• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.125-131
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• 2003

Physiological activities of hot water extracts of 10 commercial instant curry powders and 6 spices, were investigated. All spice extracts except ginger showed significant antioxidant activities on the autoxidation of linoleic curry acid (p＜0.01). Antioxidant activities of clove and fennel were significantly higher than ${\alpha}-tocopherol$, instant curry powders, and other spices, Red pepper $(52.8{\pm}2.13%)$, clove, and coriander showed significant inhibitory activities against angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (p＜0.001). Cytotoxic effects of instant curry powder and spices against human cancer cell lines were examined through MTT assay. Black pepper $(29.31{\pm}2.21%\;cytotoxic\;rate)$ and cardamon $(19.41{\pm}3.92%)$ were effective against MCF-7 (p＜0.01), Clove $(42.92{\pm}5.57%)$ against HeLa (p＜0.01). Ginger $(34.21{\pm}1.11%)$, cardamon, and black pepper against A172 (p＜0.001), garlic $(82.88{\pm}0.53%)$ against SN12C (p＜0.001), garlic $(71.63{\pm}0.38%)$, red pepper, ginger, fenugreek, SPC, cumin, and MPC against SNU-638 (p＜0.001), and cassia $(82.84{\pm}16.92%)$ against A549 (p＜0.001).

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.352-367
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• 1998

Intracellular pH (pHi) plays an important role in the regulation of cellular processes by influencing the acitivity of various enzymes in cells. Therefore, almost every type of mammalian cell possesses an ability to regulate its pHi. One of the most prominent mechanisms in the regulation of pHi is $Na^+/H^+$ exchanger. This exchanger has been known to be activated when cells are stimulated by the binding of agonist to the muscarinic receptors. Therefore, the aims of this study were to compare the rates of $H^+$ extrusion through $Na^+/H^+$ exchanger before and during muscarinic stimulation and to investigate the possible existence of $HCO_3^-$ transporter which is responsible for the continuous supply of $HCO_3^-$ ion to saliva. Acinar cells were isolated from the rat mandibular salivary glands and loaded with pH-sensitive fluoroprobe, 2', 7'-bis(2-carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein(BCECF), for 30min at room temperature. Cells were attached onto the coverglass in the perfusion chamber and the changes in pHi were measured on the iverted microscope using spectrofluorometer. 1. By switching the perfusate from $HCO_3^-$-free to $HCO_3^-$-buffered solution, pHi decreased by $0.39{\pm}0.02$ pH units followed by a slow increase at an initial rate of $0.04{\pm}0.007$ pH units/min. The rate of pHi increase was reduced to $0.01{\pm}0.002$ pH units/min by the simultaneous addition of 1 mM amiloride and $100{\mu}M$ DIDS. 2. An addition and removal of $NH_4^+$ caused a decrease in pHi which was followed by an increase in pHi. The increase of pHi was almost completely blocked by 1mM amiloride in $HCO_3^-$-free perfusate which implied that the pHi increase was entired dependent on the activation of $Na^+/H^+$ exchanger in $HCO_3^-$-free condition. 3. An addition of $10{\mu}M$ carbachol increased the initial rate of pHi recovery from $0.16{\pm}0.01$ pH units/min to $0.28{\pm}0.03pH$ units/min. 4. The initial rate of pHi decrease induced by 1mM amiloride was also increased by the exposure of the acinar cells to $10{\mu}M$ carbachol ($0.06{\pm}0.008pH$ unit/min) compared with that obtained before carbachol stimulation ($0.03{\pm}0.004pH$ unit/min). 5. The intracellular buffering capacity ${\beta}1$ was $14.31{\pm}1.82$ at pHi 7.2-7.4 and ${\beta}1$ increased as pHi decreased. 6. The rate of $H^+$ extrusion through $Na^+/H^+$ exchanger was greatly enhanced by the stimulation of the cells with $10{\mu}M$ carbachol and there was an alkaline shift in the activity of the exchanger. 7. An intrusion mechanism of $HCO_3^-$ was identified in rat mandibular salivary acinar cells. Taken all together, I observed 3-fold increase in $Na^+/H^+$ exchanger by the stimulation of the acinar cells with $10{\mu}M$ carbachol at pH 7.25. In addition, I have found an additional mechanism for the regulation of pHi which transported $HCO_3^-$ into the cells.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.775-785
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• 1999

Background : The herbicide paraquat can cause severe lung injury and fibrosis in experimental animals. In this study we have investigated the changes in lung endothelin-1(Et-1) levels and immunohistochemical localization in relation to treatment with cyclophosphamide and methylprednisolone in paraquat induced pulmonary fibrosis in guinea pigs. Material and methods : 29 male Hartley guinea pigs were divided into 4 groups. Group I was normal control. Paraquat was instilled into the lung of guinea pig of group II, III and IV unilaterally. Group II was treated with cyclophosphamide and methylprednisolone. Group III was treated with methlprednisolone. Group IV was not treated. The degree of fibrosis was evaluated by H-E stains and Masson's trichrome stains and cell activity was assessed by Et-1 immunohistochemical stains. Statistical evaluation was performed using the Kruskawallis oneway analysis. Results : Paraquat induced an increase in numbers of fibroblasts and total amount of lung collagen in Group IV compared to the normal controls. There was no significant difference in total numbers of fibroblasts between any of paraquat instilled groups, but there was significant increase in total amount of collagen in Group IV compared to group II and III (p<0.05). The treatment of cyclophosphamide and methyprednisolone suppressed the growths of both fibroblasts and collagen, but this suppression was stastically significant only in the case of collagen Et-1 immunoreactivities of bronchial epithelium, type II pneumocytes, endothelial cells and fibroblast in group II and III were decreased compared to those in group IV. Conclusion : These results demonstrate that Et-1 is an important contributing factor in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. Et-1 is synthesized and released by bronchial epithelium, Type II pneumocyte, endothelial cells, alveolar macrophages and fibroblasts. Especially they are associated with alveolar macrophage and fibroblasts. We conclude that combined therapy of cyclophosphamide and methylprednisolone are more effective in the control of Et-1 expression and collagen deposition.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 1999

Background : A sizable percentage of tuberculous pleurisy patients are known to have residual pleural thickening(RPT) despite adequate anti-tuberculous chemotherapy. But, the predictive factors related to the development of RPT is not well known. Therefore, we studied to determine which factors are related to the development of RPT after completion of therapy. Methods: By retrospective review of medical records, fifty-eight patients initially diagnosed as having tuberculous pleurisy between March 1995 and January 1998 were separated into two groups : 27 patients in group 1 had RPT on simple chest radiography, while 31 patients in group 2 had no RPT after 6 month of anti-tuberculous chemotherapy. The clinical characteristics, radiologic findings and pleural fluid findings of the two group were compared at the time of diagnosis and during the course of therapy. Results: 47% of patients had RPT after 6 month of chemotherapy, and RPT was more common in man than in women(54% vs 29%, p=0.092). In group 2 patients, complete resorption of pleural lesion occurred rather late stage of therapy(1-2 month: 26%, 3-4 month: 29%, 5-6 month: 45%). Group 1 patients had increased percentage of loculated pleural lesion(26 % vs 19%) and increased white blood cell and lymphocyte count, lactate dehydrogenase level in pleural fluid ($3527\pm5652$ vs $2467\pm2201$/ml, $2066\pm2022$ vs $1698\pm1835$/ml and $1636\pm1143$ vs $1441\pm923$IU/mL respectively) than group 2 at the time of diagnosis, but statistically insignificant. Duration of symptom prior to treatment, size of pleural effusion, presence of parenchymal lung lesion, level of total protein, glucose and adenosine deaminase(ADA)activity in pleural fluid were similar in both group. Conclusion: 53% of tuberculous pleurisy patients showed slow but complete resorption of pleural lesion after 6 month of chemotherapy. But, no clinical, radiological and pleural fluid findings are predictive for the development of RPT.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.53-63
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• 2010

As one of the mucous components of Cheonggukjang, traditional fermented soybean paste, $\gamma$-PGA is a natural substance with diverse functions. In this paper, an in-vivo experiment has been performed using NC/Nga mice in order to find out the efficacy of $\gamma$-PGA in human atopic dermatitis. The NC/Nga mice with BMAC-induced atopic dermatitis were administered $\gamma$-PGA (PGA-HM) with 300 kDa and low-molecular $\gamma$-PGA (PGA-LM), respectively. As a result, a significant decrease in clinical skin severity score was detected in the group that was administered PGA-LM. In terms of serum IgE levels, a significant decline was observed in PGA-LM, compared to the control group. The serum IgG1 levels also decreased more in PGA-LM than in the control group. However, no significant difference was observed in both groups. To witness the induction of $CD4^+CD25^+foxp3^+$ Treg cells, mRNA was sampled from the back of PGA-HM- and PGA-LM-administered NC/Nga mice with atopic dermatitis. In terms of the production amount of foxp3 mRNA, which was measured in real-time PCR, the group that was administered PGA-LM was twice as high as the control group. According to a biopsy on the skin on the backs of the mice, the experimental group was also far lower than the control group in terms of epidermis thickness, mast cell infiltration and the number of $CCR3^+$ cells. Therefore, it has been confirmed that the atopic dermatitis symptoms decreased more in the PGA-LM-administered NC/Nga mice than the PGA-HM-administered group by facilitating $CD4^+CD25^+foxp3^+$ Treg cells and suppressing the activity of eosinophils and production of IgE and pro-inflammatory cytokines.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.703-708
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• 2015

Hox genes encode a highly conserved family of homeodomain-containing transcription factors controlling vertebrate pattern formation along the anteroposterior body axis during embryogenesis. Retinoic acid (RA) is a key morphogen in embryogenesis and a critical regulator of both adult and embryonic cellular activity. Specifically, RA regulates Hox gene expression in mouse- or human-derived embryonic carcinoma (EC) cells. Histone modification has been reported to play a pivotal role in the process of RA-induced gene expression and cell differentiation. As histone modification is thought to play an essential role in RA-induced Hox gene expression, we examined RA-induced initiation of collinear expression of Hox genes and the corresponding histone modifications in F9 murine embryonic teratocarcinoma (EC) cells. Hox expression patterns and histone modifications were analyzed by semiquantitative RT-PCR, RNA-sequencing, and chromatin immuno-precipitation (ChIP)-PCR analyses. The Hoxc4 gene (D0) was initiated earlier than the Hoxc5 to –c10 genes (D3) upon RA treatment (day 0 [D0], day 1 [D1], and day 3 [D3]). The Hox nonexpressing D0 sample had a strong repressive marker, H3K27me3, than the D1 and D3 samples. In the D1 and D3 samples, reduced enrichment of the H3K27me3 marker was observed in the whole cluster. The active H3K4me3 marker was closely associated with the collinear expression of Hoxc genes. Thus, the Hoxc4 gene (D1) and all Hoxc genes (D3) expressed H3K4me3 upon transcription activation. In conclusion, these data indicated that removing H3K27me3 and acquiring H3K4me3 regulated RA-induced Hoxc gene collinearity in F9 cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.801-809
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• 2015

Homotypic cell adhesion (homotypic aggregation) in activated monocytes plays a central role in physiological and pathological processes including inflammatory responses, differentiation and migration. The extract of the Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc. fruit (Maesil) has potential benefits to human health; such as anti-viral, anti-microbial, and anti-cancer activities. Indeed, Maesil extract may modulate inflammatory responses via interference with homotypic aggregation in monocytes. In the present study, the molecular mechanisms underpinning the therapeutic efficacy of Maesil extract in inflammatory diseases were investigated. It was found that Maesil extract inhibited homotypic aggregation in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated monocytes. This was mediated by reduction of nitric oxide (NO) production, partly via inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in LPS-activated THP-1 cells. It was confirmed that NO inhibition is a key mechanism in Maesil induced blockade of monocyte aggregation through identification of reversal of this inhibitory effect by the NO-producing agent S-nitroso-N-acetyl penicillamine (SNAP). In addition, Maesil extract significantly attenuated LPS-induced IκB-α phosphorylation and NF-κB translocation into the nucleus. In conclusion, Maesil extract exerts anti-inflammatory effects via inhibition of homotypic aggregation of LPS-activated monocytes through mechanisms involving the suppression of NO production and NF-κB activity, suggesting Maesil extract as a potential therapeutic candidate for the prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.297-303
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• 2014

The effects of Eisenia bicyclis extracts on osteoblast differentiation and osteoclast formation were investigated. The proliferation of MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells was tested in an MTT assay. Treatment with E. bicyclis ethanol extract increased cell proliferation by approximately 128% at a concentration of 10 ${\mu}g/ml$. The ALP activities in the MC3T3-E1 cells was 179% higher when the E. bicyclis ethanol extract was processed at a concentration of 50 ${\mu}g/ml$. The proliferation of RAW 264.7 osteoclastic cells decreased significantly in response to treatment with the E. bicyclis extracts. Moreover, the proliferation of the RAW 264.7 osteoclastic cells treated with E. bicyclis hot water extract decreased by nearly 80%. In addition, the E. bicyclis extract reduced the number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive (TRAP+) multinucleated cells from osteoclastic RAW 264.7 cells. These results indicate that E. bicyclis extracts have an anabolic effect on bone through the promotion of osteoclast differentiation and suggest that the extracts could be used in the treatment of common metabolic bone diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.415-425
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• 2013

This study compared the characteristics of five Bacillus strains capable of aerobic and anaerobic growth, CBW3, CBW4, CBW9, CBW14 and EBW10. They were isolated and selected from a polychaete, Perinereis aibuhitensis, which is known as a good degrader of organic compounds in marine wetland. Based on a 16S rRNA sequence, CBW3 and CBW14 were found to share more than 99.8% similarity with B. nanhaiensis, B. arsenicus and B. barbaricus. CBW4, CBW9 and EBW10 shared 92.7%, 99.8%, and 99.8% similarity with B. anthracis, B. algicoa and B. thuringiensis, respectively. The temperature, salinity, and pH ranges of the cell growth of the Bacillus strains were $4-45^{\circ}C$, 0-17%, and pH 5-pH 9, respectively. All Bacillus strains were found to exhibit enzyme activities for the degradation of casein and starch. Notably, strain EBW10 exhibited the enzyme activities for all the tested macromolecules, DNA, casein, starch, cellulose, and four kinds of Tweens, which suggests the possibility that it had protease, amylase, cellulose, and lipase. All five Bacillus strains had alkaline phosphatase activities, and the strains CBW3, CBW4, and EBW10 also had acid phospatase. Strains CBW3 and EBW10 exhibited the enzyme activities both for esterase (C4) and esterase lipase (C8). The analysis of fatty acids revealed that in all strains, major fatty acids were anteiso $C_{15:0}$ and iso $C_{15:0}$.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.275-282
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• 1998

To investigate the increased acid tolerance of a acid-resistant mutant Leuconostoc paramesenteroides P-100 improved as a kimchi starter, proton permeability, ATPase acitivity, glycolysis activity, $Mg^2$sup +/ releasement, and membrane fatty acid composition were studied and comprised with its wild type Leuconostoc paramesenteroides Pw. In the proton permeability experiment, the maximum values of the average half time (t$\_$1/2/) of pH equilibration through the cell membrane of the Pw and the P-100 were about 6.4 min and 7.8 min in 150 mM KCI solution, respectively. In the 3% NaCl solution, the t$\_$1/2/ values of the Pw and the P-100 were 5.5 min and 6.9 min, respectively. The values and pHs of maximal specific activities of ATPase originated from the Pw and the P-100 were 0.5 unit/mg protein and 0.78 unit/mg protein at pH 6.0, respectively. The result of pH dependence of glycolysis showed that the P-100 had higher activities than that of Pw except at pH 7.0. The releases of magnesium from the Pw and the P-100 were observed about 54.5% and 23.2% at pH 4.0 after 2 hours, respectively. The results of comparison of membrane fatty acid composition of the Pw with the P-100 showed that C$\_$8:0/, C$\_$9:0/, C$\_$10:0/, C$\_$11:0/, C$\_$18:0/, and C$\_$19:0,cyclo/ were major different fatty acids between two strains and the content of C$\_$18:1/, and C$\_$19:0,cyclo/ were 2.8%, N.D (not detected) in the Pw and 0.4%, 2.3% in the P-100. These results indicated that acid tolerance of the P-100 was significantly improved in comparison with its wild type Pw.