• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.194-200
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• 2017

Bone-resorbing osteoclasts play a major role in maintaining bone homeostasis with bone-forming osteoblasts. Although it has been reported that A2B adenosine receptor (A2BAR) regulates osteoclast differentiation, its effects on apoptosis or proliferation of osteoclasts have been less-defined. Here, we demonstrate that A2BAR stimulation regulates macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF)-mediated osteoclast proliferation. Stimulation with a specific agonist of A2BAR, BAY 60-6583, significantly reduced M-CSF-mediated osteoclast proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner. In addition, A2BAR stimulation induced both apoptosis of the cells and cell arrest in the G1 phase with a decrease of cell number in the G2/M phase. Stimulation with BAY 60-6583 inhibited the activation of Akt by M-CSF, whereas M-CSF-induced ERK1/2 activation was not affected. These results suggest that the inhibition of M-CSF-mediated Akt activation by A2BAR stimulation increases apoptotic response of osteoclasts and induces cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase, thus contributing to the down-regulation of osteoclast proliferation.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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• v.41 no.7
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• pp.809-815
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• 2016

In this paper, the electrical values of resistance, current, and voltage condition of reactivity is analyzed by applying the direct current (DC) voltage in medium for stem cell regeneration treatment. The voltage response by medium is related to electrical stimulation in the process of induction of differentiation for stem cell and the differentiation condition can be checked depending on the response of voltage condition. If the voltage level is lower in reacting response of a medium, the stem cell stimulation condition is stable, and if the voltage changing level is higher, the stem cell stimulation condition is unstable and a considerable loss will be resulted in the differentiation process. In this research, the optimization of electrical stimulation condition is expected for possible stem cell regeneration treatment.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.566-571
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• 1997

To gain further insight into how estrogens modulate cell function, the effects of estrogen on cell proliferation were studied inhuman breast cancer cells. We examined the effects of estrogen on the proliferation of three human breast cancer cell lines that differed in their estrogen receptor contents. Ten nM estradiol markedly stimulated the proliferation of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells that contained high levels of estrogen receptor $1.15{\pm}0.03 pmole/mg protein)$(over that of control. In T47D cells that contained low levels of estrogen receptor $0.23{\pm}0.05 pmole/mg protein)$, Ten nM estrogen slightly stimulated the proliferation over that of control. MDA-MB-231 cells, that contained no detectable levels of estrogen receptors, had their growth unaffected by estrogen. These results showed their sensitivity to growth stimulation by estrogen correlated well with their estrogen receptor content. Also we examined the effect of estrogen on cellular progesterone receptor level as well as plasminogen activator activity in MCF-7 cells. Ten nM estradiol showed maximal stimulation of progesterone receptor level as well as plasminogen activator activity in MCF-7 cells. It is not clear whether these stimulations of progesterone receptor and plasminogen activator activity by estrogen are related to the estrogen stimulation of cell proliferation of MCF-7 cells. Studies with estrogen in human breast cancer cells in culture indicate that sensitivity to growth stimulation by estrogen correlates well with estrogen receptor contents.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.127-132
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• 2009

Background: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a fundamental role in innate immunity through their capacity to recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns. Also, TLRs that are expressed in T cells are reported to function as co-stimulatory receptors. However, the functional capacity of TLRs on CD4 T and CD8 T cells has not been directly compared. Here we compared CD4 and CD8 T cell responses to TLR2 ligand plus TCR-mediated stimulation. Methods: TLR2 expression was analyzed on T cell subsets under naive and alloantigen-primed conditions. We analyzed the effects of TLR2 co-stimulation on proliferation and survival of T cell subsets in vitro when stimulated with soluble anti-CD3 in the presence or absence of synthetic ligand $Pam_3CSK_4$. Results: TLR2 expression on CD8 T cells was induced following activation; this expression was much higher than on CD4 T cells. Thus, the molecule was constitutively expressed on Listeriaspecific memory CD8 T cells. Based on these expression levels, proliferation and survival were markedly elevated in CD8 T cells in response to the TLR2 co-stimulation by $Pam_3CSK_4$ compared with those in CD4 T cells. Conclusion: Our data show that TLR2 co-stimulation is more responsible for proliferation and survival of CD8 T cells than for that of CD4 T cells.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.254-259
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• 2011

In this paper, a current stimulator circuit with adaptive supply regulator for retinal prosthesis is proposed. In current stimulation systems, the stimulating circuits with wide voltage swing range are needed due to the high impedance of the retina cell and microelectrodes. Thus, previous researches adopt the high voltage architecture to obtain the enough operating range. The high voltage architecture, however, could increase the power consumption and can damage the retina cells. The proposed circuit provides the adaptively regulated supply voltage by measuring the difference between desired stimulation current and the actual stimulation current. The proposed circuit can achieve the extended range of the allowable cell impedance, improved accuracy of the stimulation current, and higher biosafety.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 1998

This study was to determine the effect of ionomycin and 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP) and/or elcetrical stimulation on the oocyte activation and production of rabbit nuclear transplant embryos. The oocytes were collected from the oviduct of superovulated rabbits at 14 h post hCG injection and cultured in TCM-199 containing 10% FBS until 19 h post hCG injection. To determine the optimum concentration and exposure time of 6-DMAP, some oocytes were activated with 5 $\mu$M ionomycin for 5 min and then in 2.0 mM 6-DMAP for 0.5 to 3.0 h, or in 1.0 to 3.0 mM 6-DMAP for 2.0 h. Other control oocytes were stimulated electrically(3X, 1.25 kV/cm, 60 $\mu$sec) in 0.3 M mannitol solution supplemented with 100 $\mu$M CaCl$_2$ and MgCl$_2$. The nuclear donor embryos of 8-cell stage were synchronized to G$_1$ phase of 16-cell stage, and the recipient cytoplasms were obtained from removal of the first polar body and a portion of membrane bound cytoplasm of the oocytes collected at 15 h post hCG injection. A separated blastomere was injected into the perivitelline space of the enucleated oocytes. The oocytes injected with nucleus were cultured until 19 h post hCG and then electrofused and activated by electrical stimulation with or without ionomycin and 6-DMAP. These nuclear transplant embryos were cultured in TCM-199 containing 10% FBS in 39˚C, 5% CO2 incubator for 120 h. For the oncytes activated parthenogenetically with electrical stimulation with or with-out ionomycin and the various concentration of exposure time of 6-DMAP, the highest cleavage(92.3%) and development to blastocyst stage(41.0%) were resulted from the oocytes activated by ionomycin and 2.0 mM 6-DMAP for 2.0 h, which were found to be significantly(P<0.05) higher than the cleavage(45.2%) and developement to blastocyst stage(14.3%) from the oocytes activated with electrical stimulation. The significantly(P<0.05) more oocytes(71.4%) developed to 4 cell stage at 24 h post activation by ionomycin and 6-DMAP than those by electrical stimulation(18.9%). For the nuclear transplant embryos, the cleavage rate was similarly high in oocyte activation by electrical stimulation with(79.4%) or without ionomycin and 6-DMAP(70.5%). However, the embryo development to blastocyst stage was significantly(P<0.05) higher in oocyte activation by electrical stimulation with ionomycin and 6-DMAP(44.4%) than by electrical stimulation only(25.0%). The significantly(P<0.05) more nuclear transplant embryos(45.6%) developed to 4 cell stage at 18 h post activation by electrical stimulation with ionomycin and 6-DMAP than those by electrical stimulation only(10.6%). These results indicated that the supplemental oocyte activation by ionomycin and 6-DMAP with electrical stimulation enhanced and accelerated the preimplanted in vitro development of the rabbit nuclear transplant embryos.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.22-31
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the effects of silver spike point (SSP) low frequency electrical stimulation on plasma ${\beta}-endorphin$ activities measured by radio- immunoassay from normal volunteer and the effects of ${\beta}-endorphin$ on 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin)-induced contraction investigated by isometric tension methode in rats. The current of 3 Hz continue type, but not 100 Hz continue type, of SSP low frequency electrical stimulation significantly increased in plasma ${\beta}-endorphin$ from normal volunteer. The endothelial cell-dependent 5-HT-induced contractions were inhibited by ${\beta}-endorphin$ $1{\mu}M$. These results suggest that the ${\beta}-endorphin$ regulates nociceptive-like substance, such as 5-HT, in part and that the SSP low frequency electrical stimulation, specifically current of low frequency of 3 Hz continue type, significantly increases plasma ${\beta}-endorphin$ from normal volunteer.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.6
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• pp.625-637
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• 1997

Calcium ions are implicated in a variety of physiological functions, including enzyme activity, membrane excitability, neurotransmitter release, and synaptic transmission, etc. Calcium antagonists have been known to be effective for the treatment of exertional angina and essential hypertension. Selective and nonselective voltage-dependent calcium channel blockers also have inhibitory action on the acute and tonic pain behaviors resulting from thermal stimulation, subcutaneous formalin injection and nerve injury. This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of iontophoretically applied $Ca^{++}$ and its antagonists on the responses of WDR (wide dynamic range) cells to sensory inputs. The responses of WDR cells to graded electrical stimulation of the afferent nerve and also to thermal stimulation of the receptive field were recorded before and after iontophoretical application of $Ca^{++}$, EGTA, $Mn^{++}$, verapamil, ${\omega}-conotoxin$ GVIA, ${\omega}-conotoxin$ MVIIC and ${\omega}-agatoxin$ IVA. Also studied were the effects of a few calcium antagonists on the C-fiber responses of WDR cells sensitized by subcutaneous injection of mustard oil (10%). Calcium ions and calcium channel antagonists ($Mn^{++}$, verapamil, ${\omega}-conotoxin$ GVIA & ${\omega}-agatoxin$ IVA) current-dependently suppressed the C-fiber responses of WDR cells without any significant effects on the A-fiber responses. But ${\omega}-conotoxin$ MVIIC did not have any inhibitory actions on the responses of WDR cell to A-fiber, C-fiber and thermal stimulation. Iontophoretically applied EGTA augmented the WDR cell responses to C-fiber and thermal stimulations while spinal application of EGTA for about $20{\sim}30\;min$ strongly inhibited the C-fiber responses. The augmenting and the inhibitory actions of EGTA were blocked by calcium ions. The WDR cell responses to thermal stimulation of the receptive field were reduced by iontophoretical application of $Ca^{++}$, verapamil, ${\omega}-agatoxin$ IVA, and ${\omega}-conotoxin$ GVIA but not by ${\omega}-conotoxin$ MVIIC. The responses of WDR cells to C-fiber stimulation were augmented after subcutaneous injection of mustard oil (10%, 0.15 ml) into the receptive field and these sensitized C-fiber responses were strongly suppressed by iontophoretically applied $Ca^{++}$, verapamil, ${\omega}-conotoxin$ GVIA and ${\omega}-agatoxin$ IVA. These experimental findings suggest that in the rat spinal cord, L-, N-, and P-type, but not Q-type, voltage-sensitive calcium channels are implicated in the calcium antagonist-induced inhibition of the normal and the sensitized responses of WDR cells to C-fiber and thermal stimulation, and that the suppressive effect of calcium and augmenting action of EGTA on WDR cell responses are due to changes in excitability of the cell.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.327-332
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• 2017

A2B adenosine receptor (A2BAR) is known to be a regulator of bone homeostasis, but the regulatory mechanism of A2BAR on the osteoclast proliferation are poorly explored. Recently, we have shown that stimulation with BAY 60-6583, a specific agonist of A2BAR, significantly reduced macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF)-induced osteoclast proliferation by inducing cell cycle arrest at G1 phase and increasing the apoptosis of osteoclasts. The objective of this study was to investigate the regulatory mechanisms of cell cycle and apoptosis by A2BAR stimulation. The expression of A2BAR and M-CSF receptor, c-Fms, was not changed by A2BAR stimulation whereas M-CSF effectively induced c-Fms expression during osteoclast proliferation. Interestingly, A2BAR stimulation remarkably increased the expression of $p27^{Kip-1}$, a cell cycle inhibitor, but the expression of Cyclin D1 and cdk4 was not affected. In addition, while BAY 60-6583 treatment reduced the expression of Bcl2, an anti-apoptotic oncogene, it failed to regulate the expression of Bax, a pro-apoptotic marker. Taken together, these results imply that the increase of $p27^{Kip-1}$ inducing cell cycle arrest at G1 phase and the decrease of Bcl2 inducing anti-apoptotic response by A2BAR stimulation contribute to the down-regulation of osteoclast proliferation.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.137-143
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• 2009

It has been reported that mechanical stimulation takes a role in improving eel/ growth in skeletal system. Various research groups have been showed their own bioreactors which stimulate cell-seed three-dimensional scaffold. In this study, we hypothesized that the various conditions of mechanical stimulation would affect cell growth and proliferation. To prove our hypothesis, we designed a custom-made bioreactor capable of applying controlled compression to cell-encapsulated scaffolds. This device consisted of a circulation system and a compression system. Each parts of the bioreactor was fabricated using the rapid prototyping technology By using the rapid prototyping technology, we can modify and improve the bioreactor very rapidly For dynamic cell-culture, cell-encapsulated agarose gel was fabricated in 2% concentration. We performed dynamic cell-culture using this agarose gel and developed bioreactor in 3 days.