• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제33권9호
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• pp.1213-1227
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• 2023

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a prevalent obstetric condition. This study aimed to investigate the role of Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) in regulating the inflammatory response and gut microbiota structure in FGR. An FGR animal model was established in rats, and ODN1668 and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) were administered. Changes in gut microbiota structure were assessed using 16S rRNA sequencing, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) was conducted. HTR-8/Svneo cells were treated with ODN1668 and HCQ to evaluate cell growth. Histopathological analysis was performed, and relative factor levels were measured. The results showed that FGR rats exhibited elevated levels of TLR9 and myeloid differentiating primary response gene 88 (MyD88). In vitro experiments demonstrated that TLR9 inhibited trophoblast cell proliferation and invasion. TLR9 upregulated lipopolysaccharide (LPS), LPS-binding protein (LBP), interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α while downregulating IL-10. TLR9 activated the TARF3-TBK1-IRF3 signaling pathway. In vivo experiments showed HCQ reduced inflammation in FGR rats, and the relative cytokine expression followed a similar trend to that observed in vitro. TLR9 stimulated neutrophil activation. HCQ in FGR rats resulted in changes in the abundance of Eubacterium_coprostanoligenes_group at the family level and the abundance of Eubacterium_coprostanoligenes_group and Bacteroides at the genus level. TLR9 and associated inflammatory factors were correlated with Bacteroides, Prevotella, Streptococcus, and Prevotellaceae_Ga6A1_group. FMT from FGR rats interfered with the therapeutic effects of HCQ. In conclusion, our findings suggest that TLR9 regulates the inflammatory response and gut microbiota structure in FGR, providing new insights into the pathogenesis of FGR and suggesting potential therapeutic interventions.

• 한국치위생학회지
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.219-227
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• 2024

연구목적: 치수는 신경과 혈관을 포함하고 있는 부위로 다양한 자극이나 세균에 의해 염증이 생기면 이를 치수염이라고 한다. 치수염은 말초 신경조직 변화와 심한 통증을 유발하는 질환으로 만성적 통증을 유발하나, 삼차신경절의 신경세포 활성화와 특정 나트륨 채널(Nav1.7) 발현 사이의 관계는 잘 알려져 있지 않다. 이에 본 연구에서는 실험적으로 유도된 치수염이 말초신경에서 Nav1.7 나트륨 채널의 발현을 활성화시켜, 삼차신경절의 뉴런을 활성화함으로써 통증을 유발한다는 사실을 발견하고 이를 조절하는 신호기전을 규명하고자 하였다. 연구방법: 실험동물(Male C57BL/6 생쥐, 6주, 20-25 g)의 상악 제1대구치 치수에 AITC를 처리하여 급성 치수염을 유발하고, 3일 후 실시간 광영상 이미지를 이용하여 삼차신경절의 뉴런 활성화를 측정 및 비교 분석하였다. 단백질 분석을 통해 뇌간(SpVc)에서 치수염 통증유발 신호조절기전에 관여하는 여러가지 단백질들(p-ERK, c-FOS, TRPA1, p-CRMP2)의 발현을 관찰하였다. 연구결과: 시공간적 광영상 이미지를 통해 삼차신경절의 뉴런세포들은 대조군과 비교 시 급성 치수염 모델에서 흥분성 활성화가 유도되어 신경학적 변화가 일어남을 관찰하였다. 또한 조직학 및 분자생물학적 결과를 통해 치수염으로 인한 특정 나트륨 채널(Nav1.7)의 증가가 통증을 유발한다는 사실을 확인하였다. 또한, ProTxII(Nav1.7의 선택적 억제 약물) 처리를 통해 뉴런의 과흥분성 활성이 억제됨에 따라, 치수염이 삼차신경절에서 나트륨 채널(Nav1.7)의 증가를 유도하고 이러한 특정 나트륨 채널을 효과적으로 제어하면 치수염의 통증을 줄이는 방법이 될 것이라 생각된다. 결론: 본 연구의 결과를 통해 과 발현된 특정 나트륨 채널(Nav1.7)을 억제하면 삼차신경절에서 통각 신호 처리를 조절하고 치수염에 의해 유발되는 통증을 효과적으로 조절할 수 있음을 시사한다.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.18.1-18.15
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• 2022

Dysfunction of mitochondrial metabolism is implicated in cellular injury and cell death. While mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with lung injury by lung inflammation, the mechanism by which the impairment of mitochondrial ATP synthesis regulates necroptosis during acute lung injury (ALI) by lung inflammation is unclear. Here, we showed that the impairment of mitochondrial ATP synthesis induces receptor interacting serine/threonine kinase 3 (RIPK3)-dependent necroptosis during lung injury by lung inflammation. We found that the impairment of mitochondrial ATP synthesis by oligomycin, an inhibitor of ATP synthase, resulted in increased lung injury and RIPK3 levels in lung tissues during lung inflammation by LPS in mice. The elevated RIPK3 and RIPK3 phosphorylation levels by oligomycin resulted in high mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL) phosphorylation, the terminal molecule in necroptotic cell death pathway, in lung epithelial cells during lung inflammation. Moreover, the levels of protein in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were increased by the activation of necroptosis via oligomycin during lung inflammation. Furthermore, the levels of ATP5A, a catalytic subunit of the mitochondrial ATP synthase complex for ATP synthesis, were reduced in lung epithelial cells of lung tissues from patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), the most severe form of ALI. The levels of RIPK3, RIPK3 phosphorylation and MLKL phosphorylation were elevated in lung epithelial cells in patients with ARDS. Our results suggest that the impairment of mitochondrial ATP synthesis induces RIPK3-dependent necroptosis in lung epithelial cells during lung injury by lung inflammation.

• 한방비만학회지
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.60-68
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• 2023

Objectives: This study was conducted to compare the effects of Hominis placenta (Jahage, J) and wild ginseng (SanSam, S) pharmacopuncture drugs on muscle differentiation and energy metabolism regulation in C2C12 myotubes. Methods: The C2C12 myoblasts were differentiated into myotubes for 5 days by replacing in medium containing 2% horse serum and then treated with J and S pharmacopuncture extract at different concentrations for 24 hr. The expression of myosin heavy chain and energy metabolism-regulating factors, myosin heavy chain (MHC), nuclear respiratory factor-1 (NRF-1), and proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-1α) were determined in C2C12 myotubes by western blot. Additionally, the phosphorylation of AMPK and the expression of mitochondrial biogenesis, including sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) were determined in the myotubes. Results: As a result, treatment with J and S pharmacopuncture extract at 0.1 and 1 mg/mL increased the MHC expression in C2C12 myotubes compared with non-treated cells, but only S pharmacopuncture was shown a significant and distinct increase in the expression. Expression of TFAM and NRF-1 was also shown significant increases in S and J pharmacopuncture in C2C12 myotubes compared to non-treated cells. The phosphorylation of AMPK and the expression of PGC-1α and SIRT1 showed increased expression in S and J pharmacopuncture compared to non-treated cells. The effect of low-dose of J pharmacopuncture on the phosphorylated adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and PGC-1α expression was greater than that of S pharmacopuncture. Conclusions: In conclusion, both J and S pharmacopuncture promote muscle differentiation in C2C12 myoblasts into myotubes and energy metabolism through the AMPK/SIRT1 signaling pathway. This indicates that the pharmacopuncture with tonic herbal medicines can help to improve skeletal muscle function.

• International Journal of Molecular Medicine
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• 제44권3호
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• pp.939-948
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• 2019

Chemokine C-X3-C motif ligand 1 (CX3CL1) and its sole receptor, CX3CR1, are known to be involved in neuronal damage/death following brain ischemia. In the present study, time-dependent expression changes of CX3CL1 and CX3CR1 proteins were investigated in the hippocampal CA1 field following 5 min of transient global cerebral ischemia (tgCI) in gerbils. To induce tgCI in gerbils, bilateral common carotid arteries were occluded for 5 min using aneurysm clips. Expression changes of CX3CL1 and CX3CR1 proteins were assessed at 1, 2 and 5 days after tgCI using western blotting and immunohistochemistry. CX3CL1 immunoreactivity was strong in the CA1 pyramidal cells of animals in the sham operation group. Weak CX3CL1 immunoreactivity was detected at 6 h after tgCI, recovered at 1 day after tgCI and disappeared from 5 days after tgCI. CX3CR1 immunoreactivity was very weak in CA1 pyramidal cells of the sham animals. CX3CR1 immunoreactivity in CA1 pyramidal cells was significantly increased at 1 days after tgCI and gradually decreased thereafter. On the other hand, CX3CR1 immunoreactivity was significantly increased in microglia from 5 days after tgCI. These results showed that CX3CL1 and CX3CR1 protein expression levels in pyramidal cells and microglia in the hippocampal CA1 field following tgCI were changed, indicating that tgCI-induced expression changes of CX3CL1 and CX3CR1 proteins might be closely associated with tgCI-induced delayed neuronal death and microglial activation.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.309-318
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• 2024

Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 1 (NOD1), a cytosolic pattern recognition receptor protein, plays a crucial role in innate immune responses. However, the functional expression of NOD1 in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from endometriosis remains unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the functions of NOD1 in ectopic endometrial lesions. Tissues and MSCs were isolated from both normal endometrium and endometriosis. Immunohistochemistry and real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were used to determine the expression of NOD1 in the tissues/MSCs. Quantification of various cytokines was performed using RT-qPCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. To confirm the proliferation, invasion/migration, and apoptotic viabilities of the samples, Cell Counting Kit-8, clonogenic formation, transwell assays, and apoptotic experiments were conducted. Higher levels of NOD1 expression were detected in the ectopic-MSCs obtained from endometriosis compared to those from the endometrium. The expression of interleukin-8 was higher in the ectopic-MSCs than in the eutopic-MSCs. Pretreatment with NOD1 agonist significantly enhanced the proliferation and invasion/migration of eutopic-MSCs. Additionally, the NOD1 inhibitor ML-130 significantly reduced the proliferation, clone formation, invasion, and migration abilities of the ectopic-MSCs, having no effect on their apoptosis capacity. Our findings suggest that the expression of NOD1 in ectopic-MSCs may contribute to the progression of ectopic endometrial lesions.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제18권5호
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• pp.617-632
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• 2024

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Atherosclerosis particularly due to high circulating level of low-density lipoprotein is a major cause of cardiovascular diseases. Ellagic acid is a natural polyphenolic compound rich in pomegranates and berries. Our previous study showed that ellagic acid improved functionality of reverse cholesterol transport in murine model of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study is to investigate whether ellagic acid inhibited inflammation-associated atherosclerotic plaque formation in cholesterol-fed apolipoprotein E (apoE)-knockout (KO) mice. MATERIALS/METHODS: Wild type mice and apoE-KO mice were fed a cholesterol-rich Paigen diet for 10 weeks to induce severe atherosclerosis. Concurrently, 10 mg/kg ellagic acid was orally administered to the apoE-KO mice. Plaque lesion formation and lipid deposition were examined by staining with hematoxylin and eosin, Sudan IV and oil red O. RESULTS: The plasma leukocyte profile of cholesterol-fed mice was not altered by apoE deficiency. Oral administration of ellagic acid attenuated plaque lesion formation and lipid deposition in the aorta tree of apoE-KO mice. Ellagic acid substantially reduced plasma levels of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule and interferon-γ in Paigen diet-fed apoE-KO mice. When 10 mg/kg ellagic acid was administered to cholesterol-fed apoE-KO mice, the levels of CD68 and MCP-1 were strongly reduced in aorta vessels. The protein expression level of nitric oxide synthase-2 (NOS2) in the aorta was highly enhanced by supplementation of ellagic acid to apoE-KO mice, but the expression level of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in the aorta was reduced. Furthermore, ellagic acid diminished the increased aorta expression of the inflammatory adhesion molecules in cholesterol-fed apoE-KO mice. The treatment of ellagic acid inhibited the scavenger receptor-B1 expression in the aorta of apoE-KO mice, while the cholesterol efflux-related transporters were not significantly changed. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that ellagic acid may be an atheroprotective compound by attenuating apoE deficiency-induced vascular inflammation and reducing atherosclerotic plaque lesion formation.

• 대한치과교정학회지
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• 제34권1호
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• pp.71-81
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• 2004

치아의 맹출 과정과 치간이개로 유도된 치아 및 치조골의 흡수 과정에서 치주인대 세포와 치주인대 단백질의 기능을 알아보기 위하여, 발육 중인 흰쥐를 치근 형성 전, 치근 형성 시작과 치근 형성 및 맹출 시기로 구분하여 조직 표본을 제작하고, 또한 성 장 중인 흰쥐를 2주간 치간 이개시켜 조직표본을 제작하였다. 치주인대 섬유모세포에서 특이적으로 발현되며 치주인대의 분화와 성숙에 관여하는 PDLs22단백질과 치아와 치조골의 파괴와 흡수를 조절하는 것으로 알려진 RANKL과 OPG의 발현을 면역 조직화학적으로 연구하였다. PDLs22 단백질은 치근 형성이 시작되면서부터 치낭세포와 골모세포에서 발현되어, 치아가 맹출하는 과정에서도 그 발현이 계속 유지되었으나, 치간이개에 의하여 치주인대가 개조되는 부위에서는 발현이 감소하였다. RANKL은 치근형성 과정에서는 미약한 발현을 나타내었으나, 치아가 맹출하면서 발현이 증대되었으며, 치간이개에 의한 치근과 치조골 흡수과정에서는 치주인대세포, 골모세포, 치수세포 및 파치세포에서 발현이 증대되었다. OPG는 치근이 형성되는 시기에는 강한 발현을 보였으나, 치아가 맹출하면서 발현이 현저히 감소하였고, 치아와 치조골의 흡수가 진행됨에 따라서 발현이 다소 감소하였다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제25권9호
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• pp.993-999
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• 2015

본 연구에서는 참콩풍뎅이(Popillia flavosellata) 에탄올 추출물(PFE)의 항염증 효능을 분석하기 위해 PFE를 농도별(500, 1,000, 2,000 μg/ml)로 대식세포인 RAW 264.7에 처리 시 최고 처리농도인 2,000 μg/ml까지 통계적인 유의성 있는 독성이 없음을 확인하였다. LPS (100 ng/ml)로 염증 유도된 RAW 264.7 세포에 PFE를 농도별(500, 1,000, 2,000 μg/ml)로 동시 처리 시 농도 의존적으로 염증성사이토카인인 TNF-α와 IL-6의 단백질 생성을 통계적인 유의성(p<0.001)있게 억제함을 확인하였다. 또한 염증 유도된 RAW 264.7 세포에 PFE 동시 처리 시 NF-κB p65의 핵으로 이동이 차단됨과 iNOS와 COX-2의 단백질 발현을 감소시키는 것을 확인하였다. 이상의 연구결과를 통해 참콩 풍뎅이는 염증에 의해 활성화된 TLR-4 신호전달과정을 조절하는 NF-κB p65의 활성과 염증성사이토카인 TNF-α와 IL-6의 생성 및 염증성효소 iNOS와 COX-2의 생성을 억제하는 항염증 효능이 있음을 확인하였다.

• 한국가금학회지
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• 제41권1호
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• pp.7-14
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• 2014

본 연구는 한국토종닭의 모색 변이와 TYR 유전자형 간의 상관관계를 규명하기 위하여 '우리맛닭' 실용계 부계로 이용되는 토종닭 순계 H 계통 암탉 207수, 수탉 40수와 '우리 맛닭' 실용계 60수, 육질형으로 많이 이용되는 흑색 모색을 가진 재래닭 L계통, 흰색 모색을 가진 재래닭 W 계통 토종닭 각각 50수, 총 407수 혈액을 채취하고 DNA를 분리하였다. 모색 표현형과 유전자형과의 연관성을 알아보기 위하여 모색 관련 후보 유전자 TYR의 sequencing 결과를 분석하여 유전자 변이를 살펴보았다. L/W 계통 간의 모색 표현형과 유전자형을 비교한 결과, W 계통의 경우, 유전자형은 GG, AA, TT, CC, GG, AA type으로 고정되어 있었다. '우리맛닭' 실용계에서 TYR 유전자를 비교한 결과, 두 개체 간의 유전자형의 빈도 차이는 유의적으로 나타났으며, 5개의 SNP는 갈색 이모색과 관련성이 있을 것으로 생각된다. 하지만 재래닭 L/W 계통과 달리 토종닭 순계 H 계통 간의 경우, 유전자형은 다양하게 나타났으며, 모색 표현형과 유전자형과의 유의적인 연관성을 찾을 수 없었다. 또한, 모색의 관련된 후보 유전자들의 연관성을 분석하기 위해서는 멜라닌 생성에 관여하는 단백질의 발현을 억제해 멜라닌 생성을 차단하는 기능을 가진 PMEL17(premelanosome protein 17)(Kerje et al., 2004) 유전자와 성 결정 유전자인 SOX10(sex determining region Y, BOX 10)(Gunnarsson et al., 2010), MC1R(melanocortin 1 receptor)유전자의 상반된 기능을 가진 ASIP 유전자(agouti signaling protein)(Yoshihara et al., 2012) 등 모색 관련 유전자의 연관성 분석이 더 필요할 것으로 사료된다. 이상의 본 연구는 토종닭의 품종 구분을 위한 분자유전학적 기초 마커 개발 및 정보를 제공함으로써 한국 토종닭 품종의 대상으로 실용계 개발 및 토종닭 보존 계획 방법에 있어서 가치 있는 정보를 제시할 것으로 사료된다.