• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.11
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• pp.941-949
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• 2015

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that leads to bone and cartilage erosion. The inhibition of osteoblast differentiation by the inflammatory factor TNF-${\alpha}$ is critical for the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. To modulate TNF-${\alpha}$ mediated inhibition of osteoblast differentiation is required to improve therapeutic efficacy of rheumatoid arthritis. Here, we explored the potential role of rocaglamide-A, a component of Aglaia plant, in osteoblast differentiation. Rocaglamide-A prevented TNF-${\alpha}$ mediated inhibition of osteoblast differentiation, and promoted osteoblast differentiation directly, in both C2C12 and primary mesenchymal stromal cells. Mechanistically, Rocaglamide-A inhibited the phosphorylation of NF-${\kappa}B$ component p65 protein and the accumulation of p65 in nucleus, which resulted in the diminished NF-${\kappa}B$ responsible transcriptional activity. Oppositely, overexpression of p65 reversed rocaglamide-A's protective effects on osteoblast differentiation. Collectively, rocaglamide-A protected and stimulated osteoblast differentiation via blocking NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway. It suggests that rocaglamide-A may be a good candidate to develop as therapeutic drug for rheumatoid arthritis associated bone loss diseases.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.710-722
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• 2024

Extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins play a crucial role in culturing muscle stem cells (MuSCs). However, there is a lack of extensive research on how each of these proteins influences proliferation and differentiation of MuSCs from livestock animals. Therefore, we investigated the effects of various ECM coatings-collagen, fibronectin, gelatin, and laminin-on the proliferation, differentiation, and maturation of porcine MuSCs. Porcine MuSCs, isolated from 14-day-old Berkshire piglets, were cultured on ECM-coated plates, undergoing three days of proliferation followed by three days of differentiation. MuSCs on laminin showed higher proliferation rate than others (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in the mRNA expression levels of PAX7, MYF5, and MYOD among MuSCs on laminin, collagen, and fibronectin (p>0.05). During the differentiation period, MuSCs cultured on laminin exhibited a significantly higher differentiation rate, resulting in thicker myotubes compared to those on other ECMs (p<0.05). Also, MuSCs on laminin showed higher expression of mRNA related with maturated muscle fiber such as MYH1 and MYH4 corresponding to muscle fiber type IIx and muscle fiber type IIb, respectively, compared with MuSCs on other ECM coatings (p<0.05). In summary, our comparison of ECMs revealed that laminin significantly enhances MuSC proliferation and differentiation, outperforming other ECMs. Specifically, muscle fibers cultured on laminin exhibited a more mature phenotype. These findings underscore laminin's potential to advance in vitro muscle research and cultured meat production, highlighting its role in supporting rapid cell proliferation, higher differentiation rates, and the development of mature muscle fibers.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.15-24
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• 2019

Neural stem cells (NSCs) can proliferate and differentiate into multiple cell types that constitute the nervous system. NSCs can be derived from developing fetuses, embryonic stem cells, or induced pluripotent stem cells. NSCs provide a good platform to screen drugs for neurodegenerative diseases and also have potential applications in regenerative medicine. Natural products have long been used as compounds to develop new drugs. In this review, natural products that control NSC fate and induce their differentiation into neurons or glia are discussed. These phytochemicals enable promising advances to be made in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.199-206
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• 2005

Cell therapy (CT) is a group of techniques to treat human disorders by transplantation of cells which have been processed and propagated independent of the living body. Blood transfusion and bone marrow transplant have been the primary examples of cell therapy. With introduction of stem cell (SC) technologies, however, CT is perceived as the next generation of biologies to treat human diseases such as cancer, neurological diseases, and heart disease. Despite potential of cell therapy, insufficient guidelines have been implemented concerning safety test and regulation of cell therapy. This review addresses the safety issues to be resolved for the cell therapy, especially SC therapy, to be successfully utilized for clinical practice. Adequate donor cell screening must preceed to ensure safety in cell therapy. In terms of SC culture, controlled, standardized practices and procedures should be established. Further molecular studies should be done on SC development and differentiation to enhance safety level in cell therapy. Finally, animal model must be further installed to evaluate toxicity, new concepts, and proliferative potential of SC including alternative feeder layer of animal cells.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.29 no.11 s.242
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• pp.1455-1462
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• 2005

In this paper, we intend to introduce a nonlinear finite element method based on the fully nonlinear potential flow theory in order to simulate the large amplitude sloshing flow in two-dimensional baffled tank subject to horizontally forced excitation. The free surface is tracked by a direct time differentiation scheme with the four-step predictor-corrector time integration method. The flow velocity is accurately recovered from the velocity potential by second-order least square method. In order to maintain the finite element mesh regularity and total mass, the semi-Lagrangian surface tracking method with area conservation is applied. According to the numerical formulae, we perform the parametric experiments by varying the installation height and the opening width of baffles, in order to examine the effects of baffle on the nonlinear liquid sloshing. From the numerical results, the hydrodynamic characteristics of the large amplitude sloshing are investigated.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.113-117
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• 2008

Saururus chinensis is a commonly used folk herb for the treatment of edema and liver diseases in Korea. To study the biological activity of Saururus chinensis in bone metabolism, we evaluated the effect of its extracts on osteoclast differentiation in vitro using primary mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages. Methanol extract (ME) from dried roots of Saururus chinensis was partitioned into methylene chloride (MF), ethyl acetate (EF), n-butanol (BF) and water fractions (WF). Tartrate-resistance acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity assay and western blot analysis were performed to determine the effect on osteoclast differentiation and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases activation. ME, MF and EF dramatically inhibited receptor activator of ${NF-kB}$ ligand (RANKL)-induced formation of multinucleated osteoclasts and activation of MAP kinases. This study firstly demonstrated that ME, MF and EF of Saururus chinensis have the potential to inhibit the osteoclast differentiation, which results from the inhibition of MAP kinases activations in part.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.9
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• pp.806-813
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• 2015

Gaucher disease (GD) is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder caused by mutations in the glucocerebrosidase gene (GBA), which encodes the lysosomal enzyme glucosylceramidase (GCase). Deficiency in GCase leads to characteristic visceral pathology and lethal neurological manifestations in some patients. Investigations into neurogenesis have suggested that neurodegenerative disorders, such as GD, could be overcome or at least ameliorated by the generation of new neurons. Bone marrowderived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) are potential candidates for use in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders because of their ability to promote neurogenesis. Our objective was to examine the mechanism of neurogenesis by BM-MSCs in GD. We found that neural stem cells (NSCs) derived from a neuronopathic GD model exhibited decreased ability for self-renewal and neuronal differentiation. Co-culture of GBA-deficient NSCs with BM-MSCs resulted in an enhanced capacity for self-renewal, and an increased ability for differentiation into neurons or oligodendrocytes. Enhanced proliferation and neuronal differentiation of GBA-deficient NSCs was associated with elevated release of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) from BM-MSCs. Our findings suggest that soluble M-CSF derived from BM-MSCs can modulate GBA-deficient NSCs, resulting in their improved proliferation and neuronal differentiation.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.91-97
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• 2010

The effects of chitosan upon the experimentally induced differentiation of MDPC-23 cells, derived from mouse dental papilla cells, were investigated by RT-PCR, observations of cell morphology and Alizaline red-S staining. Chitosan was found to significantly increase and accelerate the expression of ALP mRNA but decrease the ColI transcript levels, as compared with the control, in a time-dependent manner during the differentiation of MDPC-23 cells. Chitosan also significantly downregulated ON mRNA expression and accelerated mineralization in differentiating MDPC-23 cells. These results suggest that chitosan facilitates odontoblast differentiation and mineralization and may have potential clinical applications as a dentin regeneration material.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.796-801
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• 2008

Bone is a dynamic tissue that is regulated by the balance between bone-resorbing osteoclasts and bone-forming osteoblasts. Curcumin isolated from Kang-hwang (Turmeric) is widely used as a foodstuff, cosmetic, and medicine. However, the effect of curcumin isolated from Kang-hwang in osteoclast differentiation remains unknown. In this study, we sought to examine the role of curcumin in osteoclast differentiation. Here we show that curcumin greatly inhibited RANKL-mediated osteoclast differentiation in osteoclast precursors without cytotoxicity. RANKL induced the phosphorylation of p38 and JNK mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and mediated $I-{\kappa}B$ degradation in bone marrow macrophages (BMMs). However, RANKL-mediated p38 MAPK phosphorylation was inhibited by the addition of curcumin. Curcumin inhibited the mRNA expression of TRAP, c-Fos, and NFATc1 in BMMs treated with RANKL. Furthermore, the protein expression of c-Fos and NFATc1 induced by RANKL was suppressed by curcumin treatment. Taken together, our results suggest that curcumin may have a potential therapeutic role in bone-related diseases such as osteoporosis by inhibiting osteoclast differentiation.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.1-10
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• 2017

Objectives: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effects of the extract of Pongamia pinnata on the morphology, viability, and differentiation potential of human stem cells derived from the gingiva. Methods: Stem cells obtained from gingivae were cultured in an osteogenic medium in the presence of methanol extract of Pongamia pinnata (PPT) at concentrations ranging from 0.001 to 1%. Evaluations of cell morphology and cellular viability were done at Day 1. Alkaline phosphatase activity assays and Alizarin red S staining were performed to evaluate the osteogenic differentiation of stem cells. Results: The morphology of stem cells in the presence of PPT at final concentrations of 0%, 0.001%, 0.01%, 0.1%, and 1% did not produce any noticeable changes when compared with the untreated control group. Application of PPT produced a significant increase in alkaline phosphatase activity when compared to the control group. The results of the Alizarin Red S staining showed a significant increase of absorbance with the 0.001% group. Conclusions: Based on these findings, it was concluded that PPT could produce beneficial effects on mesenchymal stem cells with enhanced osteogenic differentiation.