• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2011.10a
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• pp.2.1-2.1
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• 2011

Biomedical applications of electrospun nanofibrous meshes have been receive tremendous attentions because of their unique structures and versatilities as novel biomaterials. Incorporation of growth factors in fibrous meshes can be performed by surface-modification and encapsulation. Those growth factors stimulate differentiation and proliferation of specific types of cells and thus lead tissue regenerations of specific cell types. Topographical cues of electrospun nanofibrous meshes also increase differentiation of specific cell types according to alignments of fibrous structures. Wound healing treatments of diabetic ulcers were performed using nanofibrous meshes encapsulating multiple growth factors. Aligned nanofibrous meshes and those with random configuration were compared for differentiating mesenchymal stem cells into neuronal cells. Thus, nanofibrous meshes can be applied to novel drug delivery carriers and matrix for promoting cellular proliferation.

• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.9
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• pp.496-501
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• 2023

Elongation of most bones occur at the growth plate through endochondral ossification in postnatal mammals. The maturation of chondrocyte is a crucial factor in longitudinal bone growth, which is regulated by a complex network of paracrine and endocrine signaling pathways. Here, we show that a phytochemical sulfuretin can stimulate hypertrophic chondrocyte differentiation in vitro and in vivo. We found that sulfuretin stabilized nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2), stimulated its transcriptional activity, and induced expression of its target genes. Sulfuretin treatment resulted in an increase in body length of zebrafish larvae and induced the expression of chondrocyte markers. Consistently, a clinically available Nrf2 activator, dimethyl fumarate (DMF), induced the expression of hypertrophic chondrocyte markers and increased the body length of zebrafish. Importantly, we found that chondrocyte gene expression in cell culture and skeletal growth in zebrafish stimulated by sulfuretin were significantly abrogated by Nrf2 depletion, suggesting that such stimulatory effects of sulfuretin were dependent on Nrf2, at least in part. Taken together, these data show that sulfuretin has a potential use as supporting ingredients for enhancing bone growth.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.127-132
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• 2003

Effects of genotype, settlement density and irradiane on the growth, mortality and population structure of Fucus serratus germlings were examined in the laboratory. The growth of F. serratus germlings was influenced by genotype of parent plants, which is likely to occur by microclimatic differentiation of substrata. The growth of germlings were greater at lower densities than higher densities indicating that intraspecific competition between germlings occurred within three weeks. Also, the growth of F. serratus germlings was better at $120\mumol\;m^-2/s^-1$ than at $60\mumol\;m^-2/s^-1$. However, mortality of germlings was determined by settlement density rather than irradiance. In population structure, skewness was increased at low irradiance and high density indicating that population structure could be changed by intraspecific competition. Thus, it is concluded that genotypic differentiation of F. serratus germlings occurred in a microgeographic scale, and the experimental density and irradiance level affected the growth of germlings.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.444-455
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Adipocytes undergo angiogenesis to receive nutrients and oxygen needed for adipocyte' growth and differentiation. No study relating quercetin with angiogenesis in adipocytes exists. Therefore, this study investigated the role of quercetin on adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells, acting through matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). MATERIALS/METHODS: After proliferating preadipocytes into adipocytes, various quercetin concentrations were added to adipocytes, and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays were performed to evaluate cell proliferation. Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity was investigated as an indicator of fat accumulation. The mRNA expressions of transcription factors related to adipocyte differentiation, CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBPs), peroxisomal proliferatoractivated receptors (PPAR)-γ, and adipocyte protein 2 (aP2), were investigated. The mRNA expressions of proteins related to angiogenesis, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-α, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-2, MMP-2, and MMP-9, were investigated. Enzyme activities and concentrations of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were also measured. RESULTS: Quercetin treatment suppressed fat accumulation and the expressions of adipocyte differentiation-related genes (C/EBPα, C/EBPβ, PPAR-γ, and aP2) in a concentration-dependent manner in 3T3-L1 cells. Quercetin treatments reduced the mRNA expressions of VEGF-α, VEGFR-2, MMP-2, and MMP-9 in 3T3-L1 cells. The activities and concentrations of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were also decreased significantly as the concentration of quercetin increased. CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm that quercetin inhibits adipose tissue differentiation and fat accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells, which could occur through inhibition of the angiogenesis process related to MMPs.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.195-203
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• 2024

Muscle disorders arise from genetic factors or other external environmental influences, leading to muscle loss and decreased strength. Muscle disease is closely related to age, and with the global progression of aging, there is increasing interest in the prevention and treatment of muscle diseases among the elderly population. Muscles release various substances during contraction and relaxation when exercising, and growth and differentiation are enhanced. Similar effects can be achieved by vibration stimulations of specific frequencies. To examine the response of muscle cells to vibration stimuli, an in vitro vibration device capable of setting various frequencies and amplitudes was developed for use with a 6-well plate. In vitro vibrational stimulation was applied to C2C12 myoblasts to quantify the growth and differentiation of myoblasts, as well as cell apoptosis. 10 Hz vibrational stimuli resulted in increases in ERK signaling and decreases in cell death. Moreover, an increase in the number of exposures to vibration promoted cellular differentiation. In conclusion, 10 Hz vibrational stimuli have the potential to increase muscle growth and differentiation and reduce apoptosis in C2C12 myoblasts.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.608-614
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• 2017

Background: Ginsenoside Rg1 belongs to protopanaxatriol-type ginsenosides and has diverse pharmacological activities. In this report, we investigated whether Rg1 could upregulate muscular stem cell differentiation and muscle growth. Methods: C2C12 myoblasts, MyoD-transfected 10T1/2 embryonic fibroblasts, and HEK293T cells were treated with Rg1 and differentiated for 2 d, subjected to immunoblotting, immunocytochemistry, or immunoprecipitation. Results: Rg1 activated promyogenic kinases, p38MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) and Akt signaling, that in turn promote the heterodimerization with MyoD and E proteins, resulting in enhancing myogenic differentiation. Through the activation of Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway, Rg1 induced myotube growth and prevented dexamethasone-induced myotube atrophy. Furthermore, Rg1 increased MyoD-dependent myogenic conversion of fibroblast. Conclusion: Rg1 upregulates promyogenic kinases, especially Akt, resulting in improvement of myoblast differentiation and myotube growth.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.715-723
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• 2018

The present study was done to investigate the effect of co-culturing muscle satellite cells (MSCs) and intramuscular preadipocytes (IPs) on the differentiation of adipocytes and muscle cells isolated from Korean native cattle. MSCs and IPs were single-cultured in 10% fetal bovine serum/Dulbecco's modified Eagles medium (FBS/DMEM) for 48 h followed by culturing in 5% FBS/DMEM as the growth media. Then, the growth media was replaced by differentiation media composed of 2% FBS/DMEM without any additives for the single- or co-culture of muscle cells and intramuscular adipocytes to induce the differentiation of both cell types. Cell differentiation was measured by morphological investigation and cytosolic enzyme analysis of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) for the adipocytes and creatine kinase (CK) for the muscle cells. In the morphological test, the presence of muscle cells did not stimulate adipocyte differentiation showing more differentiation of the adipocytes in the single-culture compared to the co-culture condition. However, the differentiation of muscle cells was promoted by adipocytes in the co-culture. The results of the enzymatic analysis were highly associated with the morphological results with a statistically higher GPDH activity (p < 0.05) appearing in the single-culture than in the co-culture, whereas the opposite was true for the CK activity of the muscle cells (p < 0.05). By manipulating in vivo the milieu using a co-culture, we could detect the difference in the rate of cell differentiation and suggest that a co-culture system is a more reliable and precise technique compared to a single-culture. Further studies on various co-culture trials including supplementation of differentiating substances, gene expression analysis, etc. should be done to obtain practical and fundamental data.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.806-813
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• 2012

Adipocyte differentiation is strongly associated with obesity, which causes metabolic disorders. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of widdrol on 3T3-L1 preadipocyte growth and differentiation. Widdrol decreased lipid droplet accumulation and down-regulated adipogenic transcription factors such as C/$EBP{\alpha}$, C/$EBP{\beta}$, and $PPAR{\gamma}$. Widdrol blocked preadipocyte proliferation and differentiation through the inhibition of mitotic clonal expansion, which was accompanied by the failure of degradation of p21, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor. Cell-cycle analysis clearly indicated that widdrol actively induces cell-cycle arrest at the G1-S phage transition, causing cells to remain in the preadipocyte state. Moreover, widdrol increased p21 expression and inhibited Rb phosphorylation in preadipocyte incubated in a hormone medium. Therefore, these findings clearly suggest that widdrol blocks preadipocyte growth and differentiation through the inhibition of mitotic clonal expansion by p21-and Rb-dependent G1 arrest and can be developed as a potent anti-adipogenic agent for reducing obesity.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.158-164
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• 2013

The most frequently encountered problems at fixture-implantation sites are lack of adequate bone and proximity to anatomic structures. It is generally accepted that growth factors play an essential role in the healing process and tissue formation, and they have become the focus of grafting materials research. The granules in platelets contain high concentrations of various growth factors. In particular, platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) is a second-generation platelet concentrate that allows the production of fibrin membranes enriched with platelets and growth factors from an anticoagulant-free blood harvest. This study investigated the in vitro effects of PRF on osteoblasts, in terms of the key cellular functions, and especially the effects on two growth factors, the homodimer of platelet-derived growth factor subunit B (BPDGF-BB) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-${\beta}1$, which are associated with wound healing and regeneration (i.e., proliferation and differentiation). The following parameters were investigated: PDGF-BB and TGF-${\beta}1$ levels in PRF, cell viability, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, type 1 collagen synthesis, and the expressions of osteoblast differentiation markers (ALP and runt-related transcription factor 2) and bone matrix proteins (type 1 collagen). The release of autologous growth factors from PRF was maintained for a reasonable period of time, and exerted positive effects on the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts. The use of PRF thus appears to be a promising method for enhancing bone healing and remodeling.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 2004

Objective: This study was to examine the in vitro neural cell differentiation patterns of human embryonic stem (hES) cells following treatment of various neurotrophic factors [basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), retinoic acid (RA), brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-$\alpha$], particulary in dopaminergic neuron formation. Methods: The hES cells were induced to differentiate by bFGF and RA. Group I) In bFGF induction method, embryoid bodies (EBs, for 4 days) derived from hES were plated onto gelatin dish, selected for 8 days in ITSFn medium and expanded at the presence of bFGF (10 ng/ml) for another 6 days followed by a final differentiation in N2 medium for 7, 14 and 21 days. Group II) For RA induction, EBs were exposed of RA ($10^{-6}M$) for 4 days and allowed to differentiate in N2 medium for 7, 14 and 21 days. Group III) To examine the effects of additional neurotrophic factors, bFGF or RA induced cells were exposed to either BDNF (10 ng/ml) or TGF-$\alpha$ (10 ng/ml) during the 21 days of final differentiation. Neuron differentiation and dopamine secretion were examined by indirect immunocytochemistry and HPLC, respectively. Results: The bFGF or RA treated hES cells were resulted in similar neural cell differentiation patterns at the terminal differentiation stage, specifically, 75% neurons and 11% glial cells. Additionally, treatment of hES cells with BDNF or TGF-$\alpha$ during the terminal differentiation stage led to significantly increased tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression of a dopaminergic neuron marker, compared to control (p<0.05). In contrast, no effect was observed on the rate of mature neuron (NF-200) or glutamic acid decarboxylase-positive neurons. Immunocytochemistry and HPLC analyses revealed the higher levels of TH expression (20.3%) and dopamine secretion (265.5 $\pm$ 62.8 pmol/mg) in bFGF and TGF-sequentially treated hES cells than those in $\alpha$ RA or BDNF treated hES cells. Conclusion: These results indicate that the generation of dopamine secretory neurons from in vitro differentiated hES cells can be improved by TGF-$\alpha$ addition in the bFGF induction protocol.