• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.179-191
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• 2017

Objectives : Increased oxidative stress by reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been suggested as a major cause of muscle fatigue. Although several studies have demonstrated the various biological properties of Sophora flavescens Aiton, Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer and Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz, but the antioxidative potentials have not been clearly demonstrated. The present study was designed to investigate the protective effects of their water and ethanol extract mixtures (medicinal herbal mixtures, MHMIXs) on hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$)-induced cell damage and apoptosis in C2C12 myoblasts. Methods : Cytotoxicity was assessed by an MTT assay. Quantitative evaluation of apoptosis induction and ROS production was evaluated by flow cytometry analysis. Expression levels of apoptosis regulatory and DNA-damage proteins were detected by Western blotting. Result : The inhibition of $H_2O_2$-induced cell proliferation was effectively blocked in extracts of 3: 1: 1 (EMHMIXs-1) or 2: 2: 1 (EMHMIXs-2) of S. flavescens, G. uralensis and D. dasycarpus Turcz, ethanol extracts from various complex extracts in C2C12 myoblasts. EMHMIXs-1 and EMHMIXs-2 also effectively attenuated $H_2O_2$-induced C2C12 cell apoptosis, which was associated with the restoration of the upregulation of Bad and death receptor 4, and downregulation of XIAP and cIAP-1 induced by $H_2O_2$. In addition, these herbal mixtures significantly blocked the $H_2O_2$-induced ROS generation and phosphorylation of $p-{\gamma}H2A.X$, which suggests that they can prevent $H_2O_2$-induced cellular DNA damage. Conclusions : The results suggest that EMHMIXs-1 and EMHMIXs-2 could block the DAN damage and apoptosis of C2C12 myoblasts by oxidative stress through blocking ROS generation.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.117-127
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• 2012

The beneficial effects of adipose-derived stem cell conditioned media (ADSC-CM) for skin regeneration have previously been reported, despite the precise mechanism of how ADSC-CM promotes skin regeneration remaining unclear. ADSC-CM contains various secretomes and this may be a factor in it being a good resource for the treatment of skin conditions. It is also known that ADSC-CM produced in hypoxia conditions, in other words Advanced Adipose-Derived Stem cell Protein Extract (AAPE), has excellent skin regenerative properties. In this study, a human primary skin cell was devised to examine how AAPE affects human dermal fibroblast (HDF) and human keratinocyte (HK), which both play fundamental roles in skin regeneration. The promotion of collagen formation by HDFs was observed at 0.32 mg/ml of AAPE. AAPE treatment significantly stimulated stress fiber formation. DNA gene chips demonstrated that AAPE in HKs (p<0.05) affected the expression of 133 identifiable transcripts, which were associated with cell proliferation, migration, cell adhesion, and response to wounding. Twenty five identified proteins, including MMP, growth factor and cytokines such as CD54, FGF-2, GM-CSF, IL-4, IL-6, VEGF, TGF-${\beta}2$, TGF-${\beta}3$, MMP-1, MMP-10, and MMP-19, were contained in AAPE via antibody arrays. Thus, AAPE might activate the HK biological function and induce the collagen synthesis of HDF. These results demonstrate that AAPE has the potential to be used for clinic applications aimed at skin regeneration.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.369-377
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• 2004

The objective of this study was to investigate the patterns of protein leaching to an external phase during an ethyl acetate-based, double emulsion microencapsulation process. An aqueous protein solution (lactoglobulin, lysozyme, or ribonuclease; $W_1$) was emulsified in ethyl acetate containing poly-d,l-lactide-co-glycolide 75:25. The $W_1/O$ emulsion was transferred to a 0.5% polyvinyl alcohol solution saturated with ethyl acetate $(W_2)$. After the double emulsion was stirred for 5, 15, 30, or 45 min, additional 0.5% polyvinyl alcohol $(W_3)$ was quickly added into the emulsion. This so-called quenching step helped convert emulsion microdroplets into microspheres. After 2-hr stirring, microspheres were collected and dried. The degree of protein leaching to $W_2$ and/or $W_3$ phase was monitored during the microencapsulation process. In a separate, comparative experiment, the profile of protein leaching to an external phase was investigated during the conventional methylene chloride-based microencapsulation process. When ethyl acetate was used as a dispersed solvent, proteins continued diffusing to the $W_2$ phase, as stirring went on. Therefore, the timing of ethyl acetate quenching played an important role in determining the degree of protein microencapsulation efficiency. For example, when quenching was peformed after 5-min stirring of the primary $W_1/O$ emulsion, the encapsulation efficiencies of lactoglobulin and ribonuclease were $55.1{\pm}4.2\;and\;45.3{\pm}7.6%$, respectively. In contrast, when quenching was carried out in 45 min, their respective encapsulation efficiencies were $39.6{\pm}3.2\;and\;29.9{\pm}11.2%$. By sharp contrast, different results were attained with the methylene-chloride based process: up to 2 hr-stirring of the primary and double emulsions, less than 5% of a protein appeared in $W_2$. Afterwards, it started to partition from $W_1\;to\;W_2/W_3$, and such a tendency was affected by the amount of PLGA75:25 used to make microspheres. Different solvent properties (e.g., water miscibility) and their effect on microsphere hardening were to be held answerable for such marked differences observed with the two microencapsulation processes.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.193-199
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• 2005

Gabapentin is an antiepileptic drug that is structurally similar to ${\gamma}-aminobutyric$ acid (GABA), but does not interact with the GABA receptor. It does not bind significantly to plasma proteins, and is excreted to unchanged form in the urine. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the bioequivalence of two gabapentin capsules, $Neurontin^{TM}$ capsule 300 mg (Pfizer Pharm. Co., Ltd.) and Kuhnil $Gabapentin^{TM}$ capsule 300 mg (Kuhnil Pharm. Co., Ltd), according to the guidelines of the Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). The release of gabapentin from the two gabapentin formulations in vitro was tested using KP VIII Apparatus II method with various dissolution media (pH 1.2, 4.0, 6.8 buffer solution and water). Twenty six healthy male subjects, $22.46{\pm}1.86$ years in age and $67.64{\pm}7.24$ kg in body weight, were divided into two groups and a randomized $2{\times}2$ cross-over study was employed. After a single capsule containing 300 mg as gabapentin was orally administered, blood samples were taken at predetermined time intervals and the concentrations of gabapentin in serum were determined using HPLC with fluorescence detector. The dissolution profiles of two formulations were similar at all dissolution media. In addition, the pharmacokinetic parameters such as $AUC_t$, $C_{max}$ and $T_{max}$ were calculated and ANOVA test was utilized for the statistical analysis of the parameters using logarithmically transformed $AUC_t$, $C_{max}$ and untransformed $T_{max}$. The results showed that the differences between two formulations based on the reference drug, $Neurontin^{TM}$ capsule 300 mg, were -2.03, -0.43 and 4.29% for $AUC_t$, $C_{max}$ and $T_{max}$, respectively. There were no sequence effects between two formulations in these parameters. The 90% confidence intervals using logarithmically transformed data were within the acceptance range of log 0.8 to log 1.25 $(e.g.,\;log\;0.89{\sim}log\;1.09\;and\;log\;0.91{\sim}log\;1.09$ for $AUC_t$ and $C_{max}$, respectively). Thus, the criteria of the KFDA bioequivalence guideline were satisfied, indicating Kuhnil $Gabapentin^{TM}$ capsule 300 mg was bioequivalent to $Neurontin^{TM}$ capsule 300 mg.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2010

Equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) is a heavily glycosylated glycoprotein composed of non-covalently linked $\alpha$- and $\beta$-subunits. To study the function and signal transduction of tethered recombinant-eCG (rec-eCG), a single chain eCG molecule was constructed, and the rec-eCG protein was prepared. In this study, we constructed 5 mutants (${\Delta}1$, ${\Delta}2$, ${\Delta}3$, ${\Delta}4$, and ${\Delta}5$) of rec-eCG using data about known glycoprotein hormones to analyze the role of specific follicle stimulating homone (FSH)-like activity. Three amino acids of certain specific sites were replaced with alanine. The expression vectors were transfected into CHO cells and subjected to G418 selection for 2~3 weeks. The media were collected and the quantity of secreted tethered rec-eCGs was quantified by ELISA. The LH- and FSH-like activities were assayed in terms of cAMP production by rat LH/CG and rat FSH receptors. Then, the metabolic clearance rate analyzed by the injection of rec-eCG (5 IU) into the tail vein was analyzed. The mutant eCGs (${\Delta}l$, ${\Delta}4$, and ${\Delta}5$) were transcripted, but not translated into proteins. Rec-eCG A2 was secreted in much lower amounts than the wild type. Only the rec-eCG ${\Delta}3$ ($\beta$-subunit: $Gln^{94}-Ile^{95}-Lys^{96}{\rightarrow}Ala^{94}-Ala^{95}-Ala^{96}$) was efficiently secreted. Although activity is low, its LH-like activity was similar to that of tethered $eCG{\beta\alpha}$. However, the FSH-like activity of rec-$eCG{\beta\alpha\Delta}3$ was completely flat. The result of the analysis of the metabolic clearance rate shoed the persistence of the mutant in the blood until 4 hours after the injection. After then, it almost disappeared at 8 hours. Taken together, these data suggest that 94~96 amino acid sequences in eCG $\beta$-subunit appear to be of utmost importance for signal transduction of the FSH receptor.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2010

Glycoprotein hormones have a common $\alpha$-subunit that is involved in the signaling pathway together with G protein, adenylcyclase and cAMP induction; however, it is an unclear how this common structure is related to hormonal action. To determine the biological functions of the COOH-terminal amino acids in the $\alpha$-subunit of these glycoprotein hormones, a tethered-molecule was constructed by fusing the $NH_2$-terminus of the $\alpha$-subunit to the COOH-terminus of the $\beta$-subunit of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG). The following deletion mutants were created by PCR; Ile was inserted at position 96 to form ${\Delta}96$, Lys was substituted at position 95 to form ${\Delta}95$, His was inserted at position 93 to form ${\Delta}93$ and Tyr was substituted at position 87 to form ${\Delta}87$. Each mutant was transfected into CHO-K1 cells. Tethered-wt eCG, and ${\Delta}96$, ${\Delta}95$, and ${\Delta}93$ mutants were efficiently secreted into the medium but the ${\Delta}87$ mutant was not secreted. Interestingly, the RT-PCR, real-time PCR, and northern blot analyses confirmed that the RNA was transcribed in the ${\Delta}87$ mutant. However, the ${\Delta}87$ mutant protein was not detected in the medium or the intracellular fraction of the cell lysates. The LH- and FSH-like activities of the recombinant proteins were assayed in terms of cAMP production using rat LH/CG and rat FSH receptors. The metabolic clearance rate (MCR) was determined by injecting rec-eCG (2 IU) into the tail vein. The ${\Delta}95$ and ${\Delta}93$ mutants were completely inactive in both the LH- and FSH-like activity assays. The ${\Delta}96$ mutant showed slight activity in the LH-like activity assay. In comparison to the wild type, the activity of the ${\Delta}96$ mutant in the FSH-like activity assay was the highest among all the mutants. The MCR assay in which rec-eCG was injected showed a peak at 10 min in all the treatment groups, which disappeared 4 h after injection. These results imply a direct interaction between the receptor and the COOH-terminal region of the a-subunit. The data also reveal a significant difference in the mechanism by which the eCG hormone interacts with the rLH and rFSH receptors. The COOH-terminal region of the $\alpha$-subunit is very important for the secretion and functioning of this hormone.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.57-64
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• 2015

Objectives : Oxidative stress is one of the most causes of hepatocyte injury. Gleditsia spina, the thorns ofGleditsia sinensisLam., has been known for its anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects in Korean medicine. The present study investigated hepatoprotective effect of Gleditsia spina water extract (GSE) against oxidative stress induced by arachidonic acid (AA) + iron in HepG2 cells.Methods : To investigate cytoprotective effect of GSE, cells were pretreated with GSE and then subsequently exposed to 10 μM AA for 12 h, followed by 5 μM iron. Cell viability was monitored by MTT assay, and expression of apoptosis-related proteins was examined by immunoblot analysis. To identify responsible molecular mechanisms, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, GSH contents, and mitochondrial membrane potential were measured. In addition, effect of GSE on nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) activation was determined by immunoblot and antioxidant response element (ARE)-driven reporter gene assays.Results : GSE pretreatment prevented AA + iron-mediated cytotoxicity in concentration dependent manner. In addition, ROS production, glutathione depletion, and mitochondrial impairment by AA + iron were significantly inhibited by GSE. Furthermore, GSE promoted translocation of Nrf2 to nucleus, which acts as essential transcription factor for induction of antioxidant genes. Increased nuclear Nrf2 that caused by GSE treatment promoted transcriptional activity of ARE. Finally, GSE up-regulated sestrin-2 which was widely recognized as target gene of Nrf2.Conclusions : This study demonstrates that GSE protects hepatocytes from oxidative stress via activation of Nrf2 signaling pathway.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.698-713
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• 1999

Adherence of Candida albicans(C. albicans) to the surface of a denture is believed to be an initial and essential step in the formation of denture-induced stematitis. Previous studies have provided enormous infomation on the relationship between composition of palatine gland/parotid saliva and upper denture stomatitis. Relatively little information is available on the correlation between lower denture stomatitis and sublingual-submandibular ( SLSM ) saliva. The plaque samples were collected from the two sites($100mm^2$) on the inner surface of lower partial denture corresponding to the stematitis and healthy region of the lower partial dentures of 12 denture stomatitis patients and 6 nor-mal persons who wore lower partial dentures. The samples were plated to isolate C. albicans on a selective Saboraud's dextrose agar plate and the isolates were identified by germ tube test and gram staining. The subjects were divided into group I (stomatitis with C. albican), group II (lesion without C. albicans), group III (no lesion but C. albicans), and group IV (normal and healthy denture wearer). Individual SLSM saliva($20{\mu}g$ of protein) was analyzed by SDS-PAGE (SDS -poly-acrylamide gel electrophoresis) with Coomassie brilliant blue and PAS(Periodic Acid Schinff) stain-ing. The salivary proteins separated in the polyacryamide gels were subjected to immunoblot anaysis using anti-lactoferrin, anti-sIgA, and anti-secretory component of sIgA. In this study using custom made acrylic denture resin beads(5mm in diameter) coated with stimulated individual SLSM saliva, the binding ability of individual C. albicans strains to the beads was observed. Levels of C, albicans adhered to the acrylic resin beads were determined by measuring the optical density of the bound C. albicans to the beads at 580nm. The results showed that a higher number of C. albicans was observed in the lesion site than healthy site. The saliva of group I contained more high molecular weight glycoprotein(mucin, MGI) as compared to group II, III and IV. And lactoferrin and sIgA affected to the binding ability of C. albicans to acylic resin beads. Binding ability of individual C. albicans to the acrylic resin coated with respective individual saliva was found to be greater in group I than the other 3 groups. And when bound cells of C. albicans isolated from individual subject #2 to the saliva coated beads were used binding ability of subject #2 saliva coated beads was founed to be greater than the other sutjects. These results suggested that denture induced stomatitis is related to individual patient's salivary protein composition, especially MG-1. Future studies will be directed toward saliva exam-ination of patients who have general disease and analysis of pellicles formed on prosthesis with respect to oral disease.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.61-68
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• 2003

Streptococcus mutans is known to be a major causative organism of human dental caries. The development of a vaccine against dental caries involves identification of appropriate antigens of mutans streptococci against which protective immune responses can be mounted, and the selection of a method of immunization that will generate sustained levels of protective antibodies. Antigens receiving most attention include streptococcal surface proteins that are involved in attachment to tooth surfaces and glucosyltransferases (GTF) that synthesize adhesive glucans from sucrose. The induction of antibody responses to orally administered antigens is often difficult due to digestive destruction of antigens and immune tolerance. Here we report the induction of antibody responses to an anti-caries vaccine containing retinoic acid (RA). Subcutaneous immunization with formalin-fixed bacteria or GTF supplemented with RA induced higher serum IgM and IgA responses to GTF compaired to oral adminstration. Antisera induced by Ingbritt strain showed partial cross-reaction with LM-7 strain, but not with OMZ175. These results suggest that subcutaneous immunization with GTF combined with an immunomodulator, RA, may be applied to anti-caries vaccine.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.175-185
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• 1996

The mitogen-activated protein(MAP) kinase signal transduction pathway represents an important mechanism by which mitogen, such as serum and PMA, regulate cell proliferation and differentiation. Target substrates of the MAP kinase are located within several compartments containing plasma membranes and nucleus. We now report that serum addition induces proliferation of the P388 murine leukemia cell, but PMA does not, while both serum and PMA treatment cause translocation of the MAP kinase, mainly p42$^{mapk}$ isoform, from cytosol into the nucleus, which was monitored by immunoblot analysis using polyclonal anti-ERK1 antibodies. We investigated whether the MAP kinase was capable of phosphorylating c-Jun protein and GST-fusion proteins, the P562$^{kk}$N-terminal peptides (1-77 or 1-123 domain) of the T cell tyrosine kinase, using the partially purified MAP kinase by SP-sephadex C-50, phenyl superose and Mono Q column chromatography. We found that the partially purified MAP kinase was able to phosphorylate c-Jun protein and the GST-fusion protein expressed using E.coli DH5$\alpha$ which is transformed with pGEX-3Xb plasmid vector carrying of p562$^{kk}$N-terminal peptide-encoding DNA. These results imply that tyrosine kinase receptor/Ras/Raf/MAP kinase pathway is a major mechanism for mitogen-induced cell proliferation in P388 murine leukemia cell and that the various MAP kinase isoforms may have their own target substrates located in distinct subcellular compartments.