• Journal of Life Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2000

The mammary gland contains a subpopulation of epithelial cells with large proliferative potentials which are the likely targets for carcinogens. These clonogenic cells can proliferate and differentiate into functional glandular structures. Rat mammary epithelial cells (RMEC) were isolated and characterized in vitro. By flow cytometry of RMEC stained with fluorescein isothiocyanate-peanut agglutinin(PNA) and phycoerythrin anti-Thy-1.1 monoclonal antibody, it was possible to four cell subpopulations from 7-8 week old F344 female rat mammary glands: cells negative to both reagents (B-), PNA-positive cells (PNA+), Thy-1.1-positive cells (Thy-1.1+), and cells positive to both reagents (B+). When single PNA+ cells were isolated and cultured in Matrigel with irradiated (∼50 Gray) 3T3 fibroblast feeder layer, they gave rise to multicellular clonal structures of three types: alveolar, foamy alveolar, and squamous colonies. The developed structures were similar to the mammary glands in vivo. These results suggest that some of PNA+ cells possesses many of the characteristics of multipotent clonogenic stem-like cells.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.175-182
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• 2021

Pluripotent stem cells could self-renew and differentiate into various cells. In particular, porcine pluripotent stem cells are useful for preclinical therapy, transgenic animals, and agricultural usage. These stem cells have naïve and primed pluripotent states. Naïve pluripotent stem cells represented by mouse embryonic stem cells form chimeras after blastocyst injection. Primed pluripotent stem cells represented by mouse epiblast stem cells and human embryonic stem cells. They could not produce chimeras after blastocyst injection. Populations of embryonic stem cells are not homogenous; therefore, reporter systems are used to clarify the status of stem cells and to isolate the cells. For this reason, studies of the OCT4 reporter system have been conducted for decades. This review will discuss the naïve and primed pluripotent states and recent progress in the development of porcine OCT4 reporter systems.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.371-375
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• 2023

Natural killer (NK) cells are innate immune cells and play important roles as the first immune cells to recognize and kill cancer. In patients with advanced and terminal cancer, NK cells are often inactivated, suggesting that NK cells may play important roles in cancer treatment. In particular, the proportion of NK cells among immune cells infiltrating tumor tissues is often low, which suggests that NK cells do not survive in tumor microenvironment (TME). In order to overcome these hurdles of NK cells in cancer treatment, it is critical to develop strategies that enhance the proliferation and cytolytic activity of NK cells. We applied Vemurafenib to NK cells and measured the degree of NK cell proliferation and functional activation. We obtained unexpected results of increased NK cell numbers and anti-tumor activity after Vemurafenib treatment. Although further investigation is required to uncover the detailed mechanisms, our results suggest that Vemurafenib is a promising candidate to increase the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy using NK cells.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2016

Aortic valve stenosis is a heart disease prevalent in the elderly characterized by valvular calcification, fibrosis, and inflammation, but its exact pathogenesis remains unclear. Previously, aortic valve stenosis was thought to be caused by chronic passive and degenerative changes associated with aging. However, recent studies have demonstrated that atherosclerotic processes and inflammation can induce valvular calcification and bone deposition, leading to valvular stenosis. In particular, the most abundant cell type in cardiac valves, valvular interstitial cells, can differentiate into myofibroblasts and osteoblast-like cells, leading to valvular calcification and stenosis. Differentiation of valvular interstitial cells can be trigged by inflammatory stimuli from several immune cell types, including macrophages, dendritic cells, T cells, B cells, and mast cells. This review indicates that crosstalk between immune cells and valvular interstitial cells plays an important role in the development of aortic valve stenosis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.167-174
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• 2012

Natural killer (NK) cells provide one of the initial barriers of cellular host defense against pathogens, in particular intracellular pathogens. Because bone marrow-derived hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), lymphoid protenitors, can give rise to NK cells, NK ontogeny has been considered to be exclusively lymphoid. Here, we show that porcine c-$kit^+$ bone marrow cells (c-$kit^+$ BM cells) develop into NK cells in vitro in the presence of various cytokines [interleukin (IL)-2, IL-7, IL-15, IL-21, stem cell factor (SCF), and fms-like tyrosine kinase-3 ligand (FLT3L)]. Adding hydrocortisone (HDC) and stromal cells greatly increases the frequency of c-$kit^+$ BM cells that give rise to $CD2^+CD8^+$ NK cells. Also, intracellular levels of perforin, granzyme B, and NKG2D were determined by RT-PCR and western blotting analysis. It was found that of perforin, granzyme B, and NKG2D levels significantly were increased in cytokine-stimulated c-$kit^+$ BM cells than those of controls. And, we compared the ability of the cytotoxicity of $CD2^+CD8^+$ NK cells differentiated by cytokines from c-$kit^+$ BM cells against K562 target cells for 28 days. Cytokines-induced NK cells as effector cells were incubated with K562 cells as target in a ratio of 100 : 1 for 4 h once a week. In results, $CD2^+CD8^+$ NK cells induced by cytokines and stromal cells showed a significantly increased cytotoxicity 21 days later. Whereas, our results indicated that c-$kit^+$ BM cells not pretreated with cytokines have lower levels of cytotoxicity. Taken together, this study suggests that cytokines-induced NK cells from porcine c-$kit^+$ BM cells may be used as adoptive transfer therapy if the known obstacles to xenografting (e.g. immune and non-immune problems) were overcome in the future.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.183-197
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• 1991

After single fraction of 2, 5, 10 Gy irradiation on submandibular gland of 40 male rats, weighing 150gm, respectively, these animal were sacrificed two hours after 0.1㎎/g bromodeoxyuridine (Sigma) peritoneal injection in 1, 3, 7, 15 hours, 1, 3, 7 days after irradiation. And excised submandibular gland were fixed in Carnoy's and Bouin's solution for 2 hours. Paraffin sections were stained with H&E, and PAS for the observation of the change of salivary gland tissue, and with Feulgen for the study of the DNA distribution, and immunohistochemically stained with anti-bromodeoxyuridine (Sanbyo Co.) for detection of DNA synthetic cells in order to study the distribution of DNA synthetic cells of salivary gland tissue and endothelium after irradiation in 5 different sites of 6 slides on X 200 high power field. The results were as followings. 1. In PAS staining 3 days after 5Gy irradiation, decreased mucine secretion of serous cells were found, and 7 days after l0Gy irradiation, decreased mucine secretion of mucous cells were found. 2. In histopathologic features, degeneration of serous cells were found in 3 days after 2 Gy irradiation and there was little change in mucous cells and excretory duct cells. 3. In Feugen staining, 3 days after 2 Gy, 5 Gy irradiation, more high percentage of DNA synthetic cells were found in intercalated duct cells, striated duct cells and excretory duct cells than in BrdU staining. 4. In immunohistochemical features, DNA synethsis of serous cells and granular convoluted tubular cells abruptly decreased in early period after irradiation and showed no recovery in 7 days after irradiation but there was an increase in DNA synthesis of intercalated duct cells, striated duct cells and excretory duct cells, which have less S-phase cells comparatively, in 7 days after 2 Gy, 5 Gy irradiation. 5. In immunohistochemical features, the DNA synthesis of endothelial cells was continuously decreased after irradiation but showed slight increase in 7 days after 2 Gy and S Gy irradiation.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2016

Objectives : I investigated whether snake venom can synergistically strengthen the cytotoxic effects of NK-92 cells, and enhance the inhibition of the growth of lung cancer cells including NCI-H358 through the induction of death receptor dependent extrinsic apoptosis. Methods : Snake venom toxin inhibited cell growth of NCI-H358 Cells and exerted non influence on NK-92 cell viability. Moreover, when they were co-cultured with NK cells and concomitantly treated with $4{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ of snake venom toxin, more influence was exerted on the inhibition of growth of NCI-H358 cells than BV or NK cell co-culture alone. Results : The expression of Fas, TNFR2 and DR3 and in NCI-H358 lung cancer cells was significantly increased by co-culture of NK-92 cells and treatment of $4{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ of snake venom toxin, compared to co-culture of NK-92 cells alone. Coincidentally, Bax, caspase-3 and caspase-8 - expressions of pro-apoptotic proteins in the extrinsic apoptosis pathway, demonstrated significant increase. However, in anti-apoptotic NF-${\kappa}B$ activities, activity of the signal molecule was significantly decreased by co-culture of NK-92 cells and treatment of $4{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ of snake venom toxin, compared to co-culture of NK-92 cells or snake venom toxin treated by NCIH358 alone. Meanwhile, in terms of NO generation, there is a significant increase, in co-culture of NK-92 cells with NCI-H358 cells as well as the co-culture of NK-92 cells and concomitant treatment of $4{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ of snake venom toxin. However, no synergistic increase of NO generation was shown in co-culture of NK-92 cells and treatment of $4{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ of snake venom toxin, compared to co-culture of NK-92 cells with NCI-H358 cells. Conclusion : Consequently, this data provides that snake venom toxin could be useful candidate compounds to suppress lung cancer growth along with the cytotoxic effect of NK-92 cells through extrinsic apoptosis.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.97-97
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• 2003

Embryonic stem (ES) cells, derived from preimplantation embryos, are able to differentiate into various types of cells consisting the whole body, or pluripotency. In addition to the plasticity, ES cells are expected to be different from terminally differentiated cells in very many ways, such as patterns of gene expressions, ability and response of the cells in confronting environmental stimulations, metabolism, and growth rate. As a model system to differentiate these two types of cells, human ES (hES, MB03) cells and terminally differentiated cells (HeLa), we examined the ability of these two types of cells in confronting a severe oxidative insult, that is $H_2 O_2$. Ratio of dying cells as determined by the relative amount of dye neutral red entrapped within the cells after the exposures. Cell death rates were not significantly different when either MB03 or HeLa were exposed up to 0.4 mM $H_2 O_2$. However, relative amount of dye entrapped within the cells sharply decreased down to 0.12% in HeLa cells when the cells were exposed to 0.8 mM $H_2 O_2$, while it was approximately 54% in MB03. Pretreatment of cells with BSO (GSH chelator) and measurement of GSH content results suggest that cellular GSH is the major defensive mechanism of hES cells. Induction of apoptosis in hES cell was confirmed by DNA laddering, induction of Bax, and chromatin condensation. In summary, hES cells 1) are extremely resistant to oxidative stress, 2) utilize GSH as a major defensive mechanism. and 3) experience apoptosis upon exposure to oxidative stress.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.78-78
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• 2003

Embryonic stem (ES) cells, derived from preimplantation embryo, are able to differentiate into various types of cells consisting the whole body, or pluripotency. In contrast, terminally differentiated cells do not usually alter their nature but frequently die or transform if they are exposed to inappropriate external stimulations. In addition to the plasticity, ES cells are expected to be different from terminally differentiated cells in very many ways, such as patterns of gene expressions, ability and response of the cells in confronting environmental stimulations, metabolism, and growth rate. As a model system to differentiate these two types of cells, human ES cells (MB03) and terminally differentiated cells (HeLa), we examined the ability of these two types of cells in confronting a severe oxidative insult, that is $H_2O$$_2$. Approximately 1$\times$10$^4$ cells were plated in 96 well plate and serum starved for overnight. The conditioned cells were exposed to a various concentration of $H_2O$$_2$ fur 24 hrs and loaded with neutral red (50$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) for 4 hrs, washed with PBS for 2 min three times, and entrapped dye was dissolved out using acetic ethanol. Cytotoxicity was determined by reading the amount of dye in the medium using microplate reader. equipped with 575 nm filter. Relative amount of the dye entrapped within MB03 or HeLa were not significantly different when cells were exposed up to 0.4 mM $H_2O$$_2$. However, this sharply decreased down to 0.12% in HeLa cells when the cells were exposed to 0.8 mM $H_2O$$_2$, while it was approximately 54% in MB03 suggesting that this concentration of $H_2O$$_2$ is the defensive threshold for HeLa cells. The resistance to oxidative stimulation reversed, however, when cells were co-treated with BSO (L-buthionine- 〔S, R〕-sulfoximine) which chelates intracellular GSH. This result suggests that cellular GSH is the major defensive mechanism of human ES cells. Induction of enzymes involved in GSH metabolism and type of cell death is currently being studied.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.211-221
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• 1991

Although the existence of nerve cells which determine the activity of sympathetic nervous system in ventrolateral medulla is advocated recently, there are wide varieties on the location and function of them according to authors. Present study aimed to identify and characterize the medullospinal tract cells in rostral and caudal medulla of cats .which branch to the lateral horn of the upper thoracic spinal cord. Cats were anesthetized with ${\alpha}-chloralose$. The upper thoracic spinal cord and floor of the IVth ventricle were exposed. Medullospinal tract cells in rostral and caudal medulla were identified by anti-dromic stimulation of the intermediolateral nucleus in the upper thoracic cord and then the location and physiological characteristics of these cells were studied. A total of seventy cells in medulla had constant latency and responded to high frequency stimulation to thoracic cord. Among them fifty-six cells were identified as medullospinal tract cells either by collision with spontaneous activities or activities evoked by sciatic nerve stimulation(27/56), or by determining the refractory period (29/56). Thirty-one of these cells branched to the contralateral thoracic spinal cord, twenty-one cells to the ipsilateral side and remaining four cells branched to both sides. The conduction velocity of cells branching to the contralateral side was $29{\pm}2.9\;m/sec$ and that of cells to the ipsilateral side was $39.1{\pm}6.0\;m/sec$. When medulla was devided into two by a horizontal plane at 3 mm rostral to the obex, fifty-one among seventy cells were in the rostral medulla and nineteen were in the caudal medulla. The conduction velocities of these two groups were $21.6{\pm}1.0\;and\;33.3{\pm}3.9\;m/sec$, respectively. In this study, we confirmed the existence of two groups of medullospinal tract cells in rostral and caudal ventrolateral medulla, which branch to the lateral horn of thoracic cord and these cells have relatively few spontaneous activities and rapid conduction velocity, so we concluded that these cells are different from the previously known sympatho-related cells in ventrolateral medulla.