• BMB Reports
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• 제43권1호
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• pp.57-61
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• 2010

Activator protein-1 can induce either cell survival or death, which is controlled by opposing effects of different Jun members. It is generally accepted that c-Jun is pro-apoptotic, but that JunD is anti-apoptotic in stress-exposed cells. Additionally, although there are reports suggesting that JunB plays a protective role, its role in stress-induced apoptosis remains unclear. Here, we investigated the role of JunB in $H_2O_2$-induced cell death using cells that over-expressed the protein or were transfected with si-JunB. Inhibition of JunB expression accelerated $H_2O_2$-mediated loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and cytotoxicity. Conversely, over-expression of JunB protein led to significant inhibition of the MMP loss and cell death. The increase in JunB expression also attenuated nuclear relocation of apoptosis-inducing factor and mitochondrial Bcl-2 reduction that occurred following $H_2O_2$ exposure. These results suggest that JunB can signal survival against oxidant-mediated cell death by suppressing mitochondrial stress.

• BMB Reports
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• 제33권6호
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• pp.483-492
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• 2000

The Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) strain F glycoprotein H (gH) gene in the pHLB-4 plasmid was recombinated into a baculovirus expression vector (lacZ-HcNPV) to construct a recombinant virus GH-HcNPV expressing gH. The sequences of gH and its expression were analyzed. The gH gene was located in the 6.41 kb BglII fragment. The open reading frame (ORF) of the gH gene was 2,517 bp and codes 838 amino acid residues. Insect cells infected with this recombinant virus synthesized a high level of the matured and gX-gH fusion protein with approximately 112 kDa. The fusion gH protein was localized on the membrane of the insect cells as seen by using immunofluorescence assay and accumulated in the cultured media by the SDS-PAGE and immunoprecipitation assays. The amino acid sequence presents additional characteristics compatible with the structure of a viral glycoprotein: signal peptide, putative glycosylation sites and a long C-terminal transmembrane sequence. Antibodies raised in mice to this recombinant protein recognized viral gH and neutralized the infectivity of HSV-1 in vitro. These results demonstrate that it is possible to produce a mature protein by gene transfer in eukaryotic cells, and indicate the utility of the HcNPV-insect cell system for producing and characterizing eukaryotic proteins. Furthermore, the neutralizing antibodies would appear to protect mice against HSV; accordingly, this particular recombinant protein may be useful in the development of a subunit vaccine.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.290-301
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• 2019

Paeonol has neuroprotective function, which could be useful for improving central nervous system disorder. The purpose of this study was to characterize the functional mechanism involved in brain transport of paeonol through blood-brain barrier (BBB). Brain transport of paeonol was characterized by internal carotid artery perfusion (ICAP), carotid artery single injection technique (brain uptake index, BUI) and intravenous (IV) injection technique in vivo. The transport mechanism of paeonol was examined using conditionally immortalized rat brain capillary endothelial cell line (TR-BBB) as an in vitro model of BBB. Brain volume of distribution (VD) of [$^3H$]paeonol in rat brain was about 6-fold higher than that of [$^{14}C$]sucrose, the vascular space marker of BBB. The uptake of [$^3H$]paeonol was concentration-dependent. Brain volume of distribution of paeonol and BUI as in vivo and inhibition of analog as in vitro studies presented significant reduction effect in the presence of unlabeled lipophilic compounds such as paeonol, imperatorin, diphenhydramine, pyrilamine, tramadol and ALC during the uptake of [$^3H$]paeonol. In addition, the uptake significantly decreased and increased at the acidic and alkaline pH in both extracellular and intracellular study, respectively. In the presence of metabolic inhibitor, the uptake reduced significantly but not affected by sodium free or membrane potential disruption. Similarly, paeonol uptake was not affected on OCTN2 or rPMAT siRNA transfection BBB cells. Interestingly. Paeonol is actively transported from the blood to brain across the BBB by a carrier mediated transporter system.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• 제50권2호
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• pp.94-102
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• 2024

The exact mechanism of sialolith formation has yet to be determined. Recurrence of sialolithiasis is rare, affecting only 1%-10% of patients. The current study presents a case of recurrent stones that occurred twice on the right submandibular gland 6 months postoperative and 7 months after reoperation in a 48-year-old female patient. The stones were analyzed using histology, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The first stone showed a three-layered structure with a poorly mineralized peripheral multilayered zone, highly mineralized middle layer, and the central nidus. The stones were composed of Ca, C, O, Cu, F, N, P, Si, Zn, and Zr. In TEM, compact bi-layered bacterial cell membrane was found on the peripheral layer and the central nidus of the stone as well as exosomes in the central nidus. The results demonstrated the essential components of sialolith formation, including bacteria, inflammatory exosomes, and exfoliated salivary epithelial cells that cooperatively underwent the pathogenetic progresses of central nidus formation, induction of compact zone calcification of the middle layer, and repeated subsequent deposition in the peripheral multilayer zone. The rapid recurrence could have resulted from residual pieces of a sialolith acting as the nidus of bacterial infection.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제41권3호
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• pp.392-402
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• 2017

Background: Previously, we reported that Korean Red Ginseng inhibited liver fibrosis in mice and reduced the expressions of fibrogenic genes in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). The present study was undertaken to identify the major ginsenoside responsible for reducing the numbers of HSCs and the underlying mechanism involved. Methods: Using LX-2 cells (a human immortalized HSC line) and primary activated HSCs, MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide) assays were conducted to examine the cytotoxic effects of ginsenosides. $H_2O_2$ productions, glutathione contents, lactate dehydrogenase activities, mitochondrial membrane permeabilities, apoptotic cell subpopulations, caspase-3/-7 activities, transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining, and immunoblot analysis were performed to elucidate the molecular mechanism responsible for ginsenoside-mediated cytotoxicity. Involvement of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-related signaling pathway was examined using a chemical inhibitor and small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection. Results and conclusion: Of the 11 ginsenosides tested, 20S-protopanaxadiol (PPD) showed the most potent cytotoxic activity in both LX-2 cells and primary activated HSCs. Oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis induced by 20S-PPD was blocked by N-acetyl-$\text\tiny L$-cysteine pretreatment. In addition, 20S-PPD concentration-dependently increased the phosphorylation of AMPK, and compound C prevented 20S-PPD-induced cytotoxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction. Moreover, 20S-PPD increased the phosphorylation of liver kinase B1 (LKB1), an upstream kinase of AMPK. Likewise, transfection of LX-2 cells with LKB1 siRNA reduced the cytotoxic effect of 20S-PPD. Thus, 20S-PPD appears to induce HSC apoptosis by activating LKB1-AMPK and to be a therapeutic candidate for the prevention or treatment of liver fibrosis.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제34권10호
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• pp.1599-1605
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• 2005

본 연구는 냉장우육과 냉동우육의 판별법을 개발하기 위하여, 한우 육을 부위별(사태, 등심, 우둔, 양지 )로 구입하고 냉장(4$\pm$ 1$^{\circ}C$), 냉동(-4, -18, -77$^{\circ}C$)상태로 15일 저장하면서 압착육즙채취기를 이용하여 근육 세포내 mitochondria 막에 존재하는 mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase활성 특성을 비교 연구한 결과 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 본 실험을 위하여 제작된 압착육즙채취기를 이용하여 정량적인 압착 육즙을 얻을 수 있었고, 1.5g의 우육을 이용하였을 때 0.15mL의 압착육즙을 얻었다. 냉장우육과 냉동우육 간의 mite-chondral malate dehyogenase의 각 부위별 활성은 사태의 경우 냉장우육은 23.63 Unit/mL의 활성을 나타내었고,-4$^{\circ}C$는 20.91 Unit/mL, -18$^{\circ}C$는 26.43 Unit/mL 그리고 -77$^{\circ}C$는 25.90 Unit/mL의 활성을 나타내었다. 동일한 부위에서 저장온도에 따른 효소의 활성도는 냉장우육보다 -4$^{\circ}C$를 제외한 법동 저장 온도(-18, -77$^{\circ}C$)에서 모두 유의적으로 높은 효소의 활성을 나타내었다(p < 0.05). 동일한 저장 온도에서 각부위 간에 활성의 차이점은 -77$^{\circ}C$에서 냉동 저장한 우육이 유의적 차이 없이 가장 높은 효소 활성을 나타내었고,-77$^{\circ}C$ 저장온도를 제외하고는 모두 유의성 있는 변화량을 나타내었다(p < 0.05). 실험군의 압착육즙 내 mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase의 활성은 10분간 흡광도 변화량을 조사함으로써 계산되었다. 등심을 제외한 모든 부위에서 호소반응개시 3분 후에 -4$^{\circ}C$에서 동결우육을 제외하고 동결우육의 효소 활성이 떨어지는 것을 확인할 수 있었고, 5분 반응 후에는 그 효소의 활성을 발견할 수 없었다. 냉장우육은 12분까지 활성을 측정할 수 있었다. 15일간 냉장우육 및 냉동우육을 저장 온도에 따라 저장하면서 그 활성을 측정하였는데, 저장 기간이 길어져도 그 효소활성의 차이는 유의적으로 변화하지 않고, 모든 실험군(사태, 등심, 양지, 우둔 부위 )에서 유의적으로 유사한 활성을 유지하였다(p < 0.05). 따라서 본 연구 결과로부터 mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase의 활성을 이용하여 냉장우육과 냉동우육 유무를 판별하는데 유효한 지표로 사용 가능한 것으로 사료되었다.

• 한국어류학회지
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.63-70
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• 2015

본 연구는 우리나라 연안에 서식하는 괴도라치의 산란행동 및 난 발생과 자어 형태발달을 조사하여 다른 장갱이과 어류자어와의 유연관계를 밝혀 분류학적 연구의 기초자료로 이용하고자 한다. 실험에 사용된 친어는 평균전장 $32.9{\pm}0.21cm$(31.8~34.0)로 2003년 12월 전남 여수시 신덕동 연안에서 원통형 통발을 이용해 8개체를 채집하여 실험실로 수송 후 사각 유리수조 ($50{\times}30{\times}35cm$)에 수용하여 순환여과식으로 사육하였다. 사육수온은 $12.3{\sim}15.8^{\circ}C$ (평균 $14.1{\pm}2.47$)를 유지하였고, 염분농도는 32.5~33.5‰ (평균 $33.0{\pm}0.05$‰)의 범위를 유지하였다. 수정란은 구형으로 백색의 불투명한 침성 점 착란이었다. 난의 크기는 1.81~2.19 mm (평균 $2.00{\pm}0.27mm$, n=50)이었다. 부화는 수정 271시간 30분 후 머리부터 난막을 뚫고 나오면서 시작되었다. 부화 직후 전기 자어는 전장 8.45~8.84 mm (평균 $8.65{\pm}0.28mm$, n=5)로 입과 항문이 열려있었고, 1개의 유구를 가지고 있었다. 부화 11일째 후기 자어는 전장 10.5~11.3 mm (평균 $10.9{\pm}0.57mm$)로 이 시기의 근절 수는 66개로 증가하였다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제26권11호
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• pp.1232-1236
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• 2016

Mitochondrial calcium uptake 1 (MICU1)은 2개의 canonical EF hands를 가지고 미토콘드리아 내막에 위치하여, 미토콘드리아의 칼슘 섭취에 중요한 기능을 하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 근육 세포의 미토콘드리아 칼슘 섭취는 사후에 급속냉각 또는 냉장 시, 근육 내 칼슘 방출로 인한 강직과 관련되어 있으므로 궁극적으로는 육질 형성에 관련이 있을 것으로 판단된다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 돼지 MICU1 유전자의 exon영역의 변이를 탐색하고, 발굴된 변이에 대해 육질 형질과의 연관성 분석을 실시하였다. 이를 위해 버크셔 667두(암퇘지 347두, 거세수퇘지 320두)가 이용되었으며, MICU1 유전자의 cDNA를 염기서열 해독하여 비교함으로써 exon 영역의 변이를 발굴하였다. 그 결과 MICU1의 3' 비해독 영역(untranslated region, UTR)에서 3개의 단일염기다형성(single-nucleotide polymorphism, SNP)를 발견했다. 그리고 이들 SNP에 대해 공시돈의 육질형질(근육 pH, 육즙 손실, 육색, 근내지방함량)과 연관성 분석을 실시했다. SNP1 (c.*136G>A)에서는 육즙 손실(p=0.017), 근내지방함량(p=0.039)과 연관되어 있었고, SNP2 (c.*222G>A)와 SNP3 (c.*485G>A)에서는 각각 육즙 손실(p=0.018)과 근내지방함량(p<0.001)과 연관되어 있는 것을 확인하였다. 따라서 본 결과를 바탕으로, 돼지에서 육질과 관련된 후보 유전자로 추정된 MICU1 유전자로부터 3' 비해독 영역의 변이가 유의적으로 육질 형질과 관련되어있다는 것이 확인되었다. 향후 MICU1 유전자의 3' 비해독 영역의 변이들에 기능적 역할을 정확히 파악하기 위한 분자생물학적 특성 연구가 필요할 것으로 판단된다.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제38권12호
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• pp.1064-1070
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• 2015

Translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO) is a mitochondrial outer membrane protein and is abundantly expressed in a variety of organ and tissues. To date, the functional role of TSPO on vascular endothelial cell activation has yet to be fully elucidated. In the present study, the phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA, 250 nM), an activator of protein kinase C (PKC), was used to induce vascular endothelial activation. Adenoviral TSPO overexpression (10-100 MOI) inhibited PMA-induced vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intracellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression in a dose dependent manner. PMA-induced VCAM-1 expressions were inhibited by Mito-TEMPO ($0.1-0.5{\mu}m$), a specific mitochondrial antioxidants, and cyclosporin A ($1-5{\mu}m$), a mitochondrial permeability transition pore inhibitor, implying on an important role of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) on the endothelial activation. Moreover, adenoviral TSPO overexpression inhibited mitochondrial ROS production and manganese superoxide dismutase expression. On contrasts, gene silencing of TSPO with siRNA increased PMA-induced VCAM-1 expression and mitochondrial ROS production. Midazolam ($1-50{\mu}m$), TSPO ligands, inhibited PMA-induced VCAM-1 and mitochondrial ROS production in endothelial cells. These results suggest that mitochondrial TSPO can inhibit PMA-induced endothelial inflammation via suppression of VCAM-1 and mitochondrial ROS production in endothelial cells.