• Molecules and Cells
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• 제42권3호
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• pp.200-209
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• 2019

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have been used as promising tools for regenerative medicine, disease modeling, and drug screening. Traditional and common strategies for pluripotent stem cell (PSC) differentiation toward disease-relevant cell types depend on sequential treatment of signaling molecules identified based on knowledge of developmental biology. However, these strategies suffer from low purity, inefficiency, and time-consuming culture conditions. A growing body of recent research has shown efficient cell fate reprogramming by forced expression of single or multiple transcription factors. Here, we review transcription factor-directed differentiation methods of PSCs toward neural, muscle, liver, and pancreatic endocrine cells. Potential applications and limitations are also discussed in order to establish future directions of this technique for therapeutic purposes.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제7권4호
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• pp.329-334
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• 1999

Recently, cellular signal transduction mechanisms are greatly understood. However, bone cell signaling is not completely characterized. Interestingly, bone cells synthesize a number of growth factors such as IGF-I PDGF, IGF-II etc., suggesting these growth factors play important roles in bone cell signaling. In the present study, potential roles of nitric oxide (NO) and protein kinases in osteoblast signal transduction are proposed.

• KSBB Journal
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.323-327
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• 2005

조직을 이용한 역전사 (RT)-PCR법을 이용하면 원하는 특정유전자의 발현을 비교적 정확하게 알 수 있지만 조직의 RNA를 이용하므로 세포단위의 정확한 유전자 발현을 알기에는 한계가 있다. 특히 그 기능과 성질이 다른 세포가 무수하게 많이 혼재하는 두뇌와 같은 조직은 신경계의 각종 뉴런(신경세포), 글리어 (glial cell) 등이 서로 얽혀 있다. 대표적인 신경세포의 degeneration 질병으로는 파킨슨병 (Parkinson's disease; PD)이 있다. 파킨슨병은 사람의 신경세포 관련 질병에 있어서 가장 일반적인 질병의 하나이다. PD의 가장 중요한 원인은 도파민 생성 신경세포의 퇴행 혹은 사멸에 기인하여 도파민 (dopamine)이라는 신경전달물질이 감소하는 것이 그 원인이다. 도파민과 같은 카테콜아민의 생합성에 관련된 효소는 타이로신 하이드록실레이스 (TH), 도파 데카르복실레이스 (DDC) 등이 알려져 있다. 그러나 그런 효소들의 생화학적 연구는 많이 되어 있음에도 불구하고 단일 흑질 신경세포에서의 이들 관련 유전자의 발현 양상에 대해서는 알려진 바가 거의 없다. PD와 관련된 유전자의 발현 정도를 밝히기 위하여, 레이저 다이섹터 (laser micro-dissector)에 의한 단일 신경세포의 분리에 착수하였다. 정해진 방법에 따라 정상 대조구 (비PD)와 PD 환자에서 각각 한 개 또는 여러 개를 성공적으로 분리한 흑질 신경세포를 이용하여 유전자 특이적 프라이머를 사용하여 RT-PCR을 행하였다. 그 결과, 단 한 개의 신경세포에서도 여러 개의 세포를 사용한 것과 같은 동일한 결과를 얻는 데 성공하였다. PD환자의 뇌에서 분리한 10개의 독립적인 세포의 예에서는 각 세포간의 발현차이가 인정되었으며, 특히 TH 유전자의 발현은 상당히 높은 확률로 검출되지 않았다. 이 결과로 단일 신경세포에서의 mRNA양을 검출하기 위해서는 본 본문의 RT-PCR법이 효과적인 방법임을 알 수 있다.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제47권3호
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• pp.390-399
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• 2023

Background: Gintonin (GT), a Panax ginseng-derived lysophosphatidic acid receptor (LPAR) ligand, has positive effects in cultured or animal models for Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and so on. However, the potential therapeutic value of GT in treating epilepsy has not yet been reported. Methods: Effects of GT on epileptic seizure (seizure) in kainic acid [KA, 55mg/kg, intraperitoneal (i.p.)]-induced model of mice, excitotoxic (hippocampal) cell death in KA [0.2 ㎍, intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.)]-induced model of mice, and levels of proinflammatory mediators in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced BV2 cells were investigated. Results: An i.p. injection of KA into mice produced typical seizure. However, it was significantly alleviated by oral administration of GT in a dose-dependent manner. An i.c.v. injection of KA produced typical hippocampal cell death, whereas it was significantly ameliorated by administration of GT, which was related to reduced levels of neuroglial (microglia and astrocyte) activation and proinflammatory cytokines/enzymes expression as well as increased level of the Nrf2-antioxidant response via the upregulation of LPAR 1/3 in the hippocampus. However, these positive effects of GT were neutralized by an i.p. injection of Ki16425, an antagonist of LPA1-3. GT also reduced protein expression level of inducible nitric-oxide synthase, a representative proinflammatory enzyme, in LPS-induced BV2 cells. Treatment with conditioned medium clearly reduced cultured HT-22 cell death. Conclusion: Taken together, these results suggest that GT may suppress KA-induced seizures and excitotoxic events in the hippocampus through its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities by activating LPA signaling. Thus, GT has a therapeutic potential to treat epilepsy.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.183-190
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• 2008

Plant-cell-wall-degrading enzymes (PCWDEs) of Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum are the key virulence factor in pathogenesis of soft rot disease of vegetables. The production of PCWDEs is controlled in a cell density dependent manner to avoid the premature production of PCWDEs and subsequent activation of plant defense. N-oxoacyl-homoserine lactone (OHL) is essential for quorum sensing in the soft rot pathogen and the expI gene is responsible for OHL production. The ExpI homolog isolated from P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum SL940 had 94% identity with ExpI of E. carotovora subsp. carotovora scc3193 and 74% identity with Carl of E. carotovora subsp. atroseptica. The transgenic plants that express exp I uner the control of CaMV35S promoter were able to produce diffusible OHL. Transgenic plants producing OHL were very resistant to the infection of P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum. Since the PR1 gene was strongly induced and NPR1 and NPR4 were induced weakly in transgenic plants compared to the wild type, salicylic acid-dependent pathways is likely involved in the resistance to the soft rot pathogen P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum in ExpI transgenic plants.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.417-424
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• 2017

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is neurodegenerative disease, characterized by the progressive decline of memory, cognitive functions, and changes in personality. The major pathological features in postmortem brains are neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid beta ($A{\beta}$) deposits. The majority of AD cases are sporadic and age-related. Although AD pathogenesis has not been established, aging and declining mitochondrial function has been associated. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been observed in AD patients' brains and AD mice models, and the mice with a genetic defect in mitochondrial complex I showed enhanced $A{\beta}$ level in vivo. To elucidate the role of mitochondrial complex I in AD, we used SH-SY5Y cells transfected with DNA constructs expressing human amyloid precursor protein (APP) or human Swedish APP mutant (APP-swe). The expression of APP-swe increased the level of $A{\beta}$ protein in comparison with control. When complex I was inhibited by rotenone, the increase of ROS level was remarkably higher in the cells overexpressing APP-swe compared to control. The number of dead cell was significantly increased in APP-swe-expressing cells by complex I inhibition. We suggest that complex I dysfunction accelerate amyloid toxicity and mitochondrial complex I dysfunction in aging may contribute to the pathogenesis of sporadic AD.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제37권2호
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• pp.97-103
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• 2020

Objectives : Parkinson's disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disease, is caused by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. There is no clear treatment or remedy for Parkinson's disease; therefore, the development of novel therapies related to anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects is required. This study was performed to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of water extracts from Cervi Cornu (CC) in dopaminergic cells. Methods : We studied effects of CC on apoptosis, cell death and inflammation in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells treated by methylpyridinium ion (MPP+). SH-SY5Y cell line was treated with CC for 24 hours and then 500 μM MPP+ for 18 hours. Results : Cervi Cornu treatment inhibited the decrease in tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression and decreased the activation of inflammatory factors mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase (COX2) and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) against MPP+ neurotoxicity. Apoptosis factors BCL2 associated X, apoptosis regulator (BAX) levels were decreased and B-Cell CLL/Lymphoma 2 (BCL2) levels were increased. Conclusions : These results suggest that CC treatment had neuroprotective effects in the SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells against toxicity induced by MPP+. The results suggest new possibilities of CC for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제23권5호
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• pp.881-886
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• 1990

Thirty-three patients less than 40 years of age were diagnosed at CS Dept. of Catholic University Medical College between 1979 and 1988 as having primary lung cancer. There were 22 men and 11 women; the average age was 36.3 years. The youngest patients was 23 years old. Eighteen male patients were only habitual smokers more than 1 pack per day. In the 33 cases, the distribution by tumor type was as follows: squamous cell carcinoma 36.4%[13 cases]; adenocarcinoma 33.3%[11 cases]; small cell carcinoma 24.2%[8 cases]; and large cell carcinoma 3.0%[1 case]. At the time of diagnosis, 2 patients[6.1%] had stage I disease, 2[6.1%] had stage II disease, 5[15.6%] had stage IIIA disease, 10[30.3%] had stage lllB disease, and 14[42.4%] had stage IV disease. Thirteen patients[36.4%] underwent an exploratory thoracotomy. Of these patients, 9[27.3%] had surgical resection[six lobectomies, two pneumonectomies, and one wedge resection]. Thirty-one patients were treated with palliative radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or combinations of each. The survival rate at 1 year, 3 year, and 5 year were 48.2%, 14.5%, and 8.3% respectively. But in the resectable 9 patients, they were 78.1%, 43.6%, and 33.3% respectively.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.38-50
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• 2024

Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology has revolutionized various fields, including stem cell research, disease modeling, and regenerative medicine. The evolution of iPSC-based models has transitioned from conventional two-dimensional systems to more physiologically relevant three-dimensional (3D) models such as spheroids and organoids. Nonetheless, there still remain challenges including limitations in creating complex 3D tissue geometry and structures, the emergence of necrotic core in existing 3D models, and limited scalability and reproducibility. 3D bioprinting has emerged as a revolutionary technology that can facilitate the development of complex 3D tissues and organs with high scalability and reproducibility. This innovative approach has the potential to effectively bridge the gap between conventional iPSC models and complex 3D tissues in vivo. This review focuses on current trends and advancements in the bioprinting of iPSCs. Specifically, it covers the fundamental concepts and techniques of bioprinting and bioink design, reviews recent progress in iPSC bioprinting research with a specific focus on bioprinting undifferentiated iPSCs, and concludes by discussing existing limitations and future prospects.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제53권6호
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• pp.777-783
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• 2015

The nitric oxide (NO) formation and intrinsic nitrosation may be involved in the possible mechanisms of liver fluke-associated carcinogenesis. We still do not know much about the responses of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) induced by Clonorchis sinensis infection. This study was conducted to explore the pathological lesions and iNOS expressions in the liver of mice with different infection intensity levels of C. sinensis. Extensive periductal inflammatory cell infiltration, bile duct hyperplasia, and fibrosis were commonly observed during the infection. The different pathological responses in liver tissues strongly correlated with the infection intensity of C. sinensis. Massive acute spotty necrosis occurred in the liver parenchyma after a severe infection. The iNOS activity in liver tissues increased, and iNOS-expressing cells with morphological differences were observed after a moderate or severe infection. The iNOS-expressing cells in liver tissues had multiple origins.