• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제26권11호
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• pp.1545-1552
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• 2013

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Trichostatin A (TSA) on cumulus expansion during mouse oocyte maturation. TSA treatment inhibited cumulus expansion and significantly reduced the cumulus expansion index (CEI) (p<0.05). To determine the underlying mechanism, the expression levels of several key factors that play crucial roles in cumulus expansion including components of extracellular matrix (ECM) (Has2, Ptgs2, Ptx3, and Tnfaip6) and Growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) were measured in control and TSA treated samples by real-time PCR. The effect of TSA on ERK phosphorylation (p-ERK1/2) in cumulus cells and GDF9 protein level in fully grown oocytes (FGOs) were detected by Western blotting. The expression levels of the ECM genes were significantly decreased (p<0.05) by TSA treatment while GDF9 expression did not response to TSA (p>0.05). TSA treatment blocked the activation of ERK1/2 (p<0.05) and had no significant effect on GDF9 protein expression (p>0.05). Collectively, these results suggested that TSA treatment altered ECM gene expression and blocked ERK1/2 activation to inhibit cumulus expansion in the mouse.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• 제2권4호
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• pp.257-261
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• 2006

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) is one of the important mediators in generating inflammation and immune responses. To address the role of Stat4 in carrageenan induced acute inflammation, we performed paw edema measurement and 7.4 k mouse cDNA microarray analysis in carrageenan induced acute inflammation in Stat4 knockout (-/-) mice. Male BALB/c (n=8) and Stat4 -/- (n=5) were used and paw edema was induced with injection of $30\;{\mu}L$ of 1% carrageenan into plantar surface of right hind paw. Next, we isolated the mRNA in mouse whole brain and analyzed cDNA microarray profiles for the changes of the brain expression in Stat4 -/- mice. Interestingly, the increase in paw volume of Stat4 -/- mice was reduced by about 30% as compared to that of wild type. The cDNA microarray analysis revealed the altered expressions of several cytokines (Tnf, Il6, and Il4) and pain-associated proteins (Ptgs2, Gabra6, and Gabbr1) in Stat4 -/- mice. Our results suggest that Stat4 may be related to the inhibitory responses on carrageenan induced acute inflammation.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제40권2호
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• pp.15-22
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• 2016

As a one of unsaturated fatty acid, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have multiple actions: as precursor of prostaglandins (PGs), steroid hormone synthesis and energy production in animal reproduction. PUFAs, which include omega-3 (n-3) and omega-6 (n-6), are derived from the diet and changed by diet, species, breed and season. The plasma membrane of spermatozoa in mammals contain various PUFAs. These composition of PUFAs regulate the membrane fluidity and cause lipid peroxidation via generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Induced lipid peroxidation by ROS decreased viability and motility of spermatozoa, and it is reduced by addition of antioxidant and low concentration of PUFAs. Because oocytes of animal have a high lipid components, process of oocyte maturation and embryo development are influenced by PUFAs. In in vitro study, oocyte maturation, embryo development, intracellular cAMP and MAPK activity were increased by treatment of n-3 ${\alpha}$-linolenic acid (ALA) during maturation, whereas n-6 linoleic acid (LA) negatively influenced. Also, inhibition of fatty acid metabolism in oocyte influenced blastocyst formation of cattle. PGs are synthesized from PUFAs and various PUFAs influence PGs via regulation of PG-endoperoxide synthase (PTGS). Steroid hormone synthesis from cholesterol is regulated by expression of steroid acute regulator (StAR) protein and mRNA. Exogenous n-3 and n-6 PUFAs altered sex hormone in animal through stimulate or inhibit StAR activity. Because PUFAs altered PG and steroid hormone synthesis, follicular development was influenced by PUFAs. This effect of unsaturated fatty acid could provide information for improvement of reproductive ability in animals.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• 제5권3호
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• pp.273-281
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• 2011

Diverse epigenetic phenotypes are frequently found during research on transgenic plants. To understand the factors underlying such diversity, hundreds of independent 35S-GFP transgenic N. benthamiana plants were analyzed. The diverse GFP-expression phenotypes of the transgenic plants were classified into three major types based on the GFP expression patterns and their response to 35S-GFP agroinfiltration: steady-green, silenced and non-uniform phenotype. The non-uniform phenotype was further sub-divided into five minor phenotypes: variegated, red-dropped, on-silencing, partitioned and misty, according to the distribution of GFP expression on the leaves. Many of transgenic plants continuously generated diverse phenotypes over several generations despite the transgene identity. Such epigenetic GFP phenotyping was found to be the result of spontaneous transgene silencing mediated by either or both of post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) and transcriptional gene silencing (TGS). This finding was verified by the detection of 21- and 24-nt small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules, and DNA methylation in the transgenic plants that showed repeated epigenetic variation. Agroinfiltration demonstrated that irregular distribution of GFP on a leaf was the result of erratic transgene silencing, and the technique also proved to be a rapid and effective method for selecting fully silenced plants within 3 days. Furthermore, two novel phenotypes described are potential materials for in-depth investigations into the genes and mechanisms responsible for spontaneous transgene silencing.

• 디지털융복합연구
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.357-369
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• 2020

본 연구는 소방공무원의 대처, 자기노출, 반추, 조직문화와 외상 후 성장(Posttraumatic Growth, PTG)의 정도를 살펴보고, PTG의 영향요인 규명을 위해 시행되었다. 자료수집은 경상도 소재 3개 소방서에 근무하는 소방공무원 103명을 대상으로 실시하였다. 연구결과 중~고 수준 PTG가 46명(44.7%)로 평균 58.07점이었으며 전체 PTG 평균은 44.56점으로 나타났다. PTG에 영향을 미치는 요인은 정서중심대처, 자기노출, 의도적 반추와 혁신지향 조직문화로 나타났으며 네 변수의 PTG에 대한 설명력은 45.9%로 나타났다. 소방공무원의 PTG촉진을 위해 정서중심대처, 자기노출, 의도적 반추 뿐 아니라 혁신지향 문화구축이라는 조직측면의 접근이 필요하며 이러한 결과는 소방공무원의 PTG 향상을 위한 중재방안에 활용될 수 있다.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제33권3호
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• pp.147-152
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• 2009

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a simple phospholipid-derived mediator implicated in diverse biological actions, acts through the specific G-protein coupled receptors, LPA receptor (LPAR) $1{\sim}5$. Our previous study showed that LPAR3 is expressed in the uterine endometrium in a cell type- and stage-specific manner and LPA via LPAR3 increases PTGS2 expression in the uterine endometrium during the period of implantation. Although LPAR3 is considered to be predominant LPA receptor in the uterine endometrium, other LPA receptors might playa role to mediate LPA functions in the uterine endometrium during pregnancy. Among LPARs, we investigated expression of LPAR1 during the estrous cycle and pregnancy in this study. Uterine endometrial tissue samples were collected from day (D) 12 and D15 of the estrous cycle and from D12, D15, D30, D60, D90 and D114 of pregnancy. Northern blot analysis determined that LPAR1 mRNA was constitutively expressed in the uterine endometrial tissues during the estrous cycle and pregnancy of all stages. Analysis by immunoblotting revealed that LPAR1 proteins were present in the porcine uterine endometrium during the estrous cycle and pregnancy. Immunohistochemical experiments demonstrated that LP AR1 protein was localized to endometrial epithelium and stromal cell, specifically to nuclei of these cell types. Results in this study show that LPAR1 is constitutively expressed in the uterine endometrium during the estrous cycle and pregnancy. These results suggest that LPA via LPAR1 may playa role in the uterine endometrial function throughout pregnancy in pigs.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제23권6호
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• pp.493-499
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• 2019

Macrophage-associated inflammation is crucial for the pathogenesis of diverse diseases including metabolic disorders. Rhodanthpyrone (Rho) is an active component of Gentiana rhodantha, which has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat inflammation. Although synthesis procedures of RhoA and RhoB were reported, the biological effects of the specific compounds have never been explored. In this study, the anti-inflammatory activity and mechanisms of action of RhoA and RhoB were studied in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages. Pretreatment with RhoA and RhoB decreased inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 expressions in RAW 264.7 cells and in thioglycollate-elicited mouse peritoneal macrophages. In addition, it downregulated transcript levels of several inflammatory genes in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, including inflammatory cytokines/chemokines (Tnfa, Il6, and Ccl2) and inflammatory mediators (Nos2 and Ptgs2). Macrophage chemotaxis was also inhibited by treatment with the compounds. Mechanistic studies revealed that RhoA and RhoB suppressed the nuclear factor $(NF)-{\kappa}B$ pathway, but not the canonical mitogen activated protein kinase pathway, in LPS-stimulated condition. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of RhoA and RhoB on inflammatory gene expressions was attenuated by treatment with an $NF-{\kappa}B$ inhibitor. Our findings suggest that RhoA and RhoB play an anti-inflammatory role at least in part by suppressing the $NF-{\kappa}B$ pathway during macrophage-mediated inflammation.

• BMB Reports
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• 제54권10호
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• pp.528-533
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• 2021

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disorder that can result in the loss of articular cartilage. No effective treatment against OA is currently available. Thus, interest in natural health products to relieve OA symptoms is increasing. However, their qualities such as efficacy, toxicity, and mechanism are poorly understood. In this study, we determined the efficacy of avenanthramide (Avn)-C extracted from oats as a promising candidate to prevent OA progression and its mechanism of action to prevent the expression of matrix-metalloproteinases (MMPs) in OA pathogenesis. Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), a proinflammatory cytokine as a main causing factor of cartilage destruction, was used to induce OA-like condition of chondrocytes in vitro. Avn-C restrained IL-1β-mediated expression and activity of MMPs, such as MMP-3, -12, and -13 in mouse articular chondrocytes. Moreover, Avn-C alleviated cartilage destruction in experimental OA mouse model induced by destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) surgery. However, Avn-C did not affect the expression of inflammatory mediators (Ptgs2 and Nos) or anabolic factors (Col2a1, Aggrecan, and Sox9), although expression levels of these genes were upregulated or downregulated by IL-1β, respectively. The inhibition of MMP expression by Avn-C in articular chondrocytes was mediated by p38 kinase and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling, but not by ERK or NF-κB. Interestingly, Avn-C added with SB203580 and SP600125 as specific inhibitors of p38 kinase and JNK, respectively, enhanced its inhibitory effect on the expression of MMPs in IL-1β treated chondrocytes. Taken together, these results suggest that Avn-C is an effective candidate to prevent OA progression and a natural health product to relieve OA pathogenesis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.134-144
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• 2019

The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has increased with the incidence of obesity; however, the underlying mechanisms are unknown. In this study, high-resolution metabolomics (HRM) along with transcriptomics were applied on animal models to draw a mechanistic insight of NAFLD. Wild type (WT) and catalase knockout (CKO) mice were fed with normal fat diet (NFD) or high fat diet (HFD) to identify the changes in metabolic and transcriptomic profiles caused by catalase gene deletion in correspondence with HFD. Integrated omics analysis revealed that cholic acid and $3{\beta}$, $7{\alpha}$-dihydroxy-5-cholestenoate along with cyp7b1 gene involved in primary bile acid biosynthesis were strongly affected by HFD. The analysis also showed that CKO significantly changed all-trans-5,6-epoxy-retinoic acid or all-trans-4-hydroxy-retinoic acid and all-trans-4-oxo-retinoic acid along with cyp3a41b gene in retinol metabolism, and ${\alpha}/{\gamma}$-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and thromboxane A2 along with ptgs1 and tbxas1 genes in linolenic acid metabolism. Our results suggest that dysregulated primary bile acid biosynthesis may contribute to liver steatohepatitis, while up-regulated retinol metabolism and linolenic acid metabolism may have contributed to oxidative stress and inflammatory phenomena in our NAFLD model created using CKO mice fed with HFD.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제35권5호
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• pp.169-176
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• 2021

This study was conducted to suggest the Cudrania tricuspidata leaf and Achyranthes japonica Nakai Complex (CAC) possibility of use as a functional natural material for improving bone disease. Cudrania tricuspidata leaf and Achyranthes japonica Nakai were mixed in the same amount, extracted with hot water, and then powdered and used in the study. After, the cytotoxicity of CAC for osteoblasts (MG63 cell), osteoclasts (differentiated RAW264.7 cell), and macrophages (RAW264.7 cell) were evaluated by MTT assay, and ALP assay and TRAP assay were performed to confirm the differentiation capacity of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, respectively. In addition, the anti-inflammatory effect in macrophages was evaluated by ELISA, qRT-PCR, and western blot assay. CAC did not proliferated osteoblasts and osteoclasts, but increased ALP activity against osteoblasts differentiation and decreased TRAP activity against osteoclasts differentiation. CAC did not proliferated macrophages but decreased nitric oxide production. Also, decreased NOS2, IL1B, IL6, PTGS2, and TNFA gene expression, and JNK and p38 protein phosphorylation in a concentration-dependent manner, but ERK protein phosphorylation was not changed. As a result, CAC increased the differentiation and activation of osteoblasts, inhibited the differentiation and activation of osteoclasts, and regulated the expression of inflammatory cytokines in macrophages. Therefore, it is thought that CAC can be used as a functional natural material that prevents bone disease and has an anti-inflammatory effect.