• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.125-132
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• 2006

Previous studies showed that epigallocatechin gallate(EGCG) have substantial effects of suppressing the N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine(MNNG)-initiated cell transformation process on the bases of foci formation frequency and loss of anchorage dependency. In this study we tried to clarify the molecular mechanism of suppressing the cell transformation process. Mouse cell line balb/c 3T3 A31-1-1 was exposed 2 days to MNNG followed by 15 days 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate(TPA) treatment for our transformation process. EGCG was added after the time point of 24 hours exposure to TPA and incubated for 19 days. 2029 genes were selected in our transformation process that showed fold change value of 1.5 or more in the microarray gene expression analysis covering the mouse full genome. These genes were found to be involved mainly in the cell cycle pathway, focal adhesion, adherens junction, TGE-$\beta$ signaling, apoptosis, lysine degradation, insulin signaling, ECM-receptor interaction. Among the genes, we focused on the 631 genes(FC>0.5) reciprocally affected by EGCG treatment. Our study suggest that EGCG down-regulate the gene expressions of up stream signaling factors such as nemo like kinase with MAPK activity and PI3-Kinase, Ras GTPase and down stream factors such as cyclin D1, D2, H, T2, cdk6.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 1981

For centuries, ginseng has been used for the therapeutic purpose in oriental herb medicine. Several studies have been conducted in the past to evaluate the effect of ginseng on erythropoiesis. However the results were controversial. We therefore attempted in the present studies to evaluate the effect of ginseng on the erythropoietic activity. In one series of experiments, the recovery pattern of peripheral blood(red cell count, hemoglobin content, hematocrit and reticulocyte count) was studied in posthemorrhagic anemic rabbits. After animals were maintained with normal(control group) or 1 gm% ginseng (experimental group) diet for 2 weeks, hemorrhagic anemia was induced by withdrawing blood equivalent to 25% of the total blood volume and then changes in peripheral blood were followed for following 30 days. In other series of experiments, we studied effect of ginseng on erythrokinetics using $^{59}Fe$. $^{59}Fe(10{\sim}40\;{\mu}Ci/animal)$ was injected intravenously after animals were fed with normal (control group) or 1 gm% ginseng(experimental group) diet for 2 weeks. And radioactivities in the blood compartments were measured at appropriate intervals for 15 days. Front these various erythrokinetic parameters were estimated. Results are summarized as follows: 1) Reticulocyte count was higher in the experimental group than in the control group after 2 weeks of administration of experimental diet. During the posthemorrhagic period, the reticulocyte count increased in both the control and experimental groups, but the increase appeared much earlier in the experimental group. 2) The posthemorrhagic recoveries of hematocrit, hemoglobin content and red cell count appeared to be faster in the experimental group as compaired with the control group. 3) The half life$(T_{1/2})$ of $^{59}Fe$ in the plasma was significantly(P<0.05) shorter in the experimental group(82.6 min, N=8) than in the control group(121 min, N=6). Plasma iron turnover (PIT) of the experimental group (1.78 mg/dl/24 hr.) was approximately 4 times greater than that of the control group(0.45 mg/dl/24 hr.). 4) The maximum red cell utilization(RC-U) was 82.1% in the experimental group ana 74.5% in the control group. Red cell iron turnover(RIT) of the experimental group(1.62 mg/dl/24 hr.) was slightly higher than that of the control group(0.35 mg/dl/24 hr). 5) Erythron turnover was significantly(p<0.05) greater in the experimental group(1.27 mg/dl/24 hr.) than in the control group(0.24 mg/dl/24 hr.). Marrow transit time of the experimental group(2.05 days) tended to he faster than that of the control group(2.84 days). These results suggest that the gingseng improves the recovery of posthemorrhagic anemia and stimulates the erythropoiesis in rabbits.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.173-176
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• 2011

Free-living Acanthamoeba are eukaryotic protozoan organisms that are widely distributed in the air, water, etc such as environment. Acanthamoeba ingest the Escherichia coli which will replicate in cytoplasm of Acanthamoeba. Bacterial pathogenicity or virulence is one of important determinant factors to survive in free-living Acanthamoeba and otherwise Acanthamoebic pathogenicity is also an important factor for their interactions. Bacterial association with pathogenic strain of Acanthamoeba T1 and T4 was lower about two times than non-pathogenic T7. Bacterial invasion percentages into T1 were higher about three times than T7 but bacterial survival in T7 was increased as T1. The capsule-deletion mutant exhibited limited ability for invasion/uptake by and survival inside pathogenic Acanthamoeba T4. E. coli-outer membrane protein A (OmpA) decreased bacterial association with A. castellanii by about three times and it had higher effects than lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Under favorable conditions, the mutants were not survived in Acanthamoeba up to 24 h incubation. Therefore, this review will report pathogenic and non-pathogenic Acanthamoeba strains interactions with E. coli and its several mutants, i.e., capsule, OmpA and LPS.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.330-343
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Zanthoxylum schinifolium is traditionally used as a spice for cooking in East Asian countries. This study was undertaken to evaluate the anti-proliferative potential of ethanol extracts of Z. schinifolium leaves (EEZS) against human bladder cancer T24 cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: Subsequent to measuring the cytotoxicity of EEZS, the anti-cancer activity was measured by assessing apoptosis induction, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). In addition, we determined the underlying mechanism of EEZS-induced apoptosis through various assays, including Western blot analysis. RESULTS: EEZS treatment concentration-dependently inhibited T24 cell survival, which is associated with apoptosis induction. Exposure to EEZS induced the expression of Fas and Fas-ligand, activated caspases, and subsequently resulted to cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. EEZS also enhanced the expression of cytochrome c in the cytoplasm by suppressing MMP, following increase in the ratio of Bax:Bcl-2 expression and truncation of Bid. However, EEZS-mediated growth inhibition and apoptosis were significantly diminished by a pan-caspase inhibitor. Moreover, EEZS inhibited activation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway, and the apoptosis-inducing potential of EEZS was promoted in the presence of PI3K/Akt inhibitor. In addition, EEZS enhanced the production of ROS, whereas N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), a ROS scavenger, markedly suppressed growth inhibition and inactivation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway induced by EEZS. Furthermore, NAC significantly attenuated the EEZS-induced apoptosis and reduction of cell viability. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our results indicate that exposure to EEZS exhibits anti-cancer activity in T24 bladder cancer cells through ROS-dependent induction of apoptosis and inactivation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.11
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• pp.1757-1768
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• 2023

Objective: The number of bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs) is closely associated with the quantity of milk production in dairy cows; however, the optimal levels and the combined effects of hormones and essential amino acids (EAAs) on cell proliferation are not completely understood. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the optimal combination of individual hormones and EAAs for cell proliferation and related signaling pathways in BMECs. Methods: Immortalized BMECs (MAC-T) were treated with six hormones (insulin, cortisol, progesterone, estrone, 17β-estradiol, and epidermal growth factor) and ten EAAs (arginine, histidine, leucine, isoleucine, threonine, tryptophan, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, and valine) for 24 h. Results: Cells were cultured in a medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) as FBS supplemented at a concentration of 10% to 50% showed a comparable increase in cell proliferation rate. The optimized combination of four hormones (insulin, cortisol, progesterone, and 17β-estradiol) and 20% of a mixture of ten EAAs led to the highest cell proliferation rate, which led to a significant increase in cell cycle progression at the S and G2/M phases, in the protein levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and cyclin B1, cell nucleus staining, and in cell numbers. Conclusion: The optimal combination of hormones and EAAs increased BMEC proliferation by enhancing cell cycle progression in the S and G/2M phases. Our findings indicate that optimizing hormone and amino acid levels has the potential to enhance milk production, both in cell culture settings by promoting increased cell numbers, and in dairy cows by regulating feed intake.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.169-180
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• 2003

Background : Allergic asthma is thought to be mediated by $CD4^{+}$ T lymphocytes producing the Th2-associated cytokines. According to investigations of lung biopsies and respiratory secretions from patients, $CD4^{+}$ T cells and eosinophils are the main features of the inflammatory process. Object : This study aimed to find an inhibition effect on allergens induced by JCT (Jungchun-tang) and JCTG (Jungchuntanggagambang) through the change of $CD4^{+}$ T cells and $CD8^{+}$ T cells in BALF of rat, and to see the change of IgE m serum. Materials and Methods : Laboratory rats were primary sensitized with OA (ovalbumin); on day 1, rats of a control group and a sample group (SBP group) were systemically immunized by subcutaneous injection of 1mg OA and 300mg of A1(OH)3 in a total volume of 2 ml saline. The rats of the sample group were orally administered with an SBP water extract for 14 days after primary immunization. On day 14 after the systemic immunization, rats received local immunization by inhaling 0.9% saline aerosol containing 2%(wt/vol) OA. A day after local immunization, BAL fluid and serum were collected from the rats. Total cells, lymphocytes, $CD4^{+}$ T cells, $CD8^{+}$ T cells, and $CD4^{+}$/$CD8^{+}$ ratio in the BALF, and IgE level in serum were measured and evaluated. Results : L Total cell in BALF of rat : JCT was observed to be significantly reduced but JCTG had no significant difference in comparison with the control group. 2. Lymphocytes in BALF of rat : JCT and JCTG were observed to be significantly reduced in comparison with the control group. 3. $CD4^{+}$T cells in BALF of rat : JCT was observed to be more significantly reducing than JCTG in comparison with the control group. 4. $CD8^{+}$T cells in BALF of rat : JCT and JCTG were observed not to be significantly different than in the control group. 5. $CD4^{+}/CD8^{+}$ ratio in BALF of rat : JCT and JCTG were observed not to be significantly different than in the control group. 6. The IgE level in serum : JCT and JCTG were observed to be significantly reduced in comparison with the control group. Conclusion : This study shows that JCT inhibits allergen-induced specially select $CD4^{+}$T cell channel in BALF of rat.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.696-706
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to characterize serum immunoglobulins and lymphocytes subpopulations in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of Holstein calves in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge from Escherichia coli. Fourteen calves received subcutaneous injections of E. coli LPS at 10 weeks of age, and six calves were injected with saline as a control. The concentrations of total serum IgG and the relative amount of LPS-specific IgG in calves challenged with LPS were significantly higher (p<0.05) compared to control animals and LPS challenge significantly increased (p<0.05) the percentage of $CD5^+$ and $CD21^+$ T cells in PBMCs. Meanwhile, LPS challenge significantly increased (p<0.05, p<0.01) the percentage of $CD8^+$ and $CD25^+$ T cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) at 7 and 14 Day-post LPS challenge (DPLC), respectively. The composition of $CD4^+CD25^+$ T cells and $CD8^+CD25^+$ T cells from calves challenged with LPS was also higher (p<0.05 and p = 0.562, respectively) than those of control calves at 14 DPLC. In conclusion, LPS challenge not only induces production of IgG with expression of B-cell immune response related cell surface molecules, but also stimulates activation of T-lymphocytes in PBMC. Our results suggest that LPS challenge in calves is a good model to elucidate cellular immune response against Gram-negative bacterial infections.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.507-513
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• 2017

Bacillus subtilis spores can be used for protein display to engineer protein properties. This method overcomes viability and protein-folding concerns associated with traditional protein display methods. Spores remain viable under extreme conditions and the genotype/phenotype connection remains intact. In addition, the natural sporulation process eliminates protein-folding concerns that are coupled to the target protein traveling through cell membranes. Furthermore, ATP-dependent chaperones are present to assist in protein folding. CotA was optimized as a whole-cell biocatalyst immobilized in an inert matrix of the spore. In general, proteins that are immobilized have advantages in biocatalysis. For example, the protein can be easily removed from the reaction and it is more stable. The aim is to improve the pH stability using spore display. The maximum activity of CotA is between pH 4 and 5 for the substrate ABTS (ABTS = diammonium 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate). However, the activity dramatically decreases at pH 4. The activity is not significantly altered at pH 5. A library of approximately 3,000 clones was screened. A E498G variant was identified to have a half-life of inactivation ($t_{1/2}$) at pH 4 that was 24.8 times greater compared with wt-CotA. In a previous investigation, a CotA library was screened for organic solvent resistance and a T480A mutant was found. Consequently, T480A/E498G-CotA was constructed and the $t_{1/2}$ was 62.1 times greater than wt-CotA. Finally, E498G-CotA and T480A/E498G-CotA yielded 3.7- and 5.3-fold more product than did wt-CotA after recycling the biocatalyst seven times over 42 h.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.19 no.3 s.31
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• pp.1-12
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• 2006

Objective : Angiogenesis is an essential process for metastasis of solid tumors and Psoriasis. Lots of Researches for anti-angiogenic effect to angiogenic factors have been carried out in the world. So this experiment was carried out for whether Lacca Sinica Exsiccata(LSE) extracts have an anti-angiogenic effect for angiogenic factors. Methods: To investigate the roles of the LSE extracts, we performed MIS assay, western blots using HaCaT cells and HepG2 cells. And then, HaCaT cells were treated with 10, 50, 100, 250, $500{\mu}g/ml$ LSE extracts. After 4hrs, HaCaT cells were theated with IGF-II protein for 1hr. HepG2 cells were treated with 1, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200 ${\mu}g/ml$ LSE extracts. After 4hrs, HepG2 cells were theated with $CoCl_2$ for 24hrs Results: 1. In $50{\mu}g/ml$ and $100{\mu}g/ml$ density we confirmed the inhibition effect of LSE extracts to $HIF-1{\alpha}$ activation which was induced by IGF-II in HaCaT cells. 2. In $50{\mu}g/ml$ density we confirmed the inhibition effect of LSE extracts to $HIF-1{\alpha}$ activation which was induced by $CoCl_2$ in HepG2 cells. 3. In $25{\mu}g/ml$ density we confirmed the inhibition effect of LSE extracts to VEGF activation which was induced by $CoCl_2$ in HepG2 cells. Conclusion: The above-mentioned results proved that LSE extracts reduced $HIF-1{\alpha}$ protein level in the HaCaT cells and HepG2 cells. These results suggest that inhibition of HaCaT cell and HepG2 cell proliferation by LSE extracts contributes to the anti-angiogenic activities on the keratinocytes and hepatocellular carcinoma.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.19 no.3 s.31
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• pp.22-33
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• 2006

Objective : Angiogenesis induced by hypoxia and inflammation are an essential process of solid tumors and psoriasis. We researched the HIF-1 ${\alpha}$ (hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha), VEGF(Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor), survival related PI3K-Akt, and inflammation related COX-2 protein expressions to get the information of the mechanism and effects of Rehmannia glutinosa in HepG2 and HaCaT cell lines. Method : To investigate the roles of the Rehmannia glutinosa extract, we performed MTS assay and western blots using HaCaT cells and HepG2 cells. HaCaT cells and HepG2 cells were treated with $50{\mu}g/ml$ and $100{\mu}g/ml$ Rehmannia glutinosa extracts. After 4hrs, HaCaT cells were treated with IGF-II protein for 24hrs and HepG2 cells were treated with $CoCl_2$. Results : 1. We could ohserve that the reduction of the protein level of HIT-1 ${\alpha}$ induced by IGF-II in HaCaT cells. 2. We Could ohserve that the decreased PI3K-Akt and COX-2 expression level by Rehmannia glutinosa extracts treated in HaCaT cells independently ith ERK1/2. 3. We could observe that the reduction of the protein level of HIF-1 ${\alpha}$ induced by $CoCl_2$ in HepG2 cells. Conclusion : These results suggest that Rehmannia glutinosa extracts contributes to the anti-survival pathway and anti-inflammatory activities. Also, we could assume that Rehmannia glutinosa act as anti-inflanmmatory or anti-hypoxia agents via reduction of COX-2 and HIF-1 ${\alpha}$.