• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.109-122
• /
• 2001

Gingival fibroblasts(GF) and periodontal ligament fibroblasts(PDLF) are the major cellular components of periodontal soft connective tissues, but the precise molecular biological differences between these cells are not yet known. In the present study, we investigated the expression of S100A4, S100A2 calcium-binding protein and osteoblast-specific factor 2(OSF-2, Periostin) mRNA in GF and PDLF in vitro through the process of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and Northern blot analysis in each. Human GF and PDLF were isolated from the gingival connective tissue and the middle third of freshly extracted healthy third molars. They were cultured in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium(DMEM) containing 10% fetal bovine serum and cells in the third passage were used in the experiments. After extracting total RNA from cultured cells, RT-PCR and Northern analysis were performed using S100A4-, S100A2- and Periostin-specific oligonucleotide primers and subcloned cDNA probes in each. In PT-PCR and Northern analysis, the expression of S100A4 and Periostin mRNA in GF was slightly detectable. Interestingly, the expression of S100A4 and periostin mRNA in PDLF was much higher than that in GF. On the other hand, S100A2 mPNA was highly expressed in both GF and PDLF. Since there was a marked difference of S100A4 and Periostin expression between GF and PDLF in vitro, these data suggest that S100A4 and periostin could be used as a useful marker for distinguishing cultured gingival fibroblasts and periodontal ligament cells.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.57 no.3
• /
• pp.8.1-8.8
• /
• 2015

Background: The demand for healthy, lean and consistent meat products containing low saturated fatty acid content and high quality polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), especially long-chain (${\geq}C_{20}$) omega-3 PUFA, has increased in recent times. Fat deposition is altered by both the genetic background and dietary supplements, and this study aimed to assess the effect of dietary Spirulina supplementation levels on the mRNA expression patterns of genes controlling lipid metabolism in the subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and Longissimus dorsi (ld) muscle of Australian crossbred sheep. Methods: Twenty-four weaned lambs belonging to four breeds under the same management conditions were maintained on ryegrass pasture and fed three levels of Spirulina supplement (control, low and high). In terms of nutrient composition, Spirulina is a nutrient-rich supplement that contains all essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals. It also is a rich source of carotenoids and fatty acids, especially gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) that infer health benefits. After slaughter, subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and ld samples were subjected to mRNA extraction and reverse transcription using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) to assess the mRNA expression levels of the Aralkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT), Adrenergic beta-3 receptor (ADRB3), B-cell translocation gene 2 (BTG2) and Fatty acid synthase (FASN) genes, which are associated with lipid metabolism. Results: Both low and high Spirulina supplementation levels strongly up-regulated the transcription of all the selected genes in both SAT and ld tissues (mostly in the subcutaneous adipose), but sheep breed and sex did not influence the gene expression patterns in these tissues. Conclusions: The evidence indicates that high Spirulina supplementation level resulted in a decrease in intramuscular fat content in Australian purebred and crossbred sheep due to the enhanced production of melatonin in sheep muscle tissues and strong up-regulation of mRNA expression of BTG2 in SAT which negatively affected fat deposition. In contrast, low Spirulina supplementation level strongly up-regulated the ADRB3 and FASN genes responsible for fat production. These findings are consistent with the observed phenotypic data suggesting that low Spirulina supplementation level can increase lamb production, with higher long-chain PUFA content.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.42 no.6
• /
• pp.837-843
• /
• 2013

Sasa borealis is a major source of bamboo leaves used for traditional medicine in Korea. Obesity is a serious health problem in industrialized countries that has been implicated in various diseases, including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and coronary heart disease. Recent reports have proposed mechanisms to reduce obesity by decreasing preadipocyte differentiation, and proliferation in 3T3-L1 preadipocyte. The preadipocytes play a key role by differentiation into mature adipocytes and increasing fat mass. In this study, we investigated whether ethanol-soluble extracts and ethyl acetate-soluble fractions from Sasa borealis inhibits intracellular accumulation of lipid droplets in a dose-dependent manner in 3T3-L1 cells (an important model system for studying adipogenesis). The down-regulation of PPAR${\gamma}$ and C/EBP${\alpha}$ (key adipogenic transcription factors) were confirmed by the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Ethyl acetate-soluble fractions from Sasa borealis attenuated the expression of PPAR${\gamma}$ and C/EBP${\alpha}$. These results suggest that Sasa borealis inhibits adipogenic differentiation by regulating adipogenic transcription factors in 3T3-L1 cells. Therefore, Sasa borealis extracts may be a good candidate for the management of obesity.

• Research in Plant Disease
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.15-20
• /
• 2008

Three isolates of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) were isolated from weed hosts showing typical mosaic symptoms, and some properties of the viruses were investigated. CMV isolates, designated as Is-CMV, Jd-CMV and Pla-CMV from Isodon inflexus, Jeffersonia dubia and Phryma leptostachya var. asiatica, respectively, were identified and characterized by biological reaction in several host plants, serological property, dsRNA analysis, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), restriction fragment-length polymorphism (RFLP). All isolates systemically infected in Nicotiana benthamiana, Cucurbita pepo cv. Black beauty and Cucumis sativus, and did not reveal any differences in these host plants between the isolates. However, remarkable difference in the symptoms was found between the CMVs in Capsicum annuum. Is-CMV induced an asymptomatic symptoms, while Jd-CMV and Pla-CMV produced severe mosaic symptoms in C. annuum plants. In dsRNA analysis, all isolates revealed four major bands with estimated molecular size of 3.4, 3.2, 2.1 and 1.0 kbp. The cDNAs of coat protein gene of the isolates were amplified by RT-PCR using a genus-specific single pair primers that designed to amplify a DNA fragment of approximately ranging from 938 to 966 bp. By restriction mapping analysis using RFLP of the RT-PCR products as well as by serological properties of gel diffusion test, the CMV isolates belong to a typical members of CMV subgroup IA. This is the first report on the occurrence of CMV in the three weed hosts.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.30 no.9
• /
• pp.783-790
• /
• 2020

The present study investigates the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of Mangifera indica L. leaf extract. The total polyphenol content was measured using the Folin-Denis method. Results showed that the M. indica L. leaf extract of water and 70% ethanol showed a content of 440.83±1.02, 475.63±1.3 mg/100 g tannic acid equivalent. To assess antioxidant activity and electron-donating ability, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical scavenging activity were measured, and all extracts were found to be highly efficacious. To assess cell viability of the extract from M. indica L. leaf on macrophage cells (RAW 264.7), a 3-[4,5-dimethyl-thiazol-2- yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium-bromide assay was performed. The following experiments were conducted in section where cells was not shown of toxicity. In order to effectively determine anti-inflammatory activity, inhibition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 cells was examined using a Griess assay. The result showed that M. indica L. leaf extract concentration-dependently inhibited NO production. M. indica L. leaf extract was measured using Western blot, reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) that to find the production of pro-inflammatory factor on stimulated RAW 264.7 cells of LPS. According to the results of this study, the M. indica L. leaf extract showed excellent effectiveness in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, thus confirming its usability as a natural material and a functional raw material for cosmetics.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
• /
• v.35 no.4 s.111
• /
• pp.275-285
• /
• 2005

Ipriflavone (isoprofoxyisoflavone), a synthetic derivative from soy isoflavone diazein, has been shown to inhibit bone resorption and perhaps stimulate bone formation This study was performed to examine the effects of ipriflavone on the proliferation and bone remodeling in rat calvarial cells in vitro The rat calvarial cells were isolated from fetus aged 20 to 21 days and cultured In BGJb media The graded concentration of ipriflavone $(10^{-9}\;10^{-5}M)$ was administered into cultured cells. When the cell proliferation was estimated through the measurement of MTT assay, there was no increase in cellular proliferation of the rat calvarial cell at any ipriflavone concentration. The cellular activity was evaluated through the formation of mineralized nodules stained by alizarin red. The formation of mineralized nodules significantly increased at concentrations of $10^{-8}M,\;10^{-7}M\;and\;10^{-6}M$ ipriflavone. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analyses (RT-PCR) were done at 7 and 14 days after culture to detect the expression of Bone Sialoprotein (BSP), Type I Collagen (COL I) and Osteocalcin(OCN) As a result, the expressions of BSP and COL I increased on the 7th day of culture and the expression of OCN increased on the 14th day of culture. These results indicate that ipriflavone facilitates the bone remodeling process bvy promoting rat calvarial cell differentiation aid stimulating mineralization through increased expression of extracellular matrix genes. such as BSP. COL I and OCN.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.24 no.10
• /
• pp.1055-1062
• /
• 2014

We investigated the expression of cucumber genes involved in lipid mobilization and metabolism during cotyledon development to compare gene activity and to study the direction of carbon (acetyl unit) transport between glyoxysomes and mitochondria. The core metabolic pathway involving 10 genes was examined in four intracellular compartments: glyoxysomes (peroxisomes), mitochondria, chloroplasts, and cytosol. Additionally, we tested the early germination response of dark-grown seedlings and the immediate light response for a further 3 days. According to the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), 3-L-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase 2 (Thio2), isocitrate lyase (ICL), and malate synthase (MS), the genes involved in storage lipid mobilization showed a similar and consistent pattern of gene expression in seedling development. Furthermore, coordinate expression of the A BOUT DE SOUFFLE (BOU) gene with ICL and MS during seedling emergence pointed to a possible secondary route of acetyl unit (acetyl-CoA) transport between peroxisomes and mitochondria in cucumber. The expression of the BOU gene was light dependent, as shown by BOU activity in Arabidopsis, suggesting that the dark condition also results in weak membrane biogenesis. In addition, several genes were active throughout the development of the green cotyledon, even during senescence. In conclusion, this study summarizes oil-seed germination and gene expression during cucumber cotyledon development and proposes an additional route for acetyl unit transport.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.474-481
• /
• 2004

Squamous cell carcinoma is the most prevalent oral cancer, which is characterized by its low survival rate, high malignancy, mortality with facial defects, and poor prognosis. Exact cause and pathogenesis of the squamous cell carcinoma is still unknown. Various routes including smoking, radiation, and viral infections predispose its genesis, and recent studies revealed that genetic defects which fail to prevent cancer proliferation play a role. Generally, a cancer develops from the decreased rate of apoptosis which is an active and voluntary cell death, and from the altered cell cycles. Anticancer effect can be obtained by recovering the apoptotic process, and by suppressing the cell cycles. Among the apoptosis related factors, bcl-2, caspase-9, and VDAC (voltage-dependent anion channel)are produced in mitochondria of the cell. Cyclosporin-A is known to induce apoptosis through its activation with VDAC. This study was to reveal the anticancer effect of Cyclosporin A to the oral squamous cell carcinoma. The inverted microscope was used to find alterations in the tissue, and sensitivity test to the anticancer cells was performed with MTT (Tetrazolium-based colorimetric) assay. Following cell line culture of primary and metastastic oral squamous cell carcinoma, electrophoresis was performed with extracted total RNA. Finally, semi-quantitative study was carried out through RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction). The results of this study are as follows: 1. The inverted microscopic observation revealed a poorly defined cytoplasm at $2000ng{\sim}3000ng/ml$, indistinct nucleus, and apoptosis. 2. The Growth of cancer cells was decreased at 1000ng/ml of cyclosporin-A. No cancer cell growth was observed at over 2000ng/ml concentration of cyclosporin-A, and at one week, growth of cancer cells was ceased. 3. The MTT assays were decreased as cyclosporin-A concentration was increased. This means that the activation of succinyl dehydrogenase in mitochondria was decreased following administration of cyclosporin A. 4. A result of RT-PCR showed that amount of mRNA of VDAC-2 was decreased half times at a cyclosporine-A concentration of 2000ng/ml. In bcl-2, amount of mRNA was significantly decreased 1/5 times at 2000ng/ml. caspase-9, however, showed slight increase compared to the control group. From the results obtained in this study, administration of cyclosporin-A to the cell lines of oral squamous cell carcinoma induced alterations in morphology and growth of the cells as its concentration increased. Since apoptosis related factors such as VDAS-2, bcl-2, and caspase-9 also showed distinct alterations on their mRNAs, further research on cyclosporin A as an anti-cancer agent will be feasible.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.8 no.3
• /
• pp.127-135
• /
• 2002

Anterior subcapsular cataract was developed by opacification with transdifferentiation and abnormal proliferation of lens epithelial cells (LECs) and pathological accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM). After-cataract also be caused by a similar transdifferentiation of LECs remaining after surgery and the accompanying increase of ECM deposits. It is blown that prostaglandin E2 and cytokine, such as TGF-$\beta$, bFGF, and IL-1, were associated with abnormal proliferation and transdifferentiation of LECs. The aim of this study was to detect the expression of transforming growth factor-$\alpha$ (TGF-$\alpha$), transforming growth factor-$\beta_1$(TGF-$\beta_1$) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in LECs of senile and diabetic cataract. The expressions of these growth factors in lens epithelial cells were determined. The sample for growth factor determination were collected in senile cataract patients without metabolic disorder, especially diabetes mellitus and diabetic cataract patients. The mRNA expression of growth factors was detected by semi-quantitative reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) followed by Southern blot analysis. Statistics were analysed using Wilcoxon rank sum test. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR/southern analysis of RNA obtained from thirty surgical specimens demonstrated that the level of mRNA expression of TGF-$\alpha$, -$\beta_1$ and bFGF was increased in diabetic cataract lens tissues compared with senile cataract specimens but non-significant, bFGF and TGF-$\beta_1$ mRNA expression were detected in most patients, expression level of TGF-$\beta_1$ was most high on the basis of normal ocular concentration. Detection rate of TGF-$\alpha$ in diabetic cataract was 1.5 fold higher than in senile cataract (P=0.098). TGF-$\alpha$, TGF-$\beta_1$, and bFGF mRNA expression of LECs were detected in senile and diabetic cataract. In both patient groups, expression level of TGF-$\beta_1$, mRNA was high, so We suggest TGF-$\beta_1$ strong influence in development of senile cataract and of diabetic cataract also. TGF-$\alpha$ expression level was similar but more frequently detected in diabetic cataract than in senile cataract. In conclusion, TGF-$\alpha$ may be associated with early development of diabetic cataract.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.265-272
• /
• 2011

It is well known that adipose tissue or body fat has been proved as a crucial component of brain-peripheral axis which can modulate the activities of reproductive hormonal axis in female mammals including rodents and human. Concerning the male reproduction, however, the role of adipose tissue has not been thoroughly studied. The present study was carried out to elucidate the effect of a high-fat (HF) diet on the reproductive system of postpubertal male rats. The HF diet (45% energy from fat, HF group) was applied to male rats from week 8 after birth for 4 weeks. The blood glucose levels, body and tissue weights were measured. Histological studies were performed to assess the structural alterations in the reproductive tissues. To determine the transcriptional changes of reproductive hormone-related genes in hypothalamus and pituitary, total RNAs were extracted and applied to the semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Body weights (p<0.01) and blood glucose levels (p<0.01) of HF group were significantly higher than those of control animals. Similarly, the weights of epididymis (p<0.05), prostate (p<0.01), seminal vesicle (p<0.01) in HF group were higher than control levels. The weights of testis were not changed. The weights of kidney (p<0.001) and spleen (p<0.01) were significantly higher than control levels while the adrenal and pancreas weights were not changed. There were only slight alterations in the microstructures of accessory sex organs; the shape of luminal epithelial cells in epididymis from HF group were relatively thicker and bigger than those from control animals. In the semi-quantitative RT-PCR studies, the mRNA levels of hypothalamic GnRH (p<0.05) in HF group were significantly higher than those from the control animals. The mRNA levels of kisspeptin in HF group tend to be higher than control levels, the difference was not significant. Unlike the hypothalamic GnRH expression, the mRNA levels of pituitary $LH{\beta}$ and $FSH{\beta}$ were significantly decreased in HF group (p<0.05). The present study indicated that the 4-weeks feeding HF diet during the postpubertal period can alter the hypothalamus-pituitary (H-P) neuroendocrine reproductive system These results suggest that the increased body fat and the altered leptin input might disturb the H-P reproductive hormonal activities in male rats, and the changed activities seem to be responsible for the changes of tissue weights in accessory sex organs.