• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.115-119
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• 1995

In order to clarify the relationship between the activity and age of vacular cambium in the rhizome of Botrychium ternatum, the cambia of the 6th and 10th internodes from its shoot apex were compared ultrastructurally and histochemically. The cambium in the 6th internode had two to four radially arranged cells in each row, and the cells are radially flattened and had thiner tangential walls than radial. The cambial cells were ultrastructurally characterlized by the presence of a large vacuole, few storage materials such as starch grains and lipid droplets, and various cell organelles such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulums and dictyosomes in cytoplasm. On the other hand, the cells of cambium in the 10th internode showed irregular arangement and somewhat enlargement in radial plane. The cells were filled with numerous storage materials and small vacuoles and had few cell organelles except for mitochondria. In addition, the activity of acid phosphatase appeared in the cambium of the 6th internode but of the 10th. From the above results, it is clear that the vascular cambium of the 6th internode was active and that of the 10th was dormant. Thus we reached a conclusion that the rhizome of '||'&'||'trychium ternatum has determinate cambium.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.221-226
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• 2010

The effects of sesamin on dopamine biosynthesis in PC12 cells were investigated. Sesamin at concentration ranges of 20-75 ${\mu}M$ significantly increased intracellular dopamine levels and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activities at 24 h: 50 ${\mu}M$ sesamin increased dopamine levels to 132% and TH activities to 128% of control levels. Sesamin (50 ${\mu}M$) induced the phosphorylation of TH, cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) and cyclic AMP-response element binding protein (CREB) for 0.5-24 h. Sesamin (50 ${\mu}M$) also increased the mRNA levels of TH and CREB for 3-24 h. In addition, sesamin (50 ${\mu}M$) associated with L-DOPA (50 and 100 ${\mu}M$) further increased the intracellular levels of dopamine for 24 h compared to L-DOPA alone. These results suggest that sesamin enhances dopamine biosynthesis and L-DOPA-induced increase in dopamine levels by inducing TH activity and TH gene expression, which is mediated by PKA-CREB systems in PC12 cells. Therefore, sesamin could serve as an adjuvant phytonutrient for neurodegenerative diseases.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.510-512
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• 1997

The effects of noscapine a phthalide isoquinoline alkaloid, on dopamine biosynthesis and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity in PC12 cells were investigated. Noscapine showed 74.6% inhibition on dopamine content in PC12 cells at a concentration of $20{\mu}M.$ $IC_{50}$ of noscapine was $6.8{\mu}M.$ TH activity was inhibited by the treatment of noscapine in PC12 cells (20.9% inhibition at 20 .mu.M). Therefore, the inhibition of TH activity by noscapine might be involved in at least one component of the reduction of dopamine biosynthesis in PC12 cells.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2004.06a
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• pp.272-272
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• 2004

The objective of this study is to test whether human embryonic stem cells expressing Nurr1 (Nurr1-transfected hES cells) could be expressed TH according to neuronal differentiation. As an effort to direct differentiation of hES (MB03 registered in NIH) cells to dopamine-producing neuronal cells, Nurr1 was transfected using conventional transfection protocol into MB03 cell and examined the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) after differentiation induced by retinoic acid (RA) and ascorbic acid (AA). (omitted)

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.11
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• pp.747-754
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• 2019

The incidence of atherosclerosis is higher among patients with several autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It is well documented that innate immune cells including macrophages and dendritic cells sense lipid species such as saturated fatty acids and oxidized low-density lipoprotein and produce pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. However, whether a hyperlipidemic environment also impacts autoimmune T cell responses has been unclear. Among $CD4^+$ T cells, Th17 and follicular helper T (Tfh) cells are known to play pathogenic roles in the development of hyperlipidemia-associated autoimmune diseases. This review gives an overview of the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which dysregulated lipid metabolism impacts the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, with specific emphasis on Th17 and Tfh cells.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.109-114
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• 2010

The molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are poorly defined. Accumulating evidences indicate that chronic inflammatory responses and adaptive immunity play important roles in the development and progression of the disease. Recently, it has been shown that IL-17 producing CD4 T cells, named Th17 cells, which have been implicated in the pathogenesis of several inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, are involved in airway inflammation and COPD. In addition, we and others suggest that autoimmunity may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of COPD. Here, we will review the current understanding of roles of Th17 cells and autoimmune responses in COPD.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.1106-1115
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• 2009

Mori Ramulus has multiple applications in Korean traditional medicine prescription because it has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects by reducing macrophage activities. Yet, no studies on the anti-arthritic activity of EMR (extract of Mori Ramulus) have been reported in vitro and in vivo. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease with chronic inflammation characterized by hyperplasia of synovial cells in affected joints, which ultimately leads to the destruction of cartilage and bone. Because collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) is similar to RA in pathological symptoms and immune reactions, there have been several reports concerning RA using CIA mouse model. Here, we investigated the effects of Mori Ramulus on RA using CIA mice. The importance of CD4+ Th1 cells in RA progress was previously indicated and studies further showed that Th17 cells play a prime role in severity of disease. Accordingly, the present study was focused on CIA associated with CD4+ Th1 cells and Th1 7 cells. DBA/1OlaHsd mice were immunized with bovine type II collagen (CII). After a second collagen immunization, mice were treated with EMR once a day for 4 weeks. The severity of arthritis within the paw joints was evaluated by histological assessment of cartilage destruction and pannus formation. Immune cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), draining lymph node (DLN) and paw joints, cytokine production and gene expression were assessed from CIA mouse using ELISA, FACS and real-time PCR analysis. Administration of EMR significantly suppressed the progression of CIA and inhibited the production of TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6 and IL-17 in the serum. The erosion of cartilage was dramatically reduced in mouse knees after treatment with EMR. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that EMR significantly suppressed the progression of CIA and that this action was mediated by the decreased production of TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6, IL-17 and collagen II-specific antibody in the serum. EMR suppressed Th17 cells and reduced level of IL-6 via B cell suppression, and thus, the levels of autoantibodies produced from B cells were decreased. Furthermore, EMR suppressed NKT cells which directly stimulate B cells and develop imbalance of Th1/Th2 cell. Oral administration of EMR (100 mg/kg or 200 mg/kg) significantly suppressed the progression of CIA, which is comparable to that of methotrexate (MTX, 0.3 mg/kg) used as a positive control. We are currently studying the mechanism underlying the therapeutic role for EMR in CIA mice.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2002

Immune responses associated with bacterial infection involve various inflammatory cells. Clinical symptoms and pathologic features are particularly influenced by the predominant cells Among inflammatory cells, T cells have the heterogenity. T cells may develop into the mature cells expressing the cell surface markers with different functions and T helper cells are categorized into Th1 and Th2 cells based on their different patterns of cytokine production. The objective of this study was to investigate the change of expression of surface markers on T cells and the Th1/Th2 immune response in pulpal inflammation associated with specific bacteria. We experimentally induced pulpal inflammation in rat incisors by drilling without coolant and innoculated with Streptococcus mutans (S.M. group), Porphyromonas endodontalis (P.E. group), or only sterile cotton (control group). After 1, 2, and 5 days, mandibular incisors were extracted and the pulp tissues were extirpated The expressions of IL-2 recepters (CD25) and ICAM-1 (CD54) on CD4+ and CD8+ cells in the pulps were determined using a flow cytometer, and the concentration of IL-2, IFN-$\gamma$ and IL-4 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results were as follows: 1 In the S.M. group, CD4+ cells were more increased at 2nd day than 1st day and in the P.E. group, CD8+ cells were more increased at 2nd day than 1st day. 2. The percentages of CD4+, CD4+25+ and CD4+54+ cells were decreased in the pulp tissues at 5th day after irritation in all groups. 3. The ratios of CD4+/CD8+, CD4+/CD4+25+ and CD4+/CD4+54+ in the pulps at 2nd day after irritation by P. endodontalis were significantly lower than the other groups. 4. The higher concentrations of IFN-$\gamma$ than IL-4 in the pulps at 2nd day after irritation by P. endodontalis showed that T helper 1 reaction were predominant in the early stage of the pulpal inflammation induced by P. endodontalis. 5. The higher concentrations of IL-4 than IFN-$\gamma$ in the pulps at 1st day and 5th day after irritation by S. mutans were measured but the differences were not significant.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.156-161
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• 2005

Tetrahydropapaveroline (THP) at 5-15 ${\mu}$M has been found to induce L-DOPA-induced oxidative apoptosis in PC12 cells. In this study, the inhibitory effects of THP on dopamine bios ynthesis in PC12 cells and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity in bovine adrenal were investigated. Treatment of PC12 cells with THP at 2.5-10 ${\mu}$M significantly decreased the intracellular dopamine content in a concentration-dependent manner (18.3% inhibition at 10 ${\mu}$M THP). In these conditions, TH activity was markedly inhibited by the treatment with THP at 2.5-10 ${\mu}$M in PC12 cells (23.4% inhibition at 10 $\mu$ M THP). In addition, THP had an inhibitory effect on bovine adrenal TH activity IC50 value, 153.9${\mu}$M). THP exhibited uncompetitive inhibition on bovine adrenal TH activity with a substrate L-tyrosine with the KI value of 0.30 mM. Treatment with L-DOPA at 20~50 ${\mu}$M increased the intracellular dopamine content in PC12 cells, and the increase in dopamine content by L-DOPA was inhibited in part when THP at non-cytotoxic (5-10 ${\mu}$M) or cytotoxic (15${\mu}$M) concentrations was associated with L-DOPA (20 and 50 ${\mu}$M) for 24 h incubation. These results suggest that THP at 5-10${\mu}$M decreases the basal dopamine content and reduces the increased dopamine content induced by L-DOPA in part by the inhibition of TH activity, and that THP at 15${\mu}$M also decreases dopamine content by oxidative stress in PC12 cells.

• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.11-17
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• 2016

The gastrointestinal tract forms the largest surface in our body with constantly being exposed to various antigens, which provides unique microenvironment for the immune system in the intestine. Accordingly, the gut epithelium harbors the most T lymphocytes in the body as intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs), which are phenotypically and functionally heterogeneous populations, distinct from the conventional mature T cells in the periphery. IELs arise either from pre-committed thymic precursors (natural IELs) or from conventional CD4 or CD8αβ T cells in response to peripheral antigens (induced IELs), both of which commonly express CD8α homodimers (CD8αα). Although lineage commitment to either conventional CD4 T helper (Th) or cytotoxic CD8αβ T cells as well as their respective co-receptor expression are mutually exclusive and irreversible process, CD4 T cells can be redirected to the CD8 IELs with high cytolytic activity upon migration to the gut epithelium. Recent reports show that master transcription factors for CD4 and CD8 T cells, ThPOK (Th-inducing BTB/POZ-Kruppel-like factor) and Runx3 (Runt related transcription factor 3), respectively, are the key regulators for re-programming of CD4 T cells to CD8 lineage in the intestinal epithelium. This review will focus on the unique differentiation process of IELs, particularly lineage re-commitment of CD4 IELs. [BMB Reports 2016; 49(1): 11-17]