• Food Science and Industry
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.390-396
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• 2020

We investigated the anti-obesity effect of Gelidium elegans extract (GE) on 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and a high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced mouse model. The results of the present study demonstrated that GE prevents weight gain induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) by modulating the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-PR domain-containing 16 (PRDM16)-uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1) pathway in a mice model. Moreover, in vitro results show that GE suppressed adipocyte differentiation by modulating adipogenic regulators, stimulated lipolysis by activating ATGL, and inhibited adipogenesis by downregulating various enzymes associated with triglyceride synthesis. GE was also found to upregulate AMPK phosphorylation as well as the expression of UCP1 and PRDM16 proteins, leading to measurable changes in the beige-like phenotype differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells. Taken together, these findings suggest the role of GE as a functional food ingredient extracted from Gelidium elegans to increase energy expenditure and anti-obesity efficacy.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.944-949
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• 2023

The purpose of this study was to identify conserved metabolic pathways and conserved genes in 122 archaeal species. Using the Clusters of Orthologous Groups of Proteins (COG) database of conserved genes, we analyzed whether 122 species had 63 COG metabolic pathways, the 822 COGs that compose them, and a total of 4,877 COGs. Archaeal ribosomal proteins were the most conserved in metabolic pathways. 46 COGs in seven COG pathways among 63 COG pathways and 20 COGs in others were conserved in 122 species. Some genes involved in cell wall and extracellular matrix synthesis, replication, transcription, translation, and protein metabolism were common to all 122 species. When the distance value of the phylogenetic tree was analyzed at the phylum level or class level, the average was the lowest at the class Halobacteria of the phylum Euryarchaeota. Standard deviation was high for the class Nitosospharia of the phylum Thaumarchaeota, the unclassified members of phylum Thaumarchaeota, the class Halobacteria of the phylum Euryarchaeota, the class Thermoprotei of the phylum Crenarchaeota, and other archaea. Furthermore, the phylogenetic tree analysis revealed six commonalities. The results of this study, along with data on conserved genes, could be used for drug development and gene selection for strain improvement.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.382-386
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• 2011

Microbial fuel cells (MFC), devices that use bacteria as a catalyst to generate electricity, can utilize a variety of organic wastes as electron donors. The current generated may differ depending on the organic matter concentrations used, when other conditions, such as oxidant supply, proton transfer, internal resistance and so on, are not limiting factors. In these studies, a single-cathode type MFC (SCMFC) and dual-cathode type MFC (DCMFC) were used to ascertain the current's improvement through an increase in the contact area between the anode and the cathode compartments, because the cathode reaction is one of the most serious limiting factors in an MFC. Also an MFC was conducted to explore whether an improvement in electricity generation resulted from oxidizing the carbon sources and nitrates. About 250 mg $L^{-1}$ sodium acetate was fed to an anode compartment with a flow rate of 0.326 mL $min^{-1}$ by continuous mode. The current generated from the DCMFC was higher than the value produced from MFC with a single cathode. COD removal of dual-cathode MFC was also higher than that of single-cathode MFC. The nitrate didn't affect current generation at 2 mM, but when 4 and 8 mM nitrate was supplied, the current in the single-cathode and dual-cathode MFC was decreased by 98% from $5.97{\pm}0.13$ to $0.23{\pm}0.03$ mA and $8.40{\pm}0.23$ to $0.20{\pm}0.01$ mA, respectively. These results demonstrate that increasing of contact area of the anode and cathode can raise current generation by an improvement in the cathode reaction.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.313-319
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• 2009

The marine microalga Spirulina maxima was extracted using water or ethanol at 100 or $80^{\circ}C$ and by ultrasonification in water at $60^{\circ}C$. The ultrasonification technique generated the highest yield (19.8%). To be therapeutically useful, the extraction should yield a product with low cytotoxicity and high immunity against skin infections. The cytotoxicity of all extracts (1.0 mg/mL) was below 25%. Moreover, the cytotoxicity of the extract generated by ultrasonification was 5%. Extracts prepared in the described manners could inhibit hyaluronidase activity by up to 40% compared to the control. Increased growth of human B, T and NK cells and an increase in cytokine secretion were observed, confirming the interrelationship between both human immune and skin immune activity. The extract prepared by ultrasonification increased the growth of human B, T and NK cells up to $10.3{\times}10^4$ cells/mL, $11.3{\times}10^4$ cells/mL and $19.1{\times}10^4$ cells/mL, respectively. The extract prepared by ultrasonification also greatly increased the secretion of both IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$. Moreover, it was estimated that protein, Na and leucine occupy a high ratio. Accordingly, this study has confirmed that extracts prepared as described have the potential to effectively increase skin immunity.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.36-42
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• 1990

The effect of preincubation on in vitro maturation and fertility were investigated using preovulatory oocytes with and without cumulus cells obtained from superovulated ouot-bred ICR mice. Oocytes were recovered from fully grown folicle at 10 hr after hCG administration. A part of oocytes recovered were treated with the solution of 0.1% hyaluronidase to remove cumulus cells. Both intact and treated oocytes were then incubated for 0 to 6hr in mT6 medium containing 0.3% BSA. After incubation for various times, a part of oocytes were subjected to the investigation of nuclear maturation and the remaining oocytes were used fro the induction of in vitro fertilization by adding them into medium containing capacitated mice epididymal spermatozoa. Above all, the percentage of preovulatory oocytes at the stage of metaphase II after preincubation for 0, 2, 4 and 6hr was 15.8, 36.4, 47.5 and 66.7%, respectively, suggesting the in vitro maturation of oocytes during their incubation. On the other hand, fertilizatin rate of oocytes preincubated for 0, 2, 4 and 6hr with and without cumulus cells were 41.0, 58.7, 68.7 and 75.6%, and 50.0, 45.1, 37.8 and 39.2%, respectively. No significant differences in fertilization rate between preovulatory oocytes preincubated for 6hr with cumulus cells and naturally ovulated were observed. These results suggest that cumulus cells take very important role in maturtion of oocytes in vitro. The precentage of preovulatory oocytes developed to 2-cell stage in vitro fertilization following preincubation for 0 to 6hr with and without cumulus cells ranged from 48.5 to 82.4% and 36.9 to 56.1%, respectively. Also, the rates of oocytes developed to blastocyst in vitro fertilization after preincubation for 0 to 6hr with and without cumulus cells were 28.1, 39.3, 42.5 and 44.0% and 12.5, 32.6, 24.4 and 15.5%, respectively. From these results, it could be said that fertility of preovulatory oocytes with cumulus cells could be improved to the level of that of naturally ovulated oocytes by adquate preincubation in vitro. Cumulus cells may, therefore, affect in vitro maturation, fertilization and following development of oocytes by influencing zona hardening.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.250-259
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• 2001

To determine if initial infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis changes the balance of cytokines between T cells and macrophages, we evaluated interferon (IFN)-${\gamma}$), interleukin-12 (IL)-12, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ productions by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 15 untreated active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients and 12 healthy tuberculin reactors (HTR). Freshly isolated PBMC were stimulated with Triton X-100 solubilized protein (TSP), 30-kDa or purified protein derivatives (PPD) antigen for 6, 18 and 96 hours. IL-12 p40 production by antigen-stimulated PBMC from TB patients was significantly decreased compared with that in HTR. In addition, IFN-${\gamma}$ production was significantly depressed in TB patients than that in HTR at a 96-hr stimulation. However, TNF-${\alpha}$ production was significantly higher in antigen-stimulated PBMC from TB than that of HTR. A pronounced increase in IFN-${\gamma}$ protein followed neutralization of IL-10 in early TB patients. However, neutralization of TNF-${\alpha}$ did not significantly alter IFN-${\gamma}$ induction in PBMC from TB patients. There were no significantly differences in the cytokine productions among three proteins, TSP, 30-kDa or PPD antigen. These results indicate that development of TB may be strongly associated with dysregulated productions of IL-12, IFN-${\gamma}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$, during the initial immune responses to M. tuberculosis. Further understanding of operative cytokine networks during human immune cell responses to protein antigens of M. tuberculosis may improve strategies for vaccine development.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.11-15
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• 1998

This paper reports 3 cases with 46,XX sex reversed male. Three 46,XX hypogonadal subjects showed complete sex reversal and had normal phallus and azoospermia. We studied them under clinical, cytogenetic and molecular aspects to find out the origin of the sex reversal. Patients had markedly elevated serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and lutenizing hormone (LH) and decreased or normal range of serum testosterone. The testicular volumes were small (3-8ml). Testicular biopsy showed Leydig cell hyperplasia and atrophy of seminiferous tubules. We obtained the results of normal 46,XX, and the presence of Y chromosome mosaicism was ruled out through XY dual fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). By using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), we amplified short arm (SRY, PABY, ZFY and DYS14), centromere (DYZ3), and heterochromatin (DYZ1) region of the Y chromosome. PCR amplification of DNA from these patients showed the presence of the sex-determining region of the Y chromosome (SRY) but didn't show the centromere and heterochromatin region sequence. The SRY gene was detected in all the three patients. Amplification patterns of the other regions were different in these patients; one had four amplified loci (PABY+, SRY+, ZFY+, DYS14+), another had two loci (SRY+, ZFY+) and the other had two loci (PABY+, SRY+). We have found that each patient's translocation elements had different breakpoints at upstream and downstream of the SRY gene region. We conclude that the testicular development in 46,XX male patients were due to insertion or translocation of SRY gene into X chromosome or autosomes.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.309-316
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• 2017

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 3 (TRPV3) is a non-selective cation channel with modest permeability to calcium ions. It is involved in intracellular calcium signaling and is therefore important in processes such as thermal sensation, skin barrier formation, and wound healing. TRPV3 was initially proposed as a warm temperature sensor. It is activated by synthetic small-molecule chemicals and plant-derived natural compounds such as camphor and eugenol. Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill (SC) has diverse pharmacological properties including antiallergic, anti-inflammatory, and wound healing activities. It is extensively used as an oriental herbal medicine for the treatment of various diseases. In this study, we investigated whether SC fruit extracts and seed oil, as well as four compounds isolated from the fruit can activate the TRPV3 channel. By performing whole-cell patch clamp recording in HEK293T cells overexpressing TRPV3, we found that the methanolic extract of SC fruit has an agonistic effect on the TRPV3 channel. Furthermore, electrophysiological analysis revealed that ${\gamma}$-schisandrin, one of the isolated compounds, activated TRPV3 at a concentration of $30{\mu}M$. In addition, ${\gamma}$-schisandrin (${\sim}100{\mu}M$) increased cytoplasmic $Ca^{2+}$ concentrations by approximately 20% in response to TRPV3 activation. This is the first report to indicate that SC extract and ${\gamma}$-schisandrin can modulate the TRPV3 channel. This report also suggests a mechanism by which ${\gamma}$-schisandrin acts as a therapeutic agent against TRPV3-related diseases.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.718-723
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• 2002

CKD-602 (7-[2-(N-isopropylamino)ethyl]-(20S)-camptothecin) is a recently-developed synthetic camptothecin analogue and currently under clinical development by Chong Kun Dang Pharm (Seoul, Korea). CKD-602 showed potent topoisomerase inhibitory activity in vitro and broad antitumor activity against various human tumor cells in vitro and in vivo in animal models. This study describes the pharmacodynamics of the immediate and delayed cytotoxicity induced by CKD-602 in a human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line, HT-29, and its intracellular drug accumulation by HPLC. The present study was designed to address whether the higher activity of CKD-602 with prolonged exposure is due to delayed exhibition of cytotoxicity and/or an accumulation of anti proliferative effect on continuous drug exposure. The drug uptake study was performed to determine whether the delayed cytotoxicity is due to a slow drug accumulation in cells. CKD-602 produced a cytotoxicity that was exhibited immediately after treatment (immediate effect) and after treatment had been terminated (delayed effect). Both the immediate and delayed effects of CKD-602 showed a time dependent decrease in 4IC_{50}$ values. Drug uptake was biphasic and the second equilibrium level was obtained as early as at 24hr, indicating that the cumulative and delayed antitumor effects of CKD-602 were not due to slow drug uptake. On the other hand, CKD-602 treatment was sufficient to induce delayed cytotoxicity after 4hr, however, longer treatment (＞24hr) enhanced its cytotoxicity due to the intracellular accumulation of the drug, which requires 24hr to reach maximum equilibrium concentration. In addition, $C^n$$\times$T=h analysis (n=0.481) indicated that increased exposure times may contribute more to the overall antitumor activity of CKD-602 than drug concentration. Additional studies to determine the details of the intracellular uptake kinetics (e.g., concentration dependency and retention studies) are needed in order to identify the optimal treatment schedules for the successful clinical development of CKD-602.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.18-23
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• 2012

Purpose: Transforming growth factor beta receptor 2 ($TGFBR2$) is a tumor suppressor gene that plays a role in the differentiation of striated cells and remodeling of coronary arteries. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of this gene are associated with Marfan syndrome and sudden death in patients with coronary artery disease. Cardiovascular remodeling and T cell activation of $TGFBR2$ gene suggest that the $TGFBR2$ gene SNPs are related to the pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease (KD) and coronary artery lesion (CAL). Methods: The subjects were 105 patients with KD and 500 healthy adults as controls. Mean age of KD group was 32 months age and 26.6% of those had CAL. We selected $TGFBR2$ gene SNPs from serum and performed direct sequencing. Results: The sequences of the eleven SNPs in the $TGFBR2$ gene were compared between the KD group and controls. Three SNPs (rs1495592, rs6550004, rs795430) were associated with development of KD ($P$=0.019, $P$=0.026, $P$=0.016, respectively). One SNP (rs1495592) was associated with CAL in KD group ($P$=0.022). Conclusion: Eleven SNPs in $TGFBR2$ gene were identified at that time the genome wide association. But, with the change of the data base, only six SNPs remained associated with the $TGFBR2$ gene. One of the six SNPs (rs6550004) was associated with development of KD. One SNP associated with CAL (rs1495592) was disassociated from the $TGFBR2$ gene. The other five SNPs were not functionally identified, but these SNPs are notable because the data base is changing. Further studies involving larger group of patients with KD are needed.