• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.12
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• pp.587-594
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• 2022

A persistent DNA tumor virus infection transforms normal cells into cancer cells by either integrating its genome into host chromosomes or retaining it as an extrachromosomal entity called episome. Viruses have evolved mechanisms for attaching episomes to infected host cell chromatin to efficiently segregate the viral genome during mitosis. It has been reported that viral episome can affect the gene expression of the host chromosomes through interactions between viral episomes and epigenetic regulatory host factors. This mini review summarizes our current knowledge of the tethering sites of viral episomes, such as EBV, KSHV, and HBV, on host chromosomes analyzed by three-dimensional genomic tools.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.395-401
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• 2023

Innate immunity is a first line defence system in the body which is for sensing signals of danger such as pathogenic microbes or host-derived signals of cellular stress. Pattern recognition receptors (PRR's), which present in the cell memebrane, are suspect the infection through pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMP), and activate innate immunity with response to promote inflammation via inflammatory cells such as macrophages and neutrophils, and cytokines. Inflammasome are protein complexes which are part of innate immunity in inflammation to remove pathogens and repair damaged tissues. What is the important role of inflammation in disease? In this review, we are focused on the action mechanism of NLRP3 inflammasome in inflammatory diseases such as asthma, atopic dermatitis, and sepsis.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.122-129
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• 2024

Chediak-Higashi syndrome (CHS) is a rare haematological and immunodeficiency disorder that occurs in childhood leading to recurrent infections, bleeding tendencies and progressive neurological dysfunction. Partial oculocutaneous albinism occurs in almost all cases. The exact prevalence is unknown, and the disease is caused by over 70 identified mutations in the lysosomal trafficking regulator gene. The presence of a bright polychromatic appearance from hair shaft and abnormally large intracytoplasmic granules, especially within neutrophils and platelets in the bone marrow is highly suggestive. Treatment is largely supportive, and the only curative treatment is through an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Without transplant, most patients will enter an accelerated phase of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) which carries a high mortality rate. We present a young male with CHS who we had followed through and eventually developed a fulminant accelerated phase. We believe this is only the second reported case of CHS in Malaysia.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.80-90
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• 2003

Background : Goblet cell hyperplasia is a critical pathological feature in hypersecretory diseases of the airways. A bacterial infection of the lung is also known to induce inflammatory responses, which can lead to the overproduction of mucus. Recently, mucin synthesis in the airways has been reported to be regulated by neutrophilic inflammation-induced epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression and activation. In addition, it was reported that migration of the activated neutrophils is dependent on the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), especially MMP-9. In this study, bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced goblet cell hyperplasia and mucus hypersecretion by EGFR cascade, resulting from the MMPs-dependent neutrophilic inflammation were investigated in the rat airways. Methods : Pathogen-free Sprague-Dawley rats were studied in vivo. Various concentrations of LPS were instilled into the trachea in $300{\mu}{\ell}$ PBS (LPS group). Sterile PBS ($300{\mu}{\ell}$) was instilled into the trachea of the control animals (control group). The airways were examined on different days after instilling LPS. For an examination of the relationship between the LPS-induced goblet cell hyperplasia and MMPs, the animals were pretreated 3 days prior to the LPS instillation and daily thereafter with the matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor (MMPI; 20 mg/Kg/day of CMT-3; Collagenex Pharmaceuticals, USA). The neutrophilic infiltration was quantified as a number in five high power fields (HPF). The alcian blue/periodic acid-Schiff (AB/PAS) stain were performed for the mucus glycoconjugates and the immunohistochemical stains were performed for MUC5AC, EGFR and MMP-9. Their expressions were quantified by an image analysis program and were expressed by the percentage of the total bronchial epithelial area. Results : The instillation of LPS induced AB/PAS and MUC5AC staining in the airway epithelium in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Treatment with the MMPI prevented the LPS-induced goblet cell hyperplasia significantly. The instillation of LPS into the trachea induced also EGFR expression in the airway epithelium. The control airway epithelium contained few leukocytes, but the intratracheal instillation of LPS resulted in a neutrophilic recruitment. A pretreatment with MMPI prevented neutrophilic recruitment, EGFR expression, and goblet cell hyperplasia in the LPS-instilled airway epithelium. Conclusion : Matrix metalloproteinase is involved in LPS-induced mucus hypersecretion, resulting from a neutrophilic inflammation and EGFR cascade. These results suggest a potential therapeutic role of MMPI in the treatment of mucus hypersecretion that were associated with a bacterial infection of the airways.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.1 s.29
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• pp.295-318
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• 1995

In order to investigate the effect of Houttuynia cordata Thunb and Sanggukeum on immune function, the author performed this experimental study. Delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) and rosette forming cells(RFC) for cell-mediated immune response, hemagglutinin (HA) titers, hemolysin (HL) titers and plaque forming cells (PFC) for humoral immune response, immunoglogbulin (Ig G) titer, splenic natural Killer cell activity (NKCA) carbon clearance for phagocytic function of MPS(mononuclear phagocyte system) and change of weight were measured in ICR mice. The results were summarized as follows ; 1. DTH was increased with statistical significance in all of the treated group as compared with the control group. 2. RFC was increased with statistical significance in case of Houttuynia cordata Thunb but in case of sanggukeum and gamisanggukeum valuable increase of RFC was not recognized as compared with the control group. 3. HA titers were increased with statistical significance in case of Houttuynia cordata Thunb but in cases of Sanggukeum and Gamisanggukeum HA titers were not recognized as compared with the control group. 4. HL titers were increased with statistical significance in case of Houttuynia cordata Thunb but in cases of Sanggukeum and Gamisanggukeum valuable increase of HL titer was not recognized as compared with the control group. 5. PFC was increased in all of the treated group but valuable increase of PFC was not recognized as compared with the controal group. 6. Ig G titers were increased in all of the treated group but valuable increase of Ig G titer was not recognized as compared with the control group. 7. NKCA was increased with statistical significance in case of Houttuynia cordate Thunb but in case of Sanggukeum and Gamisanggukeum valuable increase of NKCA was not recognized as compared with the control group. 8. Carbon clearance was increased with statistical significance in case of Sanggukeum but in case of Houttuynia cordata Thunb and Gamisanggukeum valuable increase of carbon clearance was not recognized as compared with the control group. 9. Change of weight was increased with statistical significance in all of the treated group. Through in vivo experimental study in ICR mice, Houttuynia cordata Thunb enhances the cell-mediated immune responce, the humoral immune responce and natural killer cell activity. And Houttuynia cordata Thunb enhances immune responce as compared with that plused Sanggukeum. Sanggukeum enhances carbon clearance and enhances a little cell-mediated immune responce, the humoral immune response and natural killer cell activity. According to the above results it seems Houttuynia cordata Thunb and Sanggukeum was able to use Infection, Inflammation and Tumor.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.4969-4976
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• 2014

Background: miR-152 is involved in the genesis and development of several malignancies. However, its role in HCC has not been fully clarified. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinicopathological significance of miR-152 and its effect on the malignant phenotype of HCC cells. Methods: miR-152 expression was detected using real-time quantitative RT-PCR in 89 pairs of HCC formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded and their adjacent tissues. Functionally, in vitro effects and mechanisms of action of miR-152 on proliferation, viability, caspase activity, apoptosis and motility were explored in HepG2, HepB3 and SNU449 cells, as assessed by spectrophotometry, fluorimetry, fluorescence microscopy, wound-healing and Western blotting, respectively. Results: miR-152 expression in HCC was downregulated remarkably compared to that in adjacent hepatic tissues. miR-152 levels in groups of advanced clinical stage, larger tumor size and positive HBV infection, were significantly lower than in other groups. A miR-152 mimic could suppress cell growth, inhibit cell motility and increase caspase activity and apoptosis in HCC cell lines. Furthermore, Western blotting showed that the miR-152 mimic downregulated Wnt-1, DNMT1, ERK1/2, AKT and TNFRS6B signaling. Intriguingly, inverse correlation of TNFRF6B and miR-152 expression was found in HCC and bioinformatics confirmed that TNFRF6B might be a target of miR-152. Conclusions: Underexpression of miR-152 plays a vital role in hepatocarcinogenesis and lack of miR-152 is related to the progression of HCC through deregulation of cell proliferation, motility and apoptosis. miR-152 may act as a tumor suppressor miRNA by also targeting TNFRSF6B and is therefore a potential candidate biomarker for HCC diagnosis, prognosis and molecular therapy.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.61-74
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• 1967

In order to confirm whether acquired immunity or resistance can be developed by the repeated hookworm infections, the 150 mature actively moving filariform ancylostoma duodenale larvae obtained from the severe hookworm anemia patients were orally given to 8 healthy volunteers in three divided doses, 50 in each, at 5 day interval. Also the hematological changes as well as several ferrokinetics using $^{59}Fe$ were done and were compared with 10 controls. The clinical symptoms and signs were checked every day for the first 3 weeks and then twice weekly until the end of the experiment. The appearance of the ova in the stool was examined by the formalin ether method and the ova was counted by the Stoll's method. The following laboratory tests were done: 1) Red blood cell count, venous blood hematocrit(micromethod), hemoglobin count (cyanomethemoglobin method) were checked every 5 to 7 day interval. 2) Plasma iron concentration (Barkan's modified method) was determined every 2 to 3 week interval. 3) Radioisotope studies: a) Ferrokinetics: Huff et al and Bothwell's method were applied. Erythropoietic Index (% of normal)=$\frac{Subject's\;turnover/100ml\;whole\;blood{\times}100}{Average\;normal\;turnover/100ml\;whole\;blood}$ of the gastrointestinal absorption of iron: Radioiron($^{59}Fe$) balance b) Quantitative measurement method was applied. c) Determination of the plasma erythropoietin activity: Fried's method was applied. Following were the results: 1) The serum iron level was lower. The red cell volume was decreased, but with relative increase of plasma volume. 2) The plasma iron disappearance time was accelerated and the plasma iron turnover rate was decreased. The red cell iron turnover rate was markedly increased, while all of the red cell iron concentration, circulating red cell iron. plasma iron pool were decreased. The daily iron pool turnover and red cell renewal rate were increased. 3) The erythropoietic index, erythropoietin activity and intestinal absorption of iron($^{59}Fe$) were markedly increased. 4) The infectivity was $9.8{\pm}1.31%$ which was lower than that observed in the single infection. 5) From these observations, it is concluded that the hookworm anemia is essentially iron deficieny in its origin and some immunity acquisition is possible with repeated infections.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.289-299
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• 2004

Background : Although the pathophysiology of asthma has been reported, its mechanism has not been fully elucidated. The mast cell is an effector cells in allergic inflammation and secretes a number of chemokines. Chemokines are important for the recruitment of leukocytes to sites of infection, which is essential in host defense. Chemokines also contribute to the pathogenesis of several disorders such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Objective : In this study, the aim was to identify the effect of Baekryunchihyo-tang(白蓮治哮湯) on expression of chemokines. This was examined by RT-PCR using the human mast cell line (HMC-l) Materials and Methods : HMC-l cells were used, which is known to secrete and express chemokines. In order to investigate the protective effect of Baekryunchihyo-tang(白蓮治哮湯), HMC-l cells were incubated with pretreatment of Baekryunchihyo-tang(白蓮治哮湯) for 24 hrs. RT-PCR analyses of chemokine genes of cells pretreated with Baekryunchihyo-tang(白蓮治哮湯) showed that expressions of IL-8, $MIP-l{\beta}$, and RANTES genes in these cells were lower and $MIP-l{\alpha}$ showed a similar pattern compared to the calcium ionophore-treated group. In addition, cell cytotoxicity concentration measurements were performed by MTT assay method. Results : After stimulation with 1 uM calcium ionophore A23178 for 2 hrs, IL-8, major one of CXC chemokines, was highly expressed, and expression of $MIP-l{\beta}$ and RANTES (CC chemokines) increased, while expression of $MIP-l{\alpha}$ did not change. The cell cytotoxicity of Baekryunchihyo-tang(白蓮治哮湯) with treatments at various concentrations and times was not observed, respectively. Conclusion : This study suggests that Baekryunchihyo-tang(白蓮治哮湯) has dose-dependent effects on mRNA expression of IL-8(CXC chemokines), $MIP-l{\beta}$ and RANTES(CC chemokines) in human mast cellline(HMC-l). So these herbal medicines may inhibit the inflammatory process of asthma. Advanced studies are required to investigate the mechanism of inhibition by herbal medicine in the asthma model. This study provides basic data on the possibility of the clinical treatment of Baekryunchihyo-tang(白蓮治哮湯) for allergic disorders.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.209-215
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• 2005

Lactoferrin is an iron-binding glycoprotein with many biological roles, including the protection against microbial and virus infection, stimulation of the immune system. We developed the transgenic Siberian ginseng (Acanthopanax senticosus) cell cultures producing the human lactoferrin (hLf) protein following Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. A construct containing a targeting signal peptide from tobacco endoplasmic reticulum fused to hLf cDNA under the control of an oxidative stress-inducible SWPA2 promoter was engineered. Transgenic Siberian ginseng cultured cells to produce a recombinant hLf protein were successfully generated and confirmed by PCR and Southern blot analysis. ELISA and western blot analysis showed that full length-hLf protein was synthesized in the transgenic cells. The production of hLf increased proportionally to cell growth and reached a maximal (up to 3% of total soluble proteins) at the stationary phase. These results suggest that the transgenic Siberian ginseng cultured cells in this study will be biotechnologically useful for the commercial production of medicinal plant cell cultures to produce hLf protein.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.319-324
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• 2007

To determine the optimal concentration of fetal bovine serum (FBS) on the growth of insect cells and the multiplicity of viruses, the growth of cells (Sf21 and Bm5) and viruses were examined on the various concentrations of FBS. In view of the viability, growth speed, proliferation of cells and the amount of FBS, the most proper concentration for the cell culture were 7% and 5% for Sf21 and Bm5, respectively. The multiplicity of viruses at the various concentrations of FBS was similar in both cell lines at 5 days post-infection (p.i.). However, it differed significantly at 2 and 3 days p.i. The proper concentration of FBS were 10% and 3% for Sf21 at 2 and 3 days p.i., respectively, and 5% for Bm5 at both 2 and 3 days p.i. These results suggested that the optimal concentration of FBS should be determined according to the used cell lines and viruses for their optimum production.