• BMB Reports
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.143-148
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• 2024

Pulmonary fibrosis is a serious lung disease that occurs predominantly in men. Genistein is an important natural soybean-derived phytoestrogen that affects various biological functions, such as cell migration and fibrosis. However, the antifibrotic effects of genistein on pulmonary fibrosis are largely unknown. The antifibrotic effects of genistein were evaluated using in vitro and in vivo models of lung fibrosis. Proteomic data were analyzed using nano-LC-ESI-MS/MS. Genistein significantly reduced transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1-induced expression of collagen type I and α-smooth muscle actin (SMA) in MRC-5 cells and primary fibroblasts from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Genistein also reduced TGF-β1-induced expression of p-Smad2/3 and p-p38 MAPK in fibroblast models. Comprehensive protein analysis confirmed that genistein exerted an anti-fibrotic effect by regulating various molecular mechanisms, such as unfolded protein response, epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling, cell death, and several metabolic pathways. Genistein was also found to decrease hydroxyproline levels in the lungs of BLM-treated mice. Genistein exerted an anti-fibrotic effect by preventing fibroblast activation, suggesting that genistein could be developed as a pharmacological agent for the prevention and treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2021

Hemistepta lyrata Bunge (HL) has been used as a folk remedy to treat cancer, inflammation, bleeding, hemorrhoids and fever, and leaves and young shoots have been used as famine food. Nevertheless, the biological activities and underlying mechanisms of the anti-inflammatory effects remain unclear. In this study, it was undertaken to explore the functions of the aerial part of HL as a suppressor of inflammation by using RAW 264.7 cells. As immune response parameters, the productions of as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), cytokines such tumor necrotic factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 were evaluated. Although the release of TNF-α remained unchanged in HL-treated RAW 264.7 cells, the productions of NO, PGE2 and IL-6 were significantly increased at concentrations with no cytotoxicity. Furthermore, HL significantly attenuated the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) pathway including decreasing the phosphorylation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases. Collectively, this study provides evidence that HL inhibits the production of major pro-inflammatory molecules in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells via suppression of ERK and P38 MAPK signaling pathways. These findings suggest that the beneficial therapeutic effects of HL may be attributed partly to its ability to modulate immune functions in macrophages.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1361-1368
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• 2018

Inflammation is the most common condition in the human body. Tissue damage triggers inflammation, together with vasodilation and increased blood flow at the inflamed site, resulting in edema. Inflammatory responses are also triggered by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a Toll-like receptor Enterococcus faecalis, a gram-positive organism, has been reported to possess immunomodulatory and preventive activities; however, its use may present risks of sepsis and other systemic infections. Heat-killed Enterococcus faecalis (EF-2001) has been reported to induce antitumor activity, but its effects on inflammation are not known. In the present study, we investigated the effect of EF-2001 on LPS-induced macrophage inflammatory responses. EF-2001 treatment reduced nitric oxide (NO) production, indicating suppression of inflammatory reactions. EF-2001 showed no cytotoxicity in macrophages. Further investigation of the anti-inflammatory mechanism of EF-2001 indicated that EF-2001 reduced the LPS-induced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2. EF-2001 also reduced f the LPS induction of several inflammatory molecules involved in the nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ ($NF-{\kappa}B$) and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways, including ERK, JNK, and p38 phosphorylation, in a concentration-dependent manner. Additionally, EF-2001 inhibited Akt phosphorylation and increased the expression of the inhibitory ${\kappa}B$ ($I{\kappa}B$) protein, an inhibitor of $NF-{\kappa}B$. EF-2001 also inhibited the nuclear translocation of p65. These results suggest that EF-2001 has anti-inflammatory properties and may be useful for treating inflammatory diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.364-375
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• 2016

Post-translational modification is an efficient process to rapidly transduce external stimulus into cellular response. Ubiquitination is a typical post-translational modification which is a highly conserved process in eukaryotes. UPS (Ubiquitin/Proteasome System) mediated by the ubiquitination is to target diverse cellular proteins for degradation. Among E3 ubiquitin ligases that function as the key determinant for substrate recognition, CRL (cullin–RING E3 ubiquitin ligase) is the largest family and forms the complex composed of cullin, RBX1, adaptor and substrate receptor. Although CRL1, also known as SCF complex, has been widely researched for its biological role, the functional studies of CRL4 have been relatively elusive. In Arabidopsis, there are 119 substrate receptors named DCAF (DDB1 CUL4 Associated Factor) proteins for CRL4 and a fraction of DCAF proteins have been identified for their potential functions so far. In this paper, current understanding on structure and biological roles of plant CRL4 complexes in a diverse of cellular events is reviewed, especially focusing on CRL4 substrate receptors. Moreover, the regulatory mechanism of CRL4’s activity is also introduced. These studies will be helpful to further understand the signal transduction pathways in which such CRL4 complexes are involved and give a clue to establish the action network of entire CRL4 complexes in plants.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.181-193
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• 2018

Nitrous oxide ($N_2O$) is a potent greenhouse gas as well as an ozone-depleting substance. $N_2O$ is emitted during the biological nitrogen removal process in wastewater treatment systems (WTSs), and has significant environmental impacts. In this study, $N_2O$ emission in WTSs was comprehensively reviewed to better understand the effects of key parameters on $N_2O$ emission and obtain useful guidelines for $N_2O$ mitigation strategies in WTSs. Three biological pathways leading to $N_2O$ emission are hydroxylamine oxidation, nitrifier denitrification, and heterotrohic denitrification. Measurements at lab-, pilot- and full-scale WTSs have shown large variations in $N_2O$ emission (0-95% of N-loaded) during wastewater treatment. In the full-scale WTSs (0-14.6% $N_2O$ of N-loaded), the average and median values were 1.95% and 0.2% of N-loaded, respectively. Dissolved oxygen, nitrite concentrations, and chemical oxygen demand (COD)/N ratio are the most important parameters leading to $N_2O$ emission. A variety of operational strategies have been suggested to minimize $N_2O$ emission from WTSs. A new $N_2O$ mitigation strategy involving the introduction of microorganisms with high $N_2O$ reductase activity or oxygenic denitrification ability has been proposed as an alternative canonical denitrification.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.427-442
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• 2002

Conjugated linoleic acid(CLA) is a collective term for a group of positional (c8, c10; c9, c11; c10, c12, and c11, c13) and geometric(cis,cis; cis,trans; trans,cis; and trans,trans) isomers of octadecadienoic acid (linoleic acid) with conjugated double bond system. CLA has been shown to have a variety of biological effects. Major effects of CLA on health, such as anti-cancer, anti-oxidation, anti-atherosclerosis and improving immuno-responses, might be derived or partially derived from the alternated lipid metabolism after CLA feeding. Most of studies on the effect of CLA on fat metabolism are concentrated on rats, mice, pigs and other mammals. The CLA inhibited carcinogen-induced neoplasia in several animal models and inhibited the proliferation of human malignant melanoma, colorectal and breast cancer cells and CLA reduced the atherosclerosis. Several studies have determined the antioxidant property of CLA; however, the property still remains controversial. Some of the studies have shown that CLA acted as an antioxidant, whereas some other studies have demonstrated that CLA might be a prooxidant. Several studies suggested that CLA could reduce fat accumulation in mammals. CLA was suggested to promote muscle growth and reduce fat deposition in mouse, and improve feed efficiency in rats. CLA has been shown to inhibit the activity of stearoyl-CoA reductase. CLA also reduced the content of arachidonic acid. Since arachidonic acid, and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexenoic acid (DHA) are synthesized by different pathways, reducing the synthesis of arachidonic acid may not mean reducing that of EPA and DHA. Many sutdies have been shown biological effects of CLA. Therefore, further research is needed to answer the following questions: 1) how to synthesize the new CLA by new methods, 2) why CLA has shown biological effects, 3) how to increase CLA effects in animal products.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.382-389
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• 2005

This study was conducted to establish the system of effective in vitro propagation by various explant sources culture of Bippeastrum hybridum Hort, 'Dazzler'. We tested the effects of optimal explant source, plant growth regulators on bulblet formation and plant regeneration. Callus was readily produced on the different tissues excised from floral buds whereas, bulbs and shoots were formed only on pedicel explants as compared with anthers, styles and ovaries. Pedicel is the best optimal explant for in vitro propagation. Two distinct pathways, organogenesis through callus and direct bulblet formation, could be recognized in pedicel culture. Up to the $80-100\%$ of bulblet formation and shoot organogenesis from the pedicel in fifteen days before anthesis were effectively induced by MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L NAA and 1.0 mg/L BA. Plantlet regeneration was successfully achieved from pedicel-derived callus, via shoot bud induction or direct bulblet formation. The bulblets with blooming flower were produced within 2 years.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.738-745
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• 2006

In this research, the decolorization mechanisms of dye wastewater were divided into two pathways, one was physicochemical sorption to biomass flocs and the other was biological removal by microbial metabolisms. Batch tests were conducted to examine the reaction conditions, anaerobic and aerobic conditions, types and dose of cosubstrates, and to confirm the mechanisms of decolorization through the biosorption tests using the activated sludge and the autoclaved deactivated sludge. From the tests, the decolorization efficiencies of dye wastewater were 102 ${\Delta}$unit/g MLSS under the aerobic condition and 123 ${\Delta}$unit/g MLSS under the anaerobic condition, and organic removals were 82 $mg{\Delta}$COD/gMLSS and 75 $mg{\Delta}$COD/gMLSS respectively. Acetate was the more efficient cosubstrate than the domestic wastewater in the decolorization step. In addition the removal of colors and organics was increased with cosubstrates dosage. And $20.3{\sim}37.3$ ${\Delta}$unit/g MLSS was removed by the autoclaved sludge and $102.0{\sim}159.0$ ${\Delta}$unit/g MLSS by the activated sludge. The physicochemical sorption was dominant in the beginning of biosorption tests, and the biological decolorization was increased with a cosubstrate in the course of time.

• BMB Reports
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.454-462
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• 2000

Interleukin-4(IL-4) is known to be a major cytokine regulating immunoglobulin E(IgE) response by the induction of IgE production and type II IgE receptor(IgER II: CD23) expression. Recently, however, the role of neuroendocrine factors has been implicated in modulating the IgE response. Among various neuroendocrine growth factors, we investigated the effects of the insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1) since IL-4 and IGF-1 share common intracellular signaling molecules, such as the insulin receptor substrate-1/2(IRS-1/2) to induce a specific cellular response. In the human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cultures, IGF-1 was capable of inducing a substantial level of IgE production in a dose-dependent manner. It also noticeably upregulated the IL-4-induced or IL-4 plus anti-CD40-induced IgE production. Similarly, the IGF-1-induced IgE production was enhanced by IL-4 or anti-CD40 in an additive manner, which became saturated at high concentrations of IGF-1. Although IGF-1 alone did not induce IgER II (CD23) expression, it augmented the IL-4-induced surface CD23 expression in a manner similar to the action of anti-CD40. These results imply that IGF-1 is likely to utilize common signaling pathways with IL-4 and anti-CD40 to induce IgE and IgER II expression. In support of this notion, we observed that IGF-1 enhanced the IL-4-induced signal transducers and activators of transcription 6(STAT6) activation and independently induced $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation. Both of these bind to the IgE(C) or IgER II (CD23) promoters. Together, our data suggest that IL-4 and IGF-1 work cooperatively to activate STAT6 and $NF-{\kappa}B$. This leads to the subsequent binding of these transcription factors to the $C{\varepsilon}$ and CD23 promoters to enhance the expression of IgE and IgER II. The observed differential ability of IGF-1 on the induction of IgE vs. IgER II is discussed based on the different structure of the two promoters.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.89-95
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• 2011

p53 is tumor suppressor gene that regulates apoptosis such as caspase-dependent and p21-mediated signaling pathways. PI3K/Akt is known to be over-activated in cancer cells. Akt activates many survival-related signals such as mTOR and COX-2. Inactivation of Akt would result in non-inhibition of p53 as well as induced apoptosis. In this study, we showed that curcumin and EGCG activate p53 via inhibition of the Akt signaling pathway. Treatments using curcumin and EGCG in different concentrations for 24 hr and 48 hr inhibited proliferation of HCT116 colon cancer cells and increased apoptotic cell death. Also, our data showed that curcumin and EGCG increased the p53 expression and decreased the p-Akt. Treatment of LY294002 (Akt inhibitor) resulted in decreased cell proliferation of cancer cells, while LY294002 treated with curcumin or EGCG showed a greater decrease of cell proliferation. In addition, inhibition of Akt induced p53 activation in HCT116 colon cancer cells. These results suggest that curcumin and EGCG induce apoptosis by inhibiting Akt and increase p53 in HCT116 colon cancer cells.