• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.1189-1197
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• 2017

Lichen-forming fungi are known to have various biological activities, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, antitumor, antiviral, anti-inflammation, and anti proliferative effects. However, the immunosuppressive effects of Bryoria sp. extract (BSE) have not previously been investigated. In this study, the inhibitory activity of BSE on the proliferation of $CD8^+$ T cells and the mixed lymphocytes reaction (MLR) was evaluated in vitro. BSE was non-toxic in spleen cells and suppressed the growth of splenocytes induced by anti-CD3. The suppressed cell population in spleen cells consisted of $CD8^+$ T cells and their proliferation was inhibited by the treatment with BSE. This extract significantly suppressed the IL-2 associated with T cell growth and $IFN-{\gamma}$ as the $CD8^+$ T cell marker. Furthermore, BSE reduced the expression of the IL-2 receptor alpha chain ($IL-2R{\alpha}$) on $CD8^+$ T cells and CD86 on dendritic cells by acting as antigen-presenting cells. Finally, the MLR produced by the co-culture of C57BL/6 and MMC-treated BALB/c was suppressed by BSE. IL-2, $IFN-{\gamma}$, and CD69 on $CD8^+$ T cells in MLR condition were inhibited by BSE. These results indicate that BSE inhibits the MLR via the suppression of $IL-2R{\alpha}$ expression in $CD8^+$ T cells. BSE has the potential to be developed as an anti-immunosuppression agent for organ transplants.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.572-580
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• 2016

3-Deoxysappanchalcone (3-DSC) has been reported to possess anti-allergic, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. In the present study, we investigated the effects of 3-DSC on the proliferation of human hair follicle dermal papilla cells (HDPCs) and mouse hair growth in vivo. A real-time cell analyzer system, luciferase assay, Western blot and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were employed to measure the biochemical changes occurring in HDPCs in response to 3-DSC treatment. The effect of 3-DSC on hair growth in C57BL/6 mice was also examined. 3-DSC promoted the proliferation of HDPCs, similar to Tofacitinib, an inhibitor of janus-activated kinase (JAK). 3-DSC promoted phosphorylation of ${\beta}$-catenin and transcriptional activation of the T-cell factor. In addition, 3-DSC potentiated interleukin-6 (IL-6)-induced phosphorylation and subsequent transactivation of signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3), thereby increasing the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase-4 (Cdk4), fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). On the contrary, 3-DSC attenuated STAT6 mRNA expression and IL4-induced STAT6 phosphorylation in HDPCs. Finally, we observed that topical application of 3-DSC promoted the anagen phase of hair growth in C57BL/6 mice. 3-DSC stimulates hair growth possibly by inducing proliferation of follicular dermal papilla cells via modulation of $WNT/{\beta}$-catenin and STAT signaling.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.277-285
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• 2009

Forsythia fructus has been shown to have antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antitumor, antibacterial, antipyretic and anti-aging activities. This work was carried out to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of the Korean traditional medicinal prescriptions containing Forsythia viridissima extract. The prescriptions containing Forsythia fructus were evaluated for antioxidative effects, inhibitory effects on lipoxygenase activity and on LPS-induced NO and $PGE_2$ production. In human irritation test, they did not show any adverse effect. Based on these results, we suggest that the se prescriptions hold great promise for application as an anti-inflammatory agent for trouble skins such as atopic dermatitis and acne.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.14
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• pp.5747-5751
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• 2014

Background: Coptisine, an isoquinoline alkaloid extracted from Coptidis rhizoma, has many biological activities such as antidiabetic, antimicrobial and antiviral actions. However, whether coptisine exerts anti-cancer metastasis effects remains unknown. Materials and Methods: Effects of coptisine on highly metastatic human breast cancer cell MDA-MB-231 proliferation were evaluated by trypan blue assay and on cell adhesion, migration and invasion by gelatin adhesion, wound-healing and matrigel invasion chamber assays, respectively. Expression of two matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), MMP-9, MMP-2 and their specific inhibitors tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP-2) were analyzed by RT-PCR. Results: Coptisine obviously inhibited adhesion to an ECM-coated substrate, wound healing migration, and invasion through the matrigel in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. RT-PCR revealed that coptisine reduced the expression of the ECM degradation-associated gene MMP-9 at the mRNA level, and the expression of TIMP-1 was upregulated in MDA-MB-231 cells, while the expression of MMP-2 and its specific inhibitor TIMP-2 was not affected. Conclusions: Taken together, our data showed that coptisine suppressed adhesion, migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells in vitro, the down-regulation of MMP-9 in combination with the increase of TIMP-1 possibly contributing to the anti-metastatic function. Coptisine might be a potential drug candidate for breast cancer therapy.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.458-462
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• 2009

Silk fibroin is a structural protein from Bombyx mori and can be sulfated to provide biofunctional polypeptides showing antiviral and anticoagulating activities. However, the sulfated fibroins have not been characterized enough to present their compositions and structures. In this report, sulfation reaction was investigated by varying the reaction temperature and sulfuric acid concentration and analysis of the resulting peptides were carried out. The degree of sulfation was proportion to sulfuric acid concentration but the maximum product yield was obtained at $60^{\circ}C$ and 5% of sulfuric acid concentration. FT-IR spectrum, UV absorption and NMR spectrum support that o-sulfate ester was formed at the hydroxyl group of serine and tyrosine residues. Size exclusion chromatography identified that sulfated fibroin was composed of a highly hydrolyzed polypeptide mixtures and peptides of relatively higher molecular weight.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.232-237
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• 2005

Lactoferrin is a member of the transferrin family of iron-binding glycoproteins. It is originally found in milk. In addition to its antibacterial and antiviral activities, lactoferrin has many other biological functions include anti-inflammatory properties, antitumor, cell growth-promoting activity as well as antioxidant effect In the present study, we report the production of recombinant bovine lactoferrin and lactoferrin N-lobe in the Rhodococcus erythropolis (R erythropolis) using pTip vector. The expression level was investigated in various range of temperature, and we could successfully expressed the bovine lactoferrin and lactoferrin N-lobe in R erythropolis at low temperature. The recombinant proteins were purified by Nickel-Nitrolotriacetic acid (Ni-NTA). The purified proteins were confirmed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot, which indicating that the recombinant proteins have a molecular weight of 80kDa and 43kDa for bovine lactoferrin and lactoferrin N-lobe, respectively.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.69-75
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• 1997

To evaluate in vitro anti-HIV efficacies of nucleoside derivatives, MT-4 cell line was infected with HIV-1 and HIV-2 respectively and treated with various compounds and the formerly approved drugs such as AZT, d4T, ddC and ddI. CPE method was used to evaluate their antiviral activity. Most dideoxynucleosides, AZT, d4T, ddC and ddI, showed anti-HIV activities against both viruses but no other compounds including anti-herpesvirus drugs did any. Further experiments were carried out to study their inhibitory mechanism of viral adsorption. The results showed no inhibition of syncytium formation due to an interaction between the gp120 expressed in HIV -infected cell surface and CD4 receptor on the uninfected cell surface in the presence of AZT. AZT showed no activity up to $100\;{\mu}g/ml$. Inhibition of reverse transcriptase (RT) in the presence of AZT-triphosphate was tested by using RT expressed in E. coli and purified and its $IC_{50}$ was 4.5 nM.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.1510-1514
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• 2007

Recently, it has been reported that the inhibition of the strand transfer function of HIV-1 integrase is necessary to obtain significant antiviral activity. Accordingly, several compounds typified by aryl 1,3-diketo acids that can inhibit strand transfer reaction of HIV-1 IN have been identified. In this work, we synthesized new 4- hydroxy-5-azacoumarin-3-carbox(thio)amides (1a-h) and evaluated for the inhibition of HIV-1 IN strand transfer reaction with a brief SAR. Among synthesized, compound 1e was the most potent HIV-1 IN inhibitor with equipotent activity to that of L-708,906. Therefore, the 4-hydroxy-5-azacoumarin ring can be considered as a new scaffold in designing more potent of HIV-1 IN inhibitors for treatment of AIDS.

• 한국균학회소식:학술대회논문집
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• 2014.10a
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• pp.19-19
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• 2014

Pleurotus ostreatus, P. eryngii, and Flammulina velutipes are major edible mushrooms that account for over 89% of total mushroom production in Korea. Recently, Agrocybe cylindracea, Hypsizygus marmoreus, and Hericium erinaceu are increasingly being cultivated in mushroom farms. In Korea, the production of edible mushrooms was estimated to be 614,224 ton in 2013. Generally, about 5 kg of mushroom substrate is needed to produce 1 kg of mushroom, and consequently about 25 million tons of spent mushroom substrate (SMS) is produced each year in Korea. Because this massive amount of SMC is unsuitable for reuse in mushroom production, it is either used as garden fertilizer or deposited in landfills, which pollutes the environment. It is reasonably assumed that SMS includes different secondary metabolites and extracellular enzymes produced from mycelia on substrate. Three major groups of enzymes such as cellulases, xylanases, and lignin degrading enzymes are involved in breaking down mushroom substrates. Cellulase and xylanase have been used as the industrial enzymes involving the saccharification of biomass to produce biofuel. In addition, lignin degrading enzymes such as laccases have been used to decolorize the industrial synthetic dyes and remove environmental pollutions such as phenolic compounds. Basidiomycetes produce a large number of biologically active compounds that show antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, cytotoxic or hallucinogenic activities. However, most previous researches have focused on therapeutics and less on the control of plant diseases. SMS can be considered as an easily available source of active compounds to protect plants from fungal and bacterial infections, helping alleviate the waste disposal problem in the mushroom industry and creating an environmentally friendly method to reduce plant pathogens. We describe extraction of lignocellulytic enzymes and antimicrobial substance from SMSs of different edible mushrooms and their potential applications.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.189-199
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• 2011

Recently seaweed polysaccharides have been extensively studied due to their various biological functions including antitumor, antiviral, anticoagulant, and anti-inflammatory activities. Although seaweed polysaccharides are known to possess numerous beneficial properties, their industrial applications have been limited due to the low inclusion efficiency and high cost of manufacturing involved in chemical hydrolysis. In addition, the smell of seaweed has been a limiting factor in its application in the food and cosmetic industries. Therefore, novel hydrolysis methods and the deodorization of seaweed are required if the extensive application of seaweed polysaccharides is to be seen. A number of studies have examined various seaweed polysaccharide-degrading enzymes, which have been isolated from marine microorganisms, and enzymatic hydrolysis processes have been investigated for the improvement of production yields and the bioefficacy of seaweed polysaccharides. This review is a synopsis on the properties of seaweed polysaccharides-degrading enzymes from marine microorganisms and their industrial applications. The review reveals the pressing need for more concentrated research on the development of new biological materials from seaweed.