• Molecules and Cells
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2007

Natural killer (NK) cells play a crucial role in innate immune system and tumor surveillance. NK cells are derived from $CD34^+$hematopoietic stem cells and undergo differentiation via precursor NK cells in bone marrow (BM) through sequential acquisition of functional surface receptors. During differentiation of NK cells, many factors are involved including cytokines, membrane factors and transcription factors as well as microenvironment of BM. NK cells express their own repertoire of receptors including activating and inhibitory receptors that bind to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I or class I-related molecules. The balance between activating and inhibitory receptors determines the function of NK cells to kill targets. Binding of NK cell inhibitory receptors to their MHC class I-ligand renders the target cells to be protected from NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Thus, NK cells are able to discriminate self from non-self through MHC class I-binding inhibitory receptor. Using intrinsic properties of NK cells, NK cells are emerging to apply as therapeutic agents against many types of cancers. Recently, NK cell alloactivity has also been exploited in killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor mismatched haploidentical stem cell transplantation to reduce the rate of relapse and graft versus host disease. In this review, we discuss the basic mechanisms of NK cell differentiation, diversity of NK cell receptors, and clinical applications of NK cells for anti-cancer immunotherapy.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.380-387
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• 2008

The effects of the applied stretch and MgADP binding on the structure of the actin and myosin cross-bridges in rabbit fibers in the rigor state have been investigatedwith improved resolution by x-ray diffraction using synchrotron radiation. To clarify the structure of the ATP hydrolysis intermediates formed by actin and myosin cross-bridges,the effects of various phosphate analogs in the of MgADP on the structure of the thin and thick filaments in glycerinated rabbit muscle fibers in the rigor state investigated by x-ray diffraction with a short exposure time using synchrotron radiation. These results strongly suggest that when MgADP and phosphate analogs such as metallofluorides(BeF3 and AlF4)and vanadate(VO4(Vi)) were added the rigor fibers in the presence of the ATP-depletion backup system, the intensities of the actin-based layer lines were markedly weakened. We found that the intensity of the 14.5 nm-based meridional reflections increase by 20-50% when phosphate analogs such as metallofluorides(BeF3 and AlF4) and vanadate(VO4(Vi)) was added to the rigor muscle.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.185-190
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• 2011

To evaluate the effect of spermatozoa culture on glycosidase activity of frozen-thawed spermatozoa in human, the spermatozoa were treated experimentally and assayed for activities of ${\alpha}$-L-fucosidase, ${\alpha}$-D-mannosidase, ${\beta}$-D-galactosidase and N-acetyl-${\beta}$-D-glucosaminidase (${\beta}$-GlcNAc'ase). The ${\beta}$-GlcNAc'ase activity was at least two-folds higher than other glycosidases regardless of spermatozoa incubation (p<0.05). The spermatozoa motility was decreased with incubation periods, but no effects by different glycosidases on the changes of spermatozoa motility during the various periods of incubation. In all glycosidases, the spermatozoa-zona binding rates in spermatozoa without incubation were higher than in spermatozoa incubated for 2 h (p<0.05). ${\beta}$-GlcNAc'ase is present mainly in the plasma membrane of spermatozoa frozen-thawed in human. It was also shown that the glycosidase activity was increased in all glycosidases in spite of lower sperm-zona binding by spermatozoa incubation.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.43-58
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• 1989

To investigate the effects of hexavalent chromium on mitochondrial respiration of rat kidney, various hexavalent chromium concentrations were treated, then respiration and electron transfer enzyme activities were measured. Ultrastructural changes at state IV respiration of mitochondria were also observed. Then, to investigate protective role against hexavalent chromium in the body, low-molecular-weight, chromium-binding substances (LMCr) were purified from livers of rabbits 2hr after intravenously administrated with sodium dichromate at a dose of 74mg per kg body weight. And then, respiration rates of mitochondria treated with LMCr, hexavalent chromium containing 0.7mM chromium were measured. Hexavalent chromium decreased state IV respiration rates and electron transfer enzyme activities of mitochondria, and increased labile membrane and swelling. And partial inhibitions of condensed to orthodox conformational change were observed. Respiration rates of mitochondria treated with LMCr containing 0.7mM chromium did not differ from that of the non-treated mitochondria. But respiration rates of 0.7mM hexavalent chromium-treated mitochondria decreased by 42%, compared to non-treated mitochondria. These results suggest that LMCr may play an important role in detoxification of toxic hexavalent chromium.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1998.11a
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• pp.177-177
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• 1998

In the previous report, tetrandrine (TET) and fangchinoline (FAN) showed antithrombotic and antiplatelet aggregation activities. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of tetrandrine and fangchinoline on human platelet aggregation, formation of thromboxane B$_2$ and coagulation of platelet poor plasma. TET and FAN inhibited platelet activating factor (PAF) induced human platelet aggregation, but didn't inhibit the specific binding of PAF to its receptor. Meanwhile, TET and FAN also inhibited PAF, thrombin and arachidonic acid induced thromboxane B$_2$ formation in human washed platelets. In addition, neither TET nor FAN showed any anticoagulation activities in the measurement of the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT) and thrombin time (TT) using human platelet poor plasma. These results suggest that antithrombotic effects of TET and FAN in mice may be mainly related to the antiplatelet aggregation activities, and the antiplatelet aggregation effects may be related to the intracellular messenger system such as TXA$_2$ formation etc., but not to the binding of PAF to PAF-receptor on the platelet membrane directly.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.11
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• pp.808-813
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• 2008

Human microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) is a membrane associated protein that catalyzes the conversion of prostaglandin $H_2$ ($PGH_2$) into prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$). In this study, the expression of human mPGES-1 in E. coli was significantly enhanced by modifying the utility of specific codons and the recombinant mPGES-1 was efficiently purified to homogeneity. The $K_m$ and $V_{max}$ of the purified enzyme were determined and the trimeric state characterized by chemical cross-linking with glutaraldehyde. The purified mPGES-1 was used for the screening of a chemical library of bioactive or drug compounds to identify novel inhibitors, and oxacillin and dyphylline were identified as moderately inhibiting mPGES-1 with $I_{C50}$ values of 100 and 200 ${\mu}M$, respectively. As these compounds competitively inhibited the catalysis of $PGH_2$, their binding sites appeared to be located near the $PGH_2$ binding pocket.

• BMB Reports
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.20-27
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• 2020

Translocator protein (TSPO), also known as peripheral benzodiazepine receptor, is a transmembrane protein located on the outer mitochondria membrane (OMM) and mainly expressed in glial cells in the brain. Because of the close correlation of its expression level with neuropathology and therapeutic efficacies of several TSPO binding ligands under many neurological conditions, TSPO has been regarded as both biomarker and therapeutic target, and the biological functions of TSPO have been a major research focus. However, recent genetic studies with animal and cellular models revealed unexpected results contrary to the anticipated biological importance of TSPO and cast doubt on the action modes of the TSPO-binding drugs. In this review, we summarize recent controversial findings on the discrepancy between pharmacological and genetic studies of TSPO and suggest some future direction to understand this old and mysterious protein.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 2023

Discovery of new substance that can regulate platelet aggregation or suppress aggregation will aid in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Artesunate is a compound from plant roots of Artemisia or Scopolia, and its effects have shown to be promising in areas of anticancer and Alzheimer's disease. However, the role and mechanisms by which artesunate affects the aggregation of platelets, and the formation of a thrombus are currently not understood. This study examined the ways artesunate affects platelets activation and thrombus formation induced by collagen. As a result, cAMP and cGMP production were increased significantly by artesunate relative to the doses, as well as phosphorylated VASP and IP₃R, substrates to cAMP-dependent kinase and cGMP-dependent kinase, in a significant manner. The Ca²⁺ normally mobilized from the dense tubular system was inhibited due to IP₃R, phosphorylation from artesunate, and phosphorylated VASP aided in inhibiting platelet activity via αIIb/β₃ platelet membrane inactivation and inhibiting fibrinogen binding. Finally, artesunate inhibited thrombin-induced thrombus formation. Therefore, we suggest that artesunate has importance with cardiovascular diseases stemming from the abnormal platelets activation and thrombus formation by acting as an effective prophylactic and therapeutic agent.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.245-252
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• 1993

Amiloride is a potassium sparing duretic which specifically inhibits $Na{^+}$ channels. In the present study, we investigated the possible interaction of amiloride with $A_1$ adenosine receptors-adenylyl cyclase system in crude adipocytic plasma membrane fractions prepared from Sprague-Dawley rats. When the function of $G_i$ protein (inhibitory guanine nucleotide binding protein) was assessed by determining the effects of GTP on isoproterenol-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity, the inhibitory effect of high concentrations of GTP was not observed in the presence of amiloride. In contrast, the adenosine receptor-mediated inhibition of the enzyme activity, as determined empolying 2-chloroadenosine, was either unchanged or even more enhanced by amiloride depending on the concentrations of 2-chloroadenosine. Thus, it appears that GTP- and receptor-mediated inhibitory function of $G_{i}$ proteins can be separated from one another. Receptor-mediated function of $G_{s}$ protein did not appear to be significantly affected by amiloride, since the inhibition of isoproterenol-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity by propranolol under the same conditions was not significantly altered by amiloride. The enhancement of 2-chloroadenosine-mediated inhibition of adenylyl cyclase by amiloride was maintained in the presence of 150 mM NaCl. In summary, these results suggest that amiloride interacts both with $A_{l}$ adenosine receptors and with $G_i$ proteins in adipocytic membranes. Its binding to the $A_1$ adenosine receptors appears to facilitate the coupling of the receptors with $G_i$ proteins thereby enhancing the inhibition of isoproterenol-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity by $A_1$ adenosine agonist, and the direct interaction with $G_i$ proteins appears to remove the GTP-dependent inhibitory effect on adenylyl cyclase activity.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.23-34
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• 1989

Gentamicin (GM) is a polybasic, aminoglycoside antibiotic used frequently for the treatment of serious gram-negative infections. The major limiting factors in the clinical use of GM as well as other aminoglycoside antibiotics are their nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity. The primary mechanism of cell injury in aminoglycoside toxicity appears to be the disruption of normal membrane function and the inhibition of $Na^{+}-K^{+}$ ATPase activity. There are both indirect and direct evidences which suggests that the effect of aminoglycoside antibiotics on $Na^{+}-K^{+}$ ATPase may explain, or contribute to, their toxicity. It has been shown that aminoglycoside reduce total ATPase activity (Kaku et al., 1973) and $Na^{+}-K^{+}$ ATPase activity (linuma et al., 1967) in the stria vascularis and spiral ligament of the guinea-pig cochlea. Lipsky and Lietman (1980) reported that aminoglycoside antibitoics inhibited the activity of $Na^{+}-K^{+}$ ATPase in microsomal fractions of the cortex and medulla of the guinea-pig kidney, isolated rat renal tubule and human erythrocyte ghosts. The present invstigation was undertaken to elucidate the mechanism of GM on human erythrocytes by examining its effect on $Na^{+}-K^{+}$ ATPase activity, actives sodium and potassium transport across red blood cell and $^{3}H-ouabain$ binding to red blood cell membranes. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1) CM inhibited significantly both the activity of total ATPase and $Na^{+}-K^{+}$ ATPase at all concentrations tested. 2) GM inhibited active $^{22}Na$ efflux across red blood cell. When ouabain is present, the rate of $^{22}Na$ efflux was completely inhibited. When both GM and ouabain were added, the inhibitory effect of active $^{22}Na$ efflux was more pronounced. 3) Active $^{86}Rb$ influx was inhibited significantly by GM. In the presence of ouabain, the rate of $^{86}Rb$ influx is markedly inhibited. But $^{86}Rb$ influx is not appreciably altered by the presence of both GM and ouabain. 4) In the presence of GM, $^{3}H-ouabain$ binding to red blood cell membrane increased. From the above results, it may be concluded that the inhibition of active sodium and potassium transport across red blood cell by gentamicin appears to be due to the inhibition of $Na^{+}-K^{+}$ ATPase activity and an increase in ouabain binding to red blood cell membranes.