• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.134-142
• /
• 2005

Liver cancer is a leading cause of tumor-related mortality, Diethylnitrosamine (DEN) is one of the most extensively studied hepatic carcinogens to date. In this study, the mRNA expression profile in DEN-induced liver tumors in mice was analyzed using DNA microarrays. We report increased expression of genes that participate in hypoxia response, including metallothionein 1 (Mt1), metallothionein 2 (Mt2), fatty acid synthase (Fasn), transferrin (Trf), adipose differentiation-related Protein (AdfP) and ceruloplasmin (CP), as well as those involved in predisposition and development of cancers, such as cytochrome P450 2A5 (Cyp2a5), alpha 2-HS-glycoprotein (Ahsg) and Jun-B oncogene (Junb). The hepatic iron regulatory peptide, hepcidin (Hampl), was downregulated in DEN-stimulated liver tumors. Expression of tumor suppressor genes, such as tripartite motif protein 13 (Trim13), was decreased under these conditions. The data collectively indicate that DEN-induced tumor development can be exploited as a possible model for liver cancer, since this process involves various genes with important functions in hepatic carcinogenesis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.591-599
• /
• 2008

A murine model immunized by systemic and mucosal delivery of plasmid DNA vaccine expressing glycoprotein B (pCIgB) of pseudorabies virus (PrV) was used to evaluate both the nature of the induced immunity and protection against a virulent virus. With regard to systemic delivery, the intramuscular (i.m.) immunization with pCIgB induced strong PrV-specific IgG responses in serum but was inefficient in generating a mucosal IgA response. Mucosal delivery through intranasal (i.n.) immunization of pCIgB induced both systemic and mucosal immunity at the distal mucosal site. However, the levels of systemic immunity induced by i.n. immunization were less than those induced by i.m. immunization. Moreover, i.n. genetic transfer of pCIgB appeared to induce Th2-biased immunity compared with systemic delivery, as judged by the ratio of PrV-specific IgG isotypes and Th1- and Th2-type cytokines produced by stimulated T cells. Moreover, the immunity induced by i.n. immunization did not provide effective protection against i.n. challenge of a virulent PrV strain, whereas i.m. immunization produced resistance to viral infection. Therefore, although i.n. immunization was a useful route for inducing mucosal immunity at the virus entry site, i.n. immunization did not provide effective protection against the lethal infection of PrV.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.51-56
• /
• 2004

The polysaccharide isolated from Phellinus species has been known as a folk remedy, including antitumor and immune-stimulating activities. However, there are lacks of knowledge about mycelial growth and exopolysaccharide (EH) production in its submerged culture. We investigated the optimal conditions on mycelial growth and EPS production in Phellinus baumii. The optimal temperature and initial pH for mycelial growth and EPS production in shake flask culture of P. baumii were proved to be 3$0^{\circ}C$ and pH 5.0, respectively. In case of carbon source, cellobiose and maltose were highly efficient for mycelial growth and fructose and mannitol were also relatively favorable for EPS production. Yeast extract was the most suitable nitrogen source for mycelial growth and EPS production. The composition of optimal culture medium was determined to be fructose 20 g/L, yeast extract 20 g/L, and $CaCl_2$ 0.55 g/L, respectively. Under the optimal culture condition, the maximum mycelial biomass and EPS achieved in a 5-L stirred-tank fermenter were 17.43 g/L and 3.6 g/L, respectively. It was found that the EPS was a glycoprotein onsisted of mainly arginine (14.1%) and glycine (12.0 %) in protein moiety and mainly mannose (48.7%) and arabinose (38.4%) in carbohydrate moiety.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.138-142
• /
• 1995

An anticoagulant/fibrinolytic protease was purified to homogeneity from the earthworm Lumbricus rubellus. The protein was a single chain glycoprotein of 32 kDa that exhibited strong proteolytic activity on human thrombin and fibrin clots. Proteolytic degradation of these plasma proteins by the purified enzyme occurred at a neutral pH range. Among several human plasma proteins tested as possible substrates for the protease reaction, the 32 kDa enzyme specifically hydrolyzed both thrombin and fibrin polymers without affecting other proteins, such as serum albumin, immunoglobulin, and hemoglobin. Treatment of the purified enzyme at neutral pH with either phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride or soybean trypsin inhibitor resulted in a loss of catalytic activity. The enzyme hydrolyzed the chromogenic substrate H-D-Phe-L-Pipecolyl-L-Arg-p-nitroanilide with a $K_m$ value of 1.1 ${\mu}M$ at a neutral pH. These results suggest that the anticoagulant/fibrinolytic enzyme from Lumbricus rubellus is a member of the serine protease family having a trypsin-like active site, and one of the potential clevage sites for the enzyme is the carbonyl side of arginine residues in polypeptide chains.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
• /
• v.39 no.4
• /
• pp.243-248
• /
• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of morin, an antioxidant, on the bioavailability of doxorubicin (DOX) in rats. Thus, DOX was administered intravenously (10 mg/kg) or orally (50 mg/kg) with or without oral morin (0.5, 3 and 10 mg/kg). In the presence of morin, the total area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) of DOX was significantly greater than that of the control. In the presence of 3 and 10 mg/kg of morin, the peak concentration $C_{MAX}$) was significantly higher than that of the control. Consequently, the absolute bioavailability (AB) of DOX in the presence of morin was 3.7-8.3%, which was significantly enhanced compared with those of the control group (2.7%). The relative bioavailability (RB) of DOX was 1.36 to 3.02 times higher than those of the control group. Compared to the intravenous control, the presence of morin increased the AUC of DOX, but was not significantly affected. The enhanced bioavailability of oral DOX by oral morin may be due to the inhibition of both P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A in the intestine and/or liver by morin. This result may suggest that the development of oral DOX combination with morin is feasible, which is more convenient than the i.v. dosage forms. The present study raised the awareness about the potential drug interactions by concomitant use of DOX with morin.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.299-304
• /
• 2003

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of coadministration (2.5, 10, 20 mg/kg) and 3 or 7 days-pretreatment (10 mg/kg) of diltiazem on the pharmacokinetic parameters of paclitaxel (50 mg/kg) given orally in rats. The plasma concentrations of paclitaxel coadministered or pretreated with diltiazem were significantly (p<0.05 at 20 mg/kg coadmin., p<0.05 at pretreat.) increased compared to that of control, from 0.5 hr to 24 hr. Area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) of paclitaxel coadministered or pretreated with diltiazem was significantly (p<0.05 at 20 mg/kg coadmin., p<0.01 at pretreat.) higher than that of control. Peak concentrations $(C_{max})$ of paclitaxel with diltiazem were significantly (p<0.05 at 20 mg/kg coadmn. and pretreat.) increased compared to that of control. Elimination rate constants $(K_{el})$ of paclitaxel with diltiazem were significantly (p<0.05 at 20 mg/kg and 7 days-pretreat.) reduced compared to those of control. Half-life $(t_{1/2})$ and mean residence time (MRT) of paclitaxel with diltiazem was significantly (p<0.05 at 20 mg/kg ad 7 days-pretreat.) prolonged compared to those of control. Absolute bioavailability (AB%) of paclitaxel with diltiazem was significantly (p<0.05 at 20 mg/kg and 3 days-pretreat, p<0.01 at 7 days -pretreat.) increased compared to that of control. Based on these results, it might be considered that diltiazem may inhibit cytochrome $P_{450}$ and P-glycoprotein, which are respectively engaged in paclitaxel absorption and metabolism in liver and gastrointestinal mucosa.

• Journal of fish pathology
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.129-136
• /
• 1998

In March 1997, a new rhabdovirus was isolated from moribund cultured Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus in sea water tank and cage culture systems in Kyung-Nam and Chun-Nam province, Korea. At temperature $15^{\circ}C$ the virus replicated and induced cytopathic effects (CPE), which progressed to eventual cytolysis, in susceptible cell lines, including RTG-2 and EPC. The CHES-214 cell line was refractory. Virus particles were bullet-shaped and measured $70nm{\times}100$ to 150 nm in size. The isolate was sensitive to pH 3, to diethyl ether, and to heat ($50^{\circ}C$ 5 min, $60^{\circ}C$ 1 min). Viral replication was not inhibited by $10^{-4}$ M 5-iododeoxyuridine. Virus infectivity was reduced by anti-HRV (8401-H) rabbit serum, but can not reduced by antisera against infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV), chum salmon reovirus (CSV), retrovirus of salmonid (RVS) and infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV). HRV virus antigen was detected by fluorescent antibody test (FAT) in the cytoplasm of infected EPC cell. Purified isolates virions were composed of: polymerase (L), glycoprotein (G), nucleoprotein (N) and 2 matrix proteins (M1 and M2). Based upon their relative mobilities, the estimated molecular weights of the proteins were: L, 160 kDa; G, 55 kDa; N, 45 kDa; M1, 26 kDa; and M2, 22 kDa.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.85-91
• /
• 1991

.betha.-1,4-D-Glucan glucanohydrolase(EC 3.2.1.4;F-II-IV) purified from Trichoderma koningii was identified as a glycoprotein containing 9% carbohydrate. Isoelectric point of the enzyme was estimated to be 4.9 and molecular weight was determined to be approximately 58,000. The porducts of p-nitrophenyl-cellobioside ($PNPG_{2}$) catalyzed by the enzyme were p-nitrophenol(PNP) and p-nitrophenyl-glucoside($PNPG_{1}$). The Km value for $PNPG_{2}$ was estimated to be 0.97 mM in case of the holoside lindage and 10.4 mM in case of the aglycon linkage and their kcat values were $1.8*10^{5}$$ min^{-1}$ and $7.5*10^{5}$ $min^{-1}$ respectively. The product of p-nitrophenyl cellotriose($PNPG_{3}$) was only $PNPG_{1}$. The Km value for $PNPG_{3}$ was 69.5 .$\mu$M and kcat was $1*10^{8}$ $min^{-1}$ which implicates that the enzyme have higher affinity and higher hydrolysis rate toward $PNPG_{3}$ than toward $PNPG_{2}$. The enzyme showed its optimal activity at pH 4.0-4.5 and at 60.deg.C. The effect of gluconolactone on the activity toward $PNPG_{2}$ showed competitive inhibition pattern but glucose and cellobiose did not. The enzyme contained a high content of acidic and hydroxylated amino acids in contrast to basic amino acids.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.318-324
• /
• 1998

A ${\beta}$-galactosidase with high transgalactosylic activity was purified from a Bacillus species, registered as KFCC10855. The enzyme preparation showed a single protein band corresponding to a molecular mass of 150 kDa on SDS-PAGE and gave a single peak with the estimated molecular mass of 250 kDa on Sephacryl S-300 gel filtration, suggesting that the enzyme is a homodimeric protein. The amino acid and sugar analyses revealed that the enzyme is a glycoprotein, containing 19.2 weight percent of sugar moieties, and is much more abundant in hydrophilic amino acid residues than in hydrophobic residues, the mole ratio being about 2:1. The pI and optimum pH were determined to be 5.0 and 6.0, respectively. Having a temperature optimum at $70^{\circ}C$ for the hydrolysis of lactose, the enzyme showed good thermal stability. The activity of the enzyme preparation was markedly increased by the presence of exogenous Mg (II) and was decreased by the addition of EDTA. Among the metal ions examined, the most severely inhibitory effect was seen with Ag (I) and Hg (II). Further, results of protein modification by various chemical reagents implied that 1 cysteine, 1 histidine, and 2 methionine residues occur in certain critical sites of the enzyme, most likely including the active site. Enzyme kinetic parameters, measured for both hydrolysis and transgalactosylation of lactose, indicated that the enzyme has an excellent catalytic efficiency for formation of the transgalactosylic products in reaction mixtures containing high concentrations of the substrate.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.205-210
• /
• 2009

The present study investigated the effects of hydrocortisone on the pharmacokinetics of loratadine in rats after intravenous and oral administration. A single dose of loratadine was administered either orally (4 mg/kg) or intravenously (1 mg/kg) with or without oral hydrocortisone (0.3 or 1.0 mg/kg). Compared to the control group (without hydrocortisone), after oral administration of loratadine, the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) was significantly increased by 30.2-81.7% in the presence of hydrocortisone (p<0.05). The peak plasma concentration ($C_{max}$) was significantly increased by 68.4% in the presence of 1.0 mg/kg hydrocortisone after oral administration of loratadine (p<0.05). Hydrocortisone (1.0 mg/kg) significantly increased the terminal plasma half-life ($t_{1/2}$) of loratadine by 20.8% (p<0.05). Consequently, the relative bioavailability of loratadine was increased by 1.30- to 1.82-fold. In contrast, oral hydrocortisone had no effects on any pharmacokinetic parameters of loratadine given intravenously. This suggests that hydrocortisone may improve the oral bioavailability of loratadine by reducing first-pass metabolism of loratadine, most likely mediated by P-gp and/or CYP3A4 in the intestine and/or liver. In conclusion, hydrocortisone significantly enhanced the bioavailability of orally administered loratadine in rats, which may have been due to inhibition of both CYP 3A4-mediated metabolism and P-gp in the intestine and/or liver by the presence of hydrocortisone.