• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.338-349
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• 1999

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes(PMN) are the predominant inflammatory cells recruited in acute lung injury such as adult respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia and also chronic lung disease such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary emphysema. Interleukin-8(IL-8) is an 8,000 D protein produced by many cells and has potent neutrophil chemoattractant and activating properties. The GRO, also called melanoma growth-stimulatory activity(MGSA), referring to a peptide of 73 amino acids, was reported to be mitogenic for cultured human melanoma cells. Mature GRO/MGSA has marked sequence similarity to IL-8. In view of the structural similarities to IL-8, it was of particular interest to test GRO for neutrophil activating and chemotactic properties. We found a significant release of IL-8 and GRO/MGSA from the cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cell(HUVEC) which was stimulated either with TNF$\alpha$ or IL-1$\beta$ and also found the expression of IL-8 and GRO/MGSA mRNA. Neutrophil chemotactic activity was enhanced in accordance with the increased IL-8 and GRO/MGSA. Our study also suggest that the IL-8 is more important in the increased neutrophil chemotactic activity than GRO/MGSA when endothelial cell is stimulated with TNF$\alpha$ or IL-1$\beta$ in vitro.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.327-333
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• 2009

The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of ethanol extract of Malus micromalus were studied in vitro. Ethanol extract of M. micromalus showed scavenging effects on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and nitric oxide (NO) radicals. In addition, ethanol extract of M. micromalus inhibited the generation of superoxide anion ($O_2^-$) radical and uric acid by xanthine oxidase. We also investigated the effect of ethanol extract of M. micromalus on NO production in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. Ethanol extract of M. micromalus significantly inhibited NO production and this inhibitory action was not due to the cytotoxicity. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) was markedly down-regulated by ethanol extract of M. micromalus. These results indicate that the inhibitory action of ethanol extract of M. micromalus on NO production in LPS-stimulated macropages might be due in part to abrogation of iNOS and COX-2 protein induction. Taken together, this study suggests that ethanol extract of M. micromalus could contribute to the chemoprevention and therapy of oxidative stress and inflammation.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2007.12a
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• pp.57-58
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• 2007

Purpose: Ginseng is a well-known medical plant used in traditional Oriental medicine. Korean red ginseng (KRG) has been known to have potent biological activities such as radical scavenging, vasodilating, anti-tumor and anti-diabetic activities. However, the mechanism of the beneficial effects of KRG on diabetes is yet to be elucidated. The present study was designed to investigate the anti-diabetic effect and mechanism of KRG extract in C57BL/KsJ db/db mice. Methods: The db/db mice were randomly divided into six groups: diabetic control group (DC), red ginseng extract low dose group (RGL, 100 mg/kg), red ginseng extract high dose group (RGH, 200 mg/kg), metformin group (MET, 300 mg/kg), glipizide group (GPZ, 15 mg/kg) and pioglitazone group (PIO, 30 mg/kg), and treated with drugs once per day for 10 weeks. During the experiment, body weight and blood glucose levels were measured once every week. At the end of treatment, we measured Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), blood glucose, insulin, triglyceride (TG), adiponectin, leptin, non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA). Morphological analyses of liver, pancreas and white adipose tissue were done by histological observation through hematoxylin-eosin staining. Pancreatic islet insulin and glucagon levels were detected by double-immunofluorescence staining. To elucidate an action of mechanism of KRG, DNA microarray analyses were performed, and western blot and RT-PCR were conducted for validation. Results: Compared to the DC group mice, body weight gain of PIO treated group mice showed 15.2% increase, but the other group mice did not showed significant differences. Compared to the DC group, fasting blood glucose levels were decreased by 19.8% in RGL, 18.3% in RGH, 67.7% in MET, 52.3% in GPZ, 56.9% in PIO-treated group. With decreased plasma glucose levels, the insulin resistance index of the RGL-treated group was reduced by 27.7% compared to the DC group. Insulin resistance values for positive drugs were all markedly decreased by 80.8%, 41.1% and 68.9%, compared to that of DC group. HbA1c levels in RGL, RGH, MET, GPZ and PIO-treated groups were also decreased by 11.0%, 6.4%, 18.9%, 16.1% and 27.9% compared to that of DC group, and these figure revealed a similar trend shown in plasma glucose levels. Plasma TG and NEFA levels were decreased by 18.8% and 16.8%, respectively, and plasma adiponectin and leptin levels were increased by 20.6% and 12.1%, respectively, in the RGL-treated group compared to those in DC group. Histological analysis of the liver of mice treated with KRG revealed a significantly decreased number of lipid droplets compared to the DC group. The control mice exhibited definitive loss and degeneration of islet, whereas mice treated with KRG preserved islet architecture. Compared to the DC group mice, KRG resulted in significant reduction of adipocytes. From the pancreatic islet double-immunofluorescence staining, we observed KRG has increased insulin production, but decreased glucagon production. KRG treatment resulted in stimulation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation in the db/db mice liver. To elucidate mechanism of action of KRG extract, microarray analysis was conducted in the liver tissue of mice treated with KRG extract, and results suggest that red ginseng affects on hepatic expression of genes responsible for glycolysis, gluconeogenesis and fatty acid oxidation. In summary, multiple administration of KRG showed the hypoglycemic activity and improved glucose tolerance. In addition, KRG increased glucose utilization and improved insulin sensitivity through inhibition of lipogenesis and activation of fatty acid $\beta$-oxidation in the liver tissue. In view of our present data, we may suggest that KRG could provide a solid basis for the development of new anti-diabetic drug.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.426-436
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• 2007

Oral cancer take up 2-6% of all carcinomas and squamous cell carcinoma, which is the most common type in oral cancer, has a poor prognosis due to its high metastasis and recurrence rates. In treating oral cancer, chemotherapy to the primary, metastasized and recurrent lesion is a very important and useful treatment, even though its widespread usage is limited due to high general toxicity and local toxicity to other organs. Taxol, a microtubule stabilizing agent, is an anticancer drug that induces cell apoptosis by inhibiting depolymerization of microtubules in between the metaphase and anaphase of the cell mitosis. Recently, its effectiveness and mechanism on various tumor has been reported. However, not much research has been done on the application of Taxol to oral squamous cell carcinoma. Cyclosporin A, which is an immunosuppressant, is being used on cancers and when co-administered with Taxol, effectiveness of Taxol is enhanced by inhibition of Taxol induced multidrug resistance. In this study, Cyclosporin A with different concentration of Taxol was co-administered to HN22, the oral squamous cell carcinomacell line. To observe the cell apoptosis and the mechanisms that take part in this process, mortality evaluation of tumor cell using wortmannin, c-DNA microarray, RT-PCR analysis, cytometry analysis and western blotting were used, and based upon the observation on the effect and mechanism of the agent, the following results were obtained: 1. The HN22 cell line viability was lowest when $100{\mu}M$ of Wortmannin and $5{\mu}g/ml$ of Taxol were co-administered, showing that Taxol participates in P13K-AKT1 pathway. 2. In c-DNA microarray, where $1{\mu}g/ml$ of cyclosporine A and 3mg/ml of Taxol were co-administered, no up regulation of AKT1, PTEN and BAD c-DNA that participate in cell apoptosis was observed. 3. When $1{\mu}g/ml$ of Cyclosporin A was applied alone to HN22 cell line, no difference was found in AKT1, PTEN and BAD mRNA expression. 4. Increased AKT1, mRNA expression was observed when $3{\mu}g/ml$ of Taxol was applied alone to HN22 cell line. 5. When $1{\mu}g/ml$ of Cyclosporin A and Taxol($3{\mu}g/ml\;and\;5{\mu}g/ml$) were co-administered to HN22 cell line, PTEN mRNA expression increased, whereas AKT1 and BAD mRNA decreased. 6. As a result of cytometry analysis, in the group of Cyclosporin A($1{\mu}g/ml$) and Taxol($3{\mu}g/ml$) co-administration, increased Annxin V was observed, which shows that apoptosis occurred by deformation of plasma membrane. However, no significant difference was observed with vary ing concentration. 7. In western blot analysis, no caspase 3 was observed in the group of Cyclosporin A($1{\mu}g/ml$) and Taxol($3{\mu}g/ml$) co-administration. From the results of this study, it can be concluded that synergistic effect can be observed in combination therapy of Taxol and Cyclosporin A on oral squamous cell carcinoma cell line, where decreased activity of the cell line was observed. This resulted in decreased AKT1 and BAD mRNA and increased PTEN mRNA expression and when wortmannin and Taxol were co-administered, the viability decreased which confirms that Taxol decreases the viability of tumor cell line. Hence, when Taxol and cyclosporine A are co-administered, it can be assumed that cell apoptosis occurs through AKt1 pathway.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.186-196
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• 2010

Introduction: The first aim of this study was to isolate the dental tissue-derived stem cells from the dental follicle (DF), dental pulp (DP), and root apical papilla (RAP) of the extracted wisdom teeth. Second was to evaluate their characterization with the expressions of transcription factors and cell surface markers. Finally, their ability of the in vitro multi-lineage differentiations into osteogenic and adipogenic cells were compared, respectively. Materials and Methods: Dental tissues, including dental follicle, dental pulp, and root apical papilla, were separated in the extracted wisdom teeth. These three dental tissues were cultured in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM) with supplements, respectively. After passage 3, the homogeneous shaped dental tissue-derived cells were analyzed the expression of transcription factors (Oct-4, Nanog and Sox-2) and cell surface markers (CD44, CD90 and CD105) with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis. In order to evaluate in vitro multi-lineage differentiations, the culture media were changed to the osteogenic and adipogenic induction mediums when the dental tissue-derived cells reached to passage 3. The characteristics of these three dental tissue-derived cells were compared with immunohistochemistry. Results: During primary culture, heterogenous and colony formatted dental tissue-derived cells were observed in the culture plates. After passage 2 or 3, homogenous spindle-like cells were observed in all culture plates. Transcription factors and mesenchymal stem cell markers were positively observed in all three types of dental tissue-derived cells. However, the quantity of expressed transcription factors was most large in RAP-derived cells. In all three types of dental tissue-derived cells, osteogenic and adipogenic differentiations were observed after treatment of specific induction media. In vitro adipogenic differentiation was similar among these three types of cells. In vitro osteogenic differentiation was most strongly and frequently observed in the RAP-derived cells, whereas rarely osteogenic differentiation was observed in the DP-derived cells. Conclusion: These findings suggest that three types of human dental tissue-derived cells from extracted wisdom teeth were multipotent mesenchymal stem cells, have the properties of multi-lineage differentiations. Especially, stem cells from root apical papilla (SCAP) have much advantage in osteogenic differentiation, whereas dental follicle cells (DFCs) have a characteristic of easy adipogenic differentiation.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.321-333
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• 2005

1. 목적 in vitro 상에서 법랑기질유도체가 치주인대섬유아세포, 불멸화 조골세포와 백악질 유래세포의 증식과 유전자 발현에 미치는 영향을 알아보고자 하였다. 2. 연구방법 및 재료 <세포증식 연구> 교정을 목적으로 발거한 치아에서 분리, 배양한 치주인대섬유아세포와 백악질유래세포, 그리고 $SaOs_2$ 세포를 이용하였다. 법랑기질유도체가 세포 증식에 미치는 영향을 알아보기 위해, 35 mm Petri dish에 dish 당 $5{\times}10^3$ 개의 세포를 접종하였다. 대조군은 1% 항생제와 10% FBS를 포함한 DMEM 배지를 이용했고, 5mM 초산을 첨가한 군과 첨가하지 않은 두 개의 대조군이 이용되었다. 실험군은 100 ${\mu}g/ml$의 법랑기질유도제를 첨가한 군과 100 ${\mu}g/ml$의 법랑기질유도체와 5 mM의 초산을 첨가한 2개의 실험군이 이용되었다. 각 군은 세 개의 배양접시에 행해졌고, 1, 3, 8일에 세포의 수를 각각 측정하였다. 결과는 repeated measures ANOVA로 통계 처리하였다. <유전자 발현 연구> 각 세포의 형질 특성을 알아보기 위해 RT-PCR을 실시하여 조골세포 분화 표식자와 연관된 Human collagen type I(COL I), human osteopontin(OP), human osteocalcin(OC), human alkaline phosphatase(ALP)와 human bone sialoprotein(BSP)의 mRNA 발현을 실험 1, 3, 8일에 걸쳐, 세 군의 차이를 비교 관찰하였다. 3. 결과 <세포증식 연구> 치주인대세포와 백악질유래세포, 그리고 $SaOs_2$ 세포의 증식은 법랑기질유도체에 의해 영향을 받지 않았다. 대조군과 초산이 포함된 대조군 그리고 법랑기질유도체와 초산이 포함된 실험군에서 유의할 만한 세포 수의 차이가 실험 기간 1, 3, 8일에 걸쳐 나타나지 않았다(p<0.05). <유전자 발현 연구> ALP와 COL I은 세 군의 세포에서 모두 발현되었고, 발현 정도는 EMD에 영향을 받지 않았다. OC은 세 군에서 모두 비교적 약하게 발현되었고, 특히 $SaOs_2$ cell과 백악질유래세포에서 약하게 발현되었다. EMD는 OC의 발현정도를 약하게 하였다. OP은 백악질유래세포에서 1, 3, 8일에 걸쳐 EMD 유무에 관련 없이 발현되지 않았다. 그러나 치주인대세포와 $SaOs_2$ cell에서는 강하게 발현되었다. BSP는 치주인대세포와 $SaOs_2$ cell에서 1, 3, 8일에 걸쳐 비교적 고르게 발현되었다. EMD 배지에서 배양된 백악질유래세포는 8일에는 BSP가 발현되지 않았다. 4 결론 이번 실험 결과에 의하면 법랑기질유도체는 치주인대세포, 불멸화 조골세포와 백악질 유래세포의 증식에 있어 유의성 있는 효과를 나타내지 않았다. 그러나, 유전자 발현에 있어서는, 치주인대세포와 백악질유래세포, 그리고 $SaOs_2$ 세포 모두에서 OC mRNA의 발현을 억제하는 효과를 나타내었다. EMD는 세포의 증식에는 영향을 미치지 않지만, 유전자 발현에 있어 일부 영향을 미치는 것으로 보인다. 법랑기질유도체가 세포의 증식과 유전자 발현에 미치는 영향은 배양된 세포의 형질특성, 배양환경, 배양일수 등에 따라 달라질 수 있다. 그러므로 법랑기질유도체가 in vitro 상에서 세포에 미치는 영향은 보다 정량화된 연구가 필요하다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.239-252
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• 2007

Objectives: In the present study, we examined the differentiation potential of human adipose-(HAD) and human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal like stem cells (HUC) into cardiomyocytes. Methods: Cells were initially exposed to 5-azacytidine for 24h cells and then were cultivated in the presence or absence of activin A, TGF-$\beta$1, or Wnt inhibitor with various combinations of BMP and FGF. Assessment of cardiomyogenic differentiation was made upon the expression of cardiomyocyte-specific genes using RT-PCR. Results: HAD that cultivated in control medium for 4 weeks after 5-azacytidine expose showed new expression of TnT gene and increased expression of Cmlc1 and kv4.3 genes. However, HAD cultivated in the presence of combinations of BMP-4/FGF-4 (B4/F4) and BMP-4/FGF-8 (B4/F8) showed new expression of $\beta$-MHC gene and more increased expression of Cmlc1, TnT, TnI, Kv4.3 genes. Significantly enhanced expression of Cmlc1, TnT, and Kv4.3 genes were also observed compared to that cultivated in the control medium. Treatment of HUC with either 5-azacytidine or combinations of BMP and FGF did not affect the expression profile of these genes. However, when activin A or TGF-$\beta$1 was present in addition to the BMP-2/FGF-8 (B2/F8) after 5-azacytidine exposure, HUC exhibited new expression of $\beta$-MHC gene and increased expression of $\alpha$-CA, TnT and Kv4.3 genes. When Wnt inhibitor was present in addition to BMP and FGF, HUC showed new expression of Cmlc1 gene and increased expression of $\alpha$-CA, TnT, TnI and Kv4.3 genes. Conclusions: Based on these observations, it is suggested that HAD and HUC could differentiate into cardiomyocytes which might be used as therapeutic cells for the heart diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.689-697
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• 2016

Kefir is an acidic-alcoholic fermented milk product originating from the Caucasian mountains. Kefir has long been known for its probiotic health benefits, including its immunomodulatory effects. The objectives of this study were to investigate the properties of a fermented whey product and to examine the effects of kefir grains on the in vitro immune-modulation of human mast cell-1 (HMC-1). The results showed that the whey fermented by kefir grains contained the maximum lactic acid bacteria and yeast for 16 hr by 1.83×10⁸ and 6.5×10⁵ CFU/ml, respectively, and lactose and whey proteins were partially hydrolyzed. The experimental whey fermented by kefir grains exhibited an in vitro anti-inflammatory effect on the HMC-1 line for 8, 16, and 24 hr, and this effect induced the expression of interleukin (IL)-4 as a pro-inflammatory cytokine, but not for 48 hr by RT-PCR in HMC-1 cells. In addition, the same phenomenon was observed for the expression of IL-8 as a pro-inflammatory cytokine by the kefir-fermented whey during the same periods of 8-48 hr under the same conditions. These cytokines resulted in the production of IL-4 at 20-25 ng in HMC-1 cells for 8, 16, and 24 hr, whereas 5 ng was produced for 48 hr by the fermented whey. In contrast, IL-8 was produced at 15-20 ng in HMC-1 cells during 4, 8, 16, and 24 hr, while 7 ng was produced at 48 hr. It was concluded that the whey fermented by kefir grains possesses a potential anti-inflammatory function, which could be used for an industrial application as an ingredient of functional foods and pharmaceutical products.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1772-1777
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• 2011

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene and sodium-independent $Cl^-/HCO_3^-$ anion exchanger (AE) genes are expressed in a wide variety of mammalian tissues including cholangiocytes. They play an important role in the regulation of intracellular pH (pHi) as well as in transepithelial acid/base transport necessary for biliary bicarbonate secretion. The aim of this study was to examine the expression level of CFTR gene and AE genes (AE1, AE2 and AE3) in the cholangiocytes and the hepatocytes, and also measure AE2 gene expression level after bile duct ligation (BDL). As we previously described, isolated hepatocytes and cholangiocytes from the liver of normal and BDL rats were prepared and gene expression levels were measured by using RT-PCR. We found that AE1, AE2, and AE3 genes were expressed in both hepatocytes and cholangiocytes, but CFTR was only in cholangiocytes. AE2 gene expression level was higher in the BDL hepatocytes than normal hepatocytes, which was significantly different between two groups. AE2 gene expression level was lower in the BDL cholangiocytes than normal cholangiocytes. However, AE2 gene expression level in both hepatocytes and cholangiocytes were not changed with a longer duration of BDL. These results suggest that CFTR and AE2 may play an important role in the pathogenetic mechanism of biliary cholestatic liver disease.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.152-162
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• 1999

Purpose: To determine whether $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI is recognized by the multidrug resistant P-glycoprotein (Pgp), we have measured quantitatively $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI uptake in cancer cells. The effects of various Pgp reversing agents on cellular $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI uptake were also investigated in the presence of multidrug resistance gene-1 (mdr1 gene) overexpression. Materials and Methods: We measured percentage uptake of $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI at different incubation temperatures both in mdr1 positive and negative cells. The effects of verapamil, cyclosporin, and dipyridamole on cellular uptake of $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI were also evaluated with or without overex-pression of mdr1 gene in cultured murine leukemia Ll210 cells. Results: The mdr1 gene expressing cell lines were effectively induced in in vitro with continuous application of low-dose adriamycin or vincristine. Cellular uptake of $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI was higher in mdr1 negative Ll210 cells than those of mdr1 positive cells, and higher when incubated in $37^{\circ}C$ than $4^{\circ}C$. In the presence of verapamil, cyclosporin or dipyridamole, $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI uptake was increased upto 604% in mdr1 positive cells. Conclusion: Cellular uptake of $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI is lower in leukemia cells over-expressing mdr1 gene, and MBR-reversing agents increase cellular uptake. These results suggest that $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI can be used for characterizing Pgp expression and developing MDR-reversing agents in vitro.