• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.633-639
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• 2005

The composition of Hwoangbaec-tang has been traditionally used in Korea to treat cancer. Hwoangbaec-tang I is the water extracts prepared from Angelica dahurica, Fritillariae verticillata, Ailanthus altissima, Viscum coloratun, Scutellaria Radix, Ginseng Radix, Astragalus membranaceus, and Glycyrrhizae Radix. Hwoangbaec-tang II also is the water extracts prepared from Ginseng Radix, Astragalus membranaceus, and Glycyrrhizae Radix. The anti-leukemic effects of human promyelocytic leukaemia (HL-60 cells) by Hwoangbaec-tang I or II was accessed by propidium iodide staining flow cytometric analysis, and apoptosis-inducing activity was further confirmed by a nuclear morphological change, a ladder pattern of DNA fragmentation, and an activation of caspase-3 and 9. Hwoangbaec-tang I was found to induce the apoptosis of HL-60 cells via caspase-3 and 9 pathway. In the other side, Hwoangbaec-tang II was found to inhibit the growth of HL-60 cells by inducing these cells to differentiate toward granulocytes. These results indicate that the different anti-leukemic effects of Hwoangbaec-tang in HL-60 cells can be induce the apoptosis or differnetiation of HL-60 cells in Hwoangbaec-tang composition dependent manner.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.60-79
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• 1994

The studies were conducted to investigate the combined effects of Tonics and Mitomycin C(MMC). The effects of Tonics and MMC on the proliferation of Molt-4 cells, human leukemic cell line, and activation of human lymphocytes were estimated by MTT colorimetric assays. Selected medicines among 9 kinds of Tonics by results of MTT assays were treated with MMC in mice. The Tonics itself enhanced the proliferation of Molt-4, but the anti-proliferative effect of MMC was not intercalated by the combined treatment of Tonic and MMC. Inhibitory action of MMC was augmented by Sa Kun Ja Tang(SKT). This result was due to the inhibition of DNA synthesis. Among 9 kinds of Tonics, Sip Jean Dae Bo Tang(SDT), Saeng Maek San(SMS) and Kwi Bi Tang(KBT) did not inhibit the action of MMC, but activated lymphocytes. When the mice were treated by MMC, the number of leukocytes was decreased significantly at the 1st day, but recovered at the 7th day. In the groups of MMC treated with SDT or KBT, the number of leukocytes was increased significantly than the group of MMC treated only at the 3rd day. Combined treatment of the Tonics(SDT, SMS) and MMC retained the body weight of mice at the level of normal mice. SDT, SMS and KBT did not change the number of plaque forming cells(PFC), but MMC treated group decreased the number of PFC. The combined treatment of MMC and SDT increased the number of PFC significantly than the MMC treated group. SDT, SMS and KBT did not influence the proliferation of T cells, but MMC treated group decreased the proliferation of T cells. The combined treatment of MMC and those tonics increased the T cell proliferation significantly than the MMC treated group. In conclusion, the results presented in this paper suggest that SDT, SMS and KBT can recover the side effects of MMC, such as weight loss, leukopenia and immunosuppresion, without any intercalating the anti-proliferative action of MMC in vivo.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.115-125
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• 2015

A monoclonal antibody AP64 IgM binds to human acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) cell line HL60 and also cross-reacts with the homologous antigen in a rat ANLL cell. This antibody mediated by complement, has leukemia a suppression effect. In this study, we generated a recombinant single-chain variable domain fragment (ScFv) which were derived from $V_H$ and $V_L$ cDNA of AP64 IgM-secreting hybridoma by RT-PCR. The two variable regions were joined with a single 15 amino acid linker $(G_4S)_3$. This recombinant ScFv was expressed as a single polypeptide chain from Escherichia coli BMH 71-18. The recombinant ScFv was purified by applying the periplasmic extract to $Ni^+$-NTA-agarose affinity column and detected with westernblot. The purified recombinant ScFv recognized a surface antigen (about 30 kDa) of HL60 cell line which is the same antigen detected by parental AP64 IgM. But the affinity of ScFv for a surface antigen of HL60 was lower than that of the parental AP64 IgM, which needs to be further improved. Overall, the recombinant ScFv specific to HL60 might be a useful bioreagent for either diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.145-152
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• 2007

Transgenic mice were generated by microinjecting a plasmid DNA containing the SV40 (simian virus 40) large T antigen (Tag) gene fused with mouse albumin promoter/enhancer sequences into fertilized one-cell mouse embryos. Among eleven founder transgenic animals, four developed hepatocellular carcinoma, two showed kidney cancer and one developed skin and brain tumors. Three stable transgenic lines, #1-2, #1-6 and #1-11 were established. Members of the lines #1-6 and #1-11 reproducibly developed liver tumors by 8 to 10 weeks of age but did not exhibit any phenotypic changes in other tissues. Histological changes loading to liver tumor formation occurred with predictable kinetics and could be classified into three distinct stages; (a) newborn to 3 weeks of age, characterized by hyperplastic hepatocytes with reduced amounts of cytoplasm without any nuclear alterations, (b) between 4 to 8 weeks of age, characterized by diffuse liver cell dysplasia without observable tumor nodules, and (c) 9 weeks of age and thereafter, characterized by hepatocellular carcinomas in the background of extensive liver dysplasia. Metastasis to the lung from a liver carcinoma was observed in #1-11 founder animal. This transgenic mouse system displays similarities with human liver cancers in a number of aspects and provides a useful model for the study of molecular events involved in hepatocarcinogenesis.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.865-873
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• 2002

The primary cause of tooth loss after 30 years of age is periodontal disease. Destruction of alveolar bone by periodontal disease is done by bone resorbing activity of osteoclasts. Understanding differentiation and activation mechanism of osteoclasts is essential for controling periodontal disease. The purpose of this study is to identify the possible effects of Vitamin D and cytokines affecting osteoclasts and its precursor cells. Four to six week-old mice were killed and humerus, radius, tibia and femur were removed aseptically and washed two times with Hank's solution containing penicillin-streptomycin and then soft tissue were removed. Bone marrow cells were collected by 22 gauge needle. Cells were cultured in Hank's solution containing 1 mg/ml type II collagenase, 0.05% trypsin, 41mM EDTA. Supernatant solution was removed 5 times after 15 minutes of digestion with above mentioned enzyme solution, and remained bone particles were maintained in alpha-MEM for 15 minutes and $4^{\circ}C$ temperature. Bone particles were agitated for 1 minute and supernatant solution containing osteoclast precursor cells were filtrated with cell stainer. These separated osteoclast precursor cells were dispensed with 100-mm culture dish by $1{\times}10^7$ cells unit and cultured in ${\alpha}$- MEM containing 20 ng/ml recombinant human M-CSF, 30 ng/ml recombinant human soluble osteoclast differentiation factor and 10% fetal calf serum for 2 and 7 days. Total RNA of osteoclast precursor cells were extracted using RNeasy kit. One ${\mu}g$ of total RNA was reverse transcribed in $42^{\circ}C$ for 30 minutes using SuperScriptII reverse transcriptase. Expression of transcribed receptors of each hormone and cytokine were traced with 1 ${\mu}l$ of cDNA solution by PCR amplification. Vitamin D receptor WAS found in cells cultured for 7 days. TNF-${\alpha}$ receptor was found in cells cultured for 2 days and amount of receptors were increased by 7 days. IL-1 type I receptor was not found in cells cultured 2 and 7 days. But, IL-1 receptor type II was found in cells cultured for 2 days. TGF-${\alpha},{\beta}$type I receptor was found in cells cultured 2 and 7 days, and amount of receptors were increased by 7 days of culture. These results implies Vitamin D and cytokines can affect osteoclasts directly, and affecting period in differentiation cycle of osteoclasts is different by Vitamin D and cytokines.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.269-275
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• 1996

Biosynthesis and secretion of anterior pituitary hormones are under the control of specific hypothalamic stimulatory and inhibitory factors. Among them, Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone (GHRH) is the major stimulator of pituitary somatotrophs activating GH gene expression and secretion. Human GHRH is a polypeptide of 44 amino acids initially isolated from pancreatic tumors, and the gene for the hypothalamic form of GHRH is organized into 5 exons spanning over 10 kilobases (kb) on genomic DNA and encodes a messenger RNA of 700-750 nucleotides. Several neuropeptides classically associated with the hypothalamus have been found in the extrahypothalamic regions, suggesting the existence of novel sources, targets and functions. GHRH-like immunoreactivity has been found in several peripheral sites, including placenta, testis, and ovary, indicating that GHRH may also have regulatory roles in peripheral reproductive organs. Furthermore, higher molecular weight forms of the GHRH transcripts were identified from these organs (1.75 kb in testis; 1.75 and >3 kb in ovary). These tissue-specific expression of GHRH gene suggest the existence of unique regulatory mechanism of GHRH expression and function in these organs. In fact, placenta-specific and testis-specific promoters for GHRH transcripts which are located in about 10 kb upstream region of hypothalamic promoter were reported. The use of unique promoters in extrahypothalamic sites could be refered in a different control of GHRH gene and different functions of the translated products in these tissues. Somatotrophs and lactotrophs have been thought to be derived from a common bipotential progenitor, the somatolactotrophs, which give origins to either phenotypes. Although the precise mechanism responsible for the lactotroph differentiation in the anterior pituitary gland has not been yet clalified, there are several candidators for the generation of lactotrophs. In human, the presence of GHRH peptides with different size from authentic hypothalamic form in the normal anterior pituitary and several types of adenoma were demonstrated. Recently our group found the existence of immunoreactive GHRH and its transcript from the normal rat anterior pituitary (gonadotroph> somatotroph> lactotroph), and the GHRH treatment evoked the increased proliferation rate of anterior pituitary cells in vitro. The transgenic mouse models clearly shown that GHRH or NGF overexpression by anterior pituitary cells induced development of pituitary hyperplasia and adenomas particularly GH-oma and prolactinoma. Taken together, we hypothesize that the pituitary GHRH could serve not only as a modulator of hormone secretion but as a paracrine or autocrine regulator of anterior pituitary cell proliferation and differentiation. Interestingly enough, the expression of Pit-1 homeobox gene (the POU class transcription factor) was confined to somatotrophs, lactotrophs and somatolactotrophs in which GHRH receptors are expressed commonly. Concerning the mechanism of somatolactotroph and lactotroph differentiation in the anterior pituitary, we have focused following two possibilities; (1) changes in the relative levels or interactions of both hypothalamic and intrapituitary factors such as dopamine, VIP, somatostatin, NGF and GHRH; (2) alterations of GHRH-GHRH receptor signaling and Pit-1 activity may be the cause of lactotroph differentiation or pituitary hyperplasia and adenoma formation. Extensive further studies will be necessary to solve these complicated questions.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.347-354
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• 2013

Innate immunity is the ability to differentiate infectious agents from self. The innate immune system is comprised of a complicated network of recognition and effector molecules that act together to protect the host in the early stage of an infectious challenge. Mannose-binding lectin (MBL or mannose-binding protein, MBP) belongs to the family of $Ca^{2+}$-dependent lectins (C-type lectin with a collagen-like domain), which are considered an important component of innate immunity. While it is associated with increased risk and severity of infections and autoimmunity, the most frequent immuno-deficiency syndrome was reported to be low MBL level in blood. Deficiency of human MBL is caused by mutations in the coding region of the MBL gene. Rat homologue gene of human MBL gene was used to study functions of wild type and mutant MBL proteins. Although extensive studies have yielded the structural information of MBL, the functions of MBL, especially mutant MBL, still require investigation. We previously reported the cloning of rat wild-type MBL gene and the production of a truncated form of MBL protein and its antibody. Here, we present the cloning of mutant MBL cDNA in collagen-like domain (R40C, G42D, and G45E) using site-directed mutagenesis and differential behaviors of wild type and mutant MBL in cells. The major difference between wild type and mutant MBL was that while wild type MBL was secreted, mutant MBL was inhibited for secretion, retained in endoplasmic reticulum, and still functioned as a lectin.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.287-294
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• 2016

The effect of kaempferol (3,5,7,4-tetrahydroxyflavone), a flavonoid compound that was identified in barnyard millet (Echinochloa crus-galli var. frumentacea) grains, on G₂-checkpoint and apoptotic pathways was investigated in human acute leukemia Jurkat T cell clones stably transfected with an empty vector (J/Neo) or a Bcl-xL expression vector (J/Bcl-xL). Exposure of J/Neo cells to kaempeferol caused cytotoxicity and activation of the ATM/ATR-Chk1/Chk2 pathway, activating the phosphorylation of p53 (Ser-15), inhibitory phosphorylation of Cdc25C (Ser-216), and inactivation of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (Cdk1), with resultant G₂-arrest of the cell cycle. Under these conditions, apoptotic events, including upregulation of Bak and PUMA levels, Bak activation, mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) loss, activation of caspase-9, -8, and -3, anti-poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage, and accumulation of apoptotic sub-G₁ cells, were induced without accompanying necrosis. However, these apoptotic events, except for upregulation of Bak and PUMA levels, were completely abrogated in J/Bcl-xL cells overexpressing Bcl-xL, suggesting that the G₂-arrest and the Bcl-xL-sensitive mitochondrial apoptotic events were induced, in parallel, as downstream events of the DNA-damage-mediated G₂-checkpoint activation. Together these results demonstrate that kaempferol-mediated antitumor activity toward Jurkat T cells was attributable to G₂-checkpoint activation, which caused not only G₂-arrest of the cell cycle but also activating phosphorylation of p53 (Ser-15) and subsequent induction of mitochondria-dependent apoptotic events, including Bak and PUMA upregulation, Bak activation, Δψm loss, and caspase cascade activation.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1998.06a
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• pp.231-243
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• 1998

In the present study, we provide evidence that ginsenoside $Rh_2$ (G-$Rh_2$) as well as staurosporine induces apoptosis of human hepatoma SK-HEP-1 cells by caspase 3-mediated processing of $p21^{WAFI/CIPI}$ in the early stage of apoptosls. Immunoblottings showed that G-$Rh_2$ as well as statrosporine induced the processing of caspase-3 to an active form, pl7. In stable Bcl-2 transfectants however, G-$Rh_2$ induced DNA fragmentation, while staurosporine did not. In the early stage of apoptosis, $p21^{WAFI/CIPI}$ was detected to undergo proteolytic processing specifically conducted by caspase-3. $p21^{WAFI/CIPI}$ translated in vitro was cleaved into a p14 fragment, when incubated with cell extracts obtained from either G-$Rh_2$- or staurosporine-treated cells. Cleavage was equally inhibited in both cases by adding Ac-DEVD-cho, a specific caspase-3 inhibitor, but not by Ac-YVkD-cho, a specific caspase-l inhibitor. Similarly, $p21^{WAFI/CIPI}$ was efficiently leaved by recombinant caspase-3 overexpressed in E. coli. Moreover, the endogenous $p21^{WAFI/CIPI}$ of untreated-cell extracts was also cleaved by recombinant caspase-3. Mutation analysis allowed identification of two caspase-3 cleavage sites, $DHVD^{112}$/L and $SMTD^{149}$/F, which are located within, or near the interaction domains for cyclins, Cdks, and PCNA. Taken together, these results show that G-$Rh_2$ as well as staurosporine increases caspase-3 activity, which in turn directly cleaves $p21^{WAFI/CIPI}$ resulting in elevation of Cdk kinase activity in the early stages of apoptosis. We propose that proteolytic cleavage of $p21^{WAFI/CIPI}$ is a functionally relevant event that allows unleashing the cyclin/Cdk activity from the inhibitor seen in the earlier stage of apoptosis, the event of which may be associated with the triggering mechanism for the execution of apoptosis.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.690-695
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• 2003

Physiological activities of 40% ethanol extracts of Phellinus ribis were studied by employing several biological and biochemical assays. The extracts of Phellinus ribis displayed nitrate-scavenging activities (NSA) at pH 1.2 as with 64% NSA with 1.0 mg/mL of the extracts. They also had 91% 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities at the concentration of 1.0 mg/mL. Antioxidant activities of the extracts (at 0.5 mg/mL) on the autoxidation of linoleic acid (p<0.001) were also observed.. The inhibitory effect of the extracts on angiotensin converting enzyme was 11%. Cytotoxic effects of Phellinus ribis extracts against human cancer cell tines were also examined using MTT assay. The extracts (at 50 mg/mL) had severe growth inhibitory effects on A549, Hela, AGS, and SK-Hep-1, which were 8, 44, 76 and 42%, respectively. Ames test indicated that the extracts had no mutating effects on Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100.