• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.113-118
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• 1999

The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) is found in all vertebrates and its type-II molecule is regarded as a fundamental embryonic growth factor during development. We have firstly identified, in this study, a cDNA clone corresponding to IGF-II (flIGF-II) from the adult brain of the teleost, Paralichthys olivaceus. We also examined the tissue expression of flIGF-II in several adult tissues by RT-PCR. The flIGF-II cDNA contained a complete ORF consisting of 215 amino acids and one stop codon. Its molecular characteristics appear to be similar to the previously identified IGF-II molecules, in which a common primary structure exhibiting B, C, A, D, and E domains is evidently observed. This cDNA clone seems to be cleaved at $Ala_{52}$ for the $NH_2$-end signal peptide and appears to produce a 98 amino acid-long E-peptide from the $Arg^{118}$. The functional B-D domain regions, therefore, include 65 amino acids and is able to encode a 7.4-kDa protein. The most prominent structural difference between IGF-I and IGF-II was that the D domain of IGF-II exhibits a two-codon-deleted pattern compared to the 8 amino acid-containing IGF-I. The insulin family signature in the A domain and six cysteins forming three disulfide bridges between the B and A domains were evolutionary-conserved from teleosts to mammalian IGF-II. Interestingly, the E-peptide region appears to provide a distinct hallmark between teleosts in amino acid composition. The flIGF-II shows 85.1% of sequence identity to salmon and trout, 90.6% to tilapia, and 98.4% to perch in amino acid level. In tissue expressions of IGF-II, it is very likely that flIGF-II has a significant expression in the adult brain. However, liver seems to be the main source for IGF-II production, and relatively low signals were observed in the adult muscle and kidney. Taken together, it would be concluded that the functional region for IGF-II mRNA is highly similar in phylogeny and is evolutionary, conserved as a mediator for the growth of vertebrates.

• 대한약리학회지
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.45-49
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• 1987

Cytolytic T cell(CTL)에서는 표현되나 다른 세포에서는 표현되지 않는 유전자를 검색하여 최근 저자는 3종의 CTL 특이 cDNA를 cloning하였다. CTL 특이 cDNA의 기능을 규명하기 위하여 CTL L3 cell을 항원수용체를 통하여 혹은 interleukin 2(IL-2)로 자극하여 활성화시킨 후 RNA blot analysis로 각 cDNA clone의 상응전사체 표현양상을 관찰, CTL활성화과정과의 연관성을 실험하였다. 이중 2종의 cDNA상응전사체표현은 항원수용체자극에 의해 현저히 증가된 반면 IL-2는 전혀 영향을 미치지 않았으며 이 같은 전사체표현증가는 cyclosporin A 처리로 완전히 억제되었다. 이상의 결과는 항원수용체자극으로 활성화되는 유전자가 IL-2에 의해 활성화되는 유전자와는 상이함을 보여주는 것이며 또한 2종의 cDNA clone이 IL-2에 의해 활성화되지 않으나 항원수용체를 통하여 중개되며 cyclosporin A에 예민하게 반응하는 CTL활성화과정의 특정경로에 관여하는 것으로 사료된다.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.321-329
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• 2013

Rodents exposed to a 15-min pretest swim in the forced swimming test (FST) exhibit prolonged immobility in a subsequent 5-min test swim, and antidepressant treatment before the test swim reduces immobility. At present, neuronal circuits recruited by antidepressant before the test swim remain unclear, and also less is known about whether antidepressants with different mechanisms of action could influence neural circuits differentially. To reveal the neural circuits associated with antidepressant effect in the FST, we injected desipramine or citalopram 0.5 h, 19 h, and 23 h after the pretest swim and observed changes in c-Fos expression in rats before the test swim, namely 24 h after the pretest swim. Desipramine treatment alone in the absence of pretest swim was without effect, whereas citalopram treatment alone significantly increased the number of c-Fos-like immunoreactive cells in the central nucleus of the amygdala and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, where this pattern of increase appears to be maintained after the pretest swim. Both desipramine and citalopram treatment after the pretest swim significantly increased the number of c-Fos-like immunoreactive cells in the ventral lateral septum and ventrolateral periaqueductal gray before the test swim. These results suggest that citalopram may affect c-Fos expression in the central nucleus of the amygdala and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis distinctively and raise the possibility that upregulation of c-Fos in the ventral lateral septum and ventrolateral periaqueductal gray before the test swim may be one of the probable common mechanisms underlying antidepressant effect in the FST.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제14권3호
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• pp.138-148
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• 2014

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous small RNA molecules best known for their function in post-transcriptional gene regulation. Immunologically, miRNA regulates the differentiation and function of immune cells and its malfunction contributes to the development of various autoimmune diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Over the last decade, accumulating researches provide evidence for the connection between dysregulated miRNA network and autoimmunity. Interruption of miRNA biogenesis machinery contributes to the abnormal T and B cell development and particularly a reduced suppressive function of regulatory T cells, leading to systemic autoimmune diseases. Additionally, multiple factors under autoimmune conditions interfere with miRNA generation via key miRNA processing enzymes, thus further skewing the miRNA expression profile. Indeed, several independent miRNA profiling studies reported significant differences between SLE patients and healthy controls. Despite the lack of a consistent expression pattern on individual dysregulated miRNAs in SLE among these studies, the aberrant expression of distinct groups of miRNAs causes overlapping functional outcomes including perturbed type I interferon signalling cascade, DNA hypomethylation and hyperactivation of T and B cells. The impact of specific miRNA-mediated regulation on function of major immune cells in lupus is also discussed. Although research on the clinical application of miRNAs is still immature, through an integrated approach with advances in next generation sequencing, novel tools in bioinformatics database analysis and new in vitro and in vivo models for functional evaluation, the diagnostic and therapeutic potentials of miRNAs may bring to fruition in the future.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제14권4호
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• pp.253-259
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• 2010

DNA 메틸화 (DNA methylation)는 유전자의 발현을 조절하는 대표적인 후생학적 조절기작 (epigenetic regulation) 중에 하나이다. DNA 메틸화 양상은 생식세포 형성과정 및 배 발생단계에서 탈메틸화 (demethylation)와 de novo 메틸화의 드라마틱한 변화가 일어난다. 또한 이러한 DNA 메틸화는 배아줄기세포 (embryonic stem cells, ESCs)에서 특징적인 양상을 보이는 것으로 알려져 있다. 본 연구에서는 생쥐 수정란 유래 배아줄기세포와 체세포핵이식 배아줄기세포 (nuclear transplanted ESCs)를 이용해서 대표적 각인유전자 (imprinting genes)로 알려진 Snrpn, Igf2r, H19 유전자들에 대한 메틸화 양상을 알아보고자 하였다. 연구 결과 H19 유전자에 대해서는 DNA 메틸화 양상은 수정란 유래 배아줄기세포와 체세포핵이식 배아줄기세포에서 비슷한 경향을 보였으나, Snrpn과 Igf2r의 경우에는 체세포핵이식 배아줄기세포에서 과메틸화 (hypermethylation) 경향을 보였다.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제40권12호
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• pp.954-965
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• 2017

Mammalian genomes are well established, and highly conserved regions within odorant receptors that are unique from other G-protein coupled receptors have been identified. Numerous functional studies have focused on specific conserved amino acids motifs; however, not all conserved motifs have been sufficiently characterized. Here, we identified a highly conserved 18 amino acid sequence motif within transmembrane domain seven (CAS-TM7) which was identified by aligning odorant receptor sequences. Next, we investigated the expression pattern and distribution of this conserved amino acid motif among a broad range of odorant receptors. To examine the localization of odorant receptor proteins, we used a sequence-specific peptide antibody against CAS-TM7 which is specific to odorant receptors across species. The specificity of this peptide antibody in recognizing odorant receptors has been confirmed in a heterologous in vitro system and a rat-based in vivo system. The CAS-TM7 odorant receptors localized with distinct patterns at each region of the olfactory epithelium; septum, endoturbinate and ectoturbinate. To our great interests, we found that the CAS-TM7 odorant receptors are primarily localized to the dorsal region of the olfactory bulb, coinciding with olfactory epithelium-based patterns. Also, these odorant receptors were ectopically expressed in the various non-olfactory tissues in an evolutionary constrained manner between human and rats. This study has characterized the expression patterns of odorant receptors containing particular amino acid motif in transmembrane domain 7, and which led to an intriguing possibility that the conserved motif of odorant receptors can play critical roles in other physiological functions as well as olfaction.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• 제39권2호
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• pp.107-114
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• 2014

Taste is an important sense in survival and growth of animals. The growth and maintenance of taste buds, the receptor organs of taste sense, are under the regulation of various neurotrophic factors. But the distribution aspect of neurotrophic factors and their receptors in distinct taste cell types are not clearly known. The present research was designed to characterize mRNA expression pattern of neurotrophic factors and their receptors in distinct type of taste cells. In male 45-60 day-old Sprague-Dawley rats, epithelial tissues with and without circumvallate and folliate papillaes were dissected and homogenized, and mRNA expressions for neurotrophic factors and their receptors were determined by RT-PCR. The mRNA expressions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT3), receptor tyrosine kinase B (TrkB), exclusion of nerve growth factor (NGF), neurotrophin-4/5 (NT4/5), receptor tyrosine kinase A (TrkA), receptor tyrosine kinase C (TrkC), and p75NGFR were observed in some population of taste cell. In support of this result and to characterize which types of taste cells express NT3, BDNF, or TrkB, we examined mRNA expressions of NT3, BDNF, or TrkB in the $PLC{\beta}2$ (a marker of Type II cell)-and/or SNAP25 (a marker of Type III cell)-positive taste cells by a single taste cell RT-PCR and found that the ratio of positively stained cell numbers were 17.4, 6.5, 84.1, 70.3, and 1.4 % for $PLC{\beta}2$, SNAP25, NT3, BDNF, and TrkB, respectively. In addition, all of $PLC{\beta}2$-and SNAP25-positive taste cells expressed NT3 mRNA, except for one taste bud cell. The ratios of NT3 mRNA expressions were 100% and 91.7% in the SNAP25-and $PLC{\beta}2$-positive taste cells, respectively. However, two TrkB-positive taste cells co-expressed neither $PLC{\beta}2$ nor SNAP 25. The results suggest that the most of type II or type III cells express BDNF and NT3 mRNA, but the expression is shown to be less in type I taste cells.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.85-96
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• 2007

중간엽 줄기세포(MSC)를 체외배양할 때 사용하는 소태아혈청 (FBS)의 생물학적 불안전성은 이를 임상적으로 사용하는데 있어 제한점으로 작용한다. 본 연구에서는 소태아혈청 및 인간의 제대혈청을 사용하여 인간의 양막유래 중간엽 줄기세포 (HAM)를 각각 배양한 후, 세포의 성장속도와 유전자 및 단백질의 발현 양상을 비교하였다. 제왕절개 후 얻은 양막으로부터 HAM을 분리하여 10% FBS, 5% HCS 혹은 10% HCS가 각각 첨가된 DMEM 배양액에서 배양하였으며, 초기와 후기 계대의 세포를 얻어 이들의 생물학적 특성을 비교 분석하였다. 역전자 중합효소반응 결과, 혈청의 종류에 상관없이 배양된 세포들은 모두 OCT-4, Rex-1, SCF, FGF-5, BMP-4, nestin, NCAM, GATA-4, HLA-ABC 유전자를 발현하였으며, 이러한 발현은 초기 및 후기 계대의 세포에서도 마찬가지로 나타났다. 세포면역화학 반응 결과, FBS 혹은 HCS를 첨가한 배양액에서 배양된 HAM은 4번째 계대에서 collagen I, II, III, XII, fibronectin, $\alpha$-smooth muscle actin, vimentin, CK18, CD54, FSP, TRA-1-60, SSEA-3, -4, HLA ABC 단백질을 뚜렷하게 발현하였다. 그러나 desmin 단백질은 FBS가 첨가된 배양액에서 배양된 HAM에서만 발현되었고 vWF 단백질은 HCS가 첨가된 배양액에서 배양된 HAM에서만 발현되었다. 결론적으로 유전자와 단백질의 발현양상을 살펴본 결과, HCS가 첨가된 배양액에서 배양된 HAM은 전형적인 인간성체줄기세포의 특징을 나타내고 있으며, FBS가 첨가된 배양액과 비교하여 동등한 성장 촉진 효과를 가지는 것으로 보인다.

• BMB Reports
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• 제40권5호
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• pp.814-824
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• 2007

Liver cirrhosis (LC) is defined as comprising diffuse fibrosis and regenerating nodules of the liver. The biochemical and anatomical dysfunction in LC results from both reduced liver cell number and portal vascular derangement. Although several studies have investigated dysregulated genes in cirrhotic nodules, little is known about the genes implicated in the pathophysiologic change of LC or about their relationship with the degree of decompensation. Here, we applied cDNA microarray analysis using 38 HBsAg-positive LC specimens to identify the genes dysregulated in HBV-associated LC and to evaluate their relation to disease severity. Among 1063 known cancer- and apoptosis-related genes, we identified 104 genes that were significantly up- (44) or down- (60) regulated in LC. Interestingly, this subset of 104 genes was characteristically correlated with the degree of decompensation, called the Pugh-Child classification (20 Pugh-Child A, 10 Pugh-Child B, and 8 Pugh-Child C). Patient samples from Pugh-Child C exhibited a distinct pattern of gene expression relative to those of Pugh-Child A and B. Especially in Pugh-Child C, genes encoding hepatic proteins and metabolizing enzymes were significantly down-regulated, while genes encoding various molecules related to cell replication were up-regulated. Our results suggest that subsets of genes in liver cells correspond to the pathophysiologic change of LC according to disease severity and possibly to hepatocarcinogenesis.

• 대한간호학회지
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• 제33권6호
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• pp.678-685
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• 2003

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to interpretate Caper's view of the aesthetical approach to nursing, to discover problems of her arguments, and to ultimately expand the horizon of the aesthetical thinking of nursing. Method: By means of the critical interpretation of Caper's paper, problems of her arguments were discovered. This then was suggested was the proper way of the aesthetical approach to nursing. Result: Caper's arguments of aesthetics were seen to be confused, regarding the pattern of the nursing art and the relationship between aesthetical knowing and practical art, and to have no the nursing's perspective as moral art. The proper paradigm for the distinct thinking of the nursing aesthetics could be offered here through applying some aesthetical theories as follows; a mode of aesthetical knowing could be characterized as emphatical awareness in relationship between nurse and client, and a practical art of nursing understood as moral art in sense of the expression of the human dignity. Conclusion: This study suggested fundamental theme for the proper aesthetical approach to nursing in view of the aesthetical knowing and the practical art. The horizon of the aesthetical thinking in nursing can be expended through the inquiry into aesthetical theories which offer theoretical the base for nursing as an art.