to assess the origin of primary tumor in this series.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.7
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• pp.896-902
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• 2017

In this study, we investigated citrus Kombucha (CK) produced by three different bacteria strains (Gluconacetobacter xylinus, Gluconacetobacter medellinensis, and Gluconobacter oxydans; named as CK-MOX) identified from traditional Kombucha. During fermentation, the pH level of CK-MOX was gradually reduced, and total acidity slightly increased. Antioxidant activity, measured by DPPH, ABTS, and oxygen radical absorbance capacity assays, markedly increased after fermentation. Moreover, fermented CK-MOX (Day15) exhibited anti-proliferative and anti-migratory activities against EJ human bladder carcinoma cells. Western immunoblot assays showed that treatment with CK-MOX significantly up-regulated phospho-extracellular signaling kinase (ERK) levels. To distinguish whether or not up-regulation of phospho-ERK is the cause or effect, we investigated the viability of EJ cells in the presence of U0126, a mitogen activated protein kinase/ERK kinase 1/2 inhibitor. Pre-treatment with U0126 rescued cells from CK-MOX-induced cell death, which indicates phospho-ERK may be a key regulator in the mechanism of CK-MOX-induced apoptosis of EJ bladder cancer cells. In conclusion, CK-MOX, fermented by a defined composition of bacterial starters, shows antioxidant capacity and anti-cancer activity against EJ bladder cancer cells.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.268-277
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• 2009

Ginsenosides are among the most well-known traditional herbal medicines frequently used for the treatment of cardiovascular symptoms in South Korea. The anti-ischemic effects of compound K (CK), a metabolite of ginsenoside Rb1, on ischemia-induced isolated rat hearts were investigated through the analyses of the changes in the hemodynamics (blood pressure, aortic flow, coronary flow, and cardiac output) and the measurement of the infarct region. The subjects in this study were divided into four groups: the normal control, the CK-alone group, the ischemia-induced group without any treatment, and the ischemia-induced group treated with CK. No significant differences in perfusion pressure, aortic flow, coronary flow, and cardiac output were found between the groups before ischemia was induced. The oxygen and buffer supply was stopped for 30 min to induce ischemia 60 min after reperfusion in the isolated rat hearts, and the CK was administered 5 min before ischemia induction. The CK treatment significantly prevented decreases in perfusion pressure, aortic flow, coronary flow, and cardiac output under ischemic conditions. In addition, the hemodynamics (except for the heart rate) of the group treated with CK significantly recovered 60 min after reperfusion, unlike in the control group. CK significantly limited the infarct. These results suggest that CK treatment has distinct anti-ischemic effects in an exvivo model of an ischemia-reperfusion-induced rat heart.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.8
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• pp.620-627
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• 2014

We have previously shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) miR-760, miR-186, miR-337-3p, and miR-216b stimulate premature senescence through protein kinase CK2 (CK2) downregulation in human colon cancer cells. Here, we examined whether these four miRNAs are involved in the replicative senescence of human lung fibroblast IMR-90 cells. miR-760 and miR-186 were significantly upregulated in replicatively senescent IMR-90 cells, and their joint action with both miR-337-3p and miR-216b was necessary for efficient downregulation of the ${\alpha}$ subunit of CK2 ($CK2{\alpha}$) in IMR-90 cells. A mutation in any of the four miRNA-binding sequences within the $CK2{\alpha}3^{\prime}$-untranslated region (UTR) indicated that all four miRNAs should simultaneously bind to the target sites for $CK2{\alpha}$ downregulation. The four miRNAs increased senescence-associated ${\beta}$-galactosidase (SA-${\beta}$-gal) staining, p53 and $p21^{Cip1/WAF1}$ expression, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in proliferating IMR-90 cells. $CK2{\alpha}$ overexpression almost abolished this event. Taken together, the present results suggest that the upregulation of miR-760 and miR-186 is associated with replicative senescence in human lung fibroblast cells, and their cooperative action with miR-337-3p and miR-216b may induce replicative senescence through $CK2{\alpha}$ downregulation-dependent ROS generation.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.78-84
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• 2012

Objectives: Odontogenic keratocysts (OKCs) have a tendency to recur and possess an aggressive nature. the aim of the present study was to evaluate cytokeratin (CK) expression patterns as a method for the differentiation between dentigerous cysts (DCs) and OKCs, as their histomorphologic appearance are often indistinguishable. Materials and Methods: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections of 43 OKCs and 38 DCs were immunohistochemically analyzed with i-solution in a quantitative manner in order to evaluate the immunoreactivity of CK 10, 16 and 17. Results: CK 10 expression was evident in 79.1% of OKCs but found in only 18.4% of DCs (P<0.05), and CK 10 expression was observed to occur more frequently in OKCs (mean 25.45%) than in DCs (2.19%) (P<0.05). The expression of CK 16 was evident in 79.1% of OKCs but found in only 7.9% of the DCs (P<0.05) and CK 16 expression was observed to occur more frequently in OKCs (mean 4.33%) than in the DCs (0.61%) (P<0.05). The expression of CK 17 was evident in 88.4% of OKCs but seen in only 15.7% of the DCs (P<0.05) and CK 17 expression was observed to occur more frequently in OKCs (mean 31.11%) than in the DCs (2.37%) (P<0.05). Conclusion: The immunohistochemical detection of CK 10, 16 and 17 can be utilized as a valuable biomarker for use in distinguishing between OKCs and DCs, which have clinically significant differential diagnoses.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.20 no.2 s.91
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• pp.116-122
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• 2005

The feasibility of using bacterial cultures with the ultimate aim for the marine environmental clean-up was explored. The present study reports on the bacterial elimination of nitrogens and phosphorus by strains CK-10 and CK-13 isolated from shrimp farming pond. The strains were identified as genus Bacillus on the basis of BIOLOG test, and designated as Bacillus sp. CK-10 and Bacillus sp. CK-13, respectively. Removal of nitrogens $(NH_4^+,\;NO_2^-,\;or\;NO_3^-)$ or phosphorus $(PO_4^{-3})$ as single N or P source was studied with single cultures under aerobic conditions. Complete elimination of all nitrogens in the concentration range of $100-400{\mu}M$ was achieved in single cultures as well as co-cultures within the given incubation period. Similar results were obtained from the test cultures containing $125-599{\mu}M\;PO_4^{3-}$. Simultaneous removal of all N/P was monitored in the co-cultures. As the results, $400{\mu}M\;NH_4^+\;and\;NO_2^-$ were eliminated within 12hrs and $400{\mu}M\;NO_3^-\;and\;500{\mu}M\;PO_4^{-3}$ were completely disappeared within 36 hrs from the media. The work demonstrated that co-cultures improved the concurrent removal of N/P from the media.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.79-85
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• 2007

Compound K (CK) is a final metabolite of panaxadiol ginsenosides. Although panax ginseng is known to have anti-diabetic activity, the active ingredient is not yet fully identified. Therefore, it would be interesting to know whether and how CK has an anti-diabetic activity. First, insulin secretion-stimulating activity of CK was examined using RIN-m5F cell line and primary cultured islets. CK enhanced the insulin secretion in a concentration dependent manner. This effect, however, was almost completely abolished in the presence of diazoxide, $K^+$ channel opener, indicating that the insulin secretion-stimulating activity of CK is presumably due to blockade of ATP sensitive $K^+$ channel. In addition, effects of CK on gene expressions of hepatic enzymes (phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase[PEPCK], glucose-6-phos-phatase[G6Pase]) and on adipocyte differentiation in H4IIE and 3T3-Ll cells, respectively, were examined. CK suppressed the induction of PEPCK and G6Pase mRNA expressions under the dexamethasone/cAMP stimulation condition. CK also reduced the $PPAR-{\gamma}$ mRNA expression and triglyceride accumulation in a dose dependent manner as compared to the control. The present study suggests that CK deserves to examine whether it shows an anti-diabetic activity in animal and human studies.