• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.53-53
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• 2003

The aim of this study was to determine the interactive effects of BSA and EGF on the viability and development of porcine diploid parthenotes developing in vitro. The addition of 0.1 and 0.4% BSA to the culture medium enhanced the development of 4-cell parthenotes to the blastocyst stage but EGF had no effect. However, while BSA also increased cell numbers, it did so only when EGF was also present. Either agent on its own had no effect. Similarly, apoptosis in the blastocysts was not influenced by either agent on its own but was reduced when both BSA and EGF were present. Furthermore, semi-quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) revealed that EGF enhanced the mRNA expression of BclxL in the presence of 0.4% BSA but BSA and EGF alone had no effect. EGF and/or BSA did not influence Bak gene expression in the blastocyst stage parthenotes. These results suggest that BSA has both beneficial and detrimental effects on the viability of porcine diploid parthenotes developing in vitro and that exogenous EGF may block some of the detrimental effects of BSA, possibly by inhibiting the BSA-induced apoptosis by increasing Bcl-xL expression. This results in a net increase in cell numbers in porcine diploid parthenotes developing in vitro.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.170-182
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• 2011

Plants possess multiple resistance mechanisms that protect themselves against pathogen attack. To identify unknown components of the defense machinery in Arabidopsis, gene-expression changes were monitored in Arabidopsis thaliana under 18 different biotic or abiotic conditions using a DNA microarray representing approximately 25% of all Arabidopsis thaliana genes (www.genevestigator.com). Seventeen genes which are early responsive to salicylic acid (SA) treatment as well as pathogen infection were selected and their T-DNA insertion mutants were obtained from SALK institute. To elucidate the role of each gene in defense response, bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst) DC3000 was inoculated onto individual T-DNA insertion mutants. Four mutants exhibited decreased resistance and five mutants displayed significantly enhanced resistance against Pst DC3000-infection as measured by change in symptom development as compared to wild-type plants. Among them, member of uridin diphosphate (UDP)-glycosyltransferase (UGT) was of particular interest, since a UGT mutant (At1g05680) showed enhanced resistance to Pst-infection in Arabidopsis. In systemic acquired resistance (SAR) assay, this mutant showed enhanced activation of SAR. Also, the enhanced SAR correlated with increased expression of defense-related gene, AtPR1. These results emphasize that the glycosylation of UGT74E2 is a part of the SA-mediated disease-resistance mechanism.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.125-134
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• 2017

Enhanced disease susceptibility1 (EDS1) is a regulator of basal defense responses required for resistance mediated by TIR-NBS-LRR containing R proteins. We identified three transcripts of EDS1-like genes encompassing diverse/separate expression patterns, based on the transcriptome analysis by Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) of V. flexuosa inoculated with Elsinoe ampelina. These genes were designated VfEDL1 (Vitis flexuosa Enhanced Disease Susceptibility1-like1), VfEDL2 and VfEDL3, and contained 2464, 1719 and 1599 bp, with 1791, 1227 and 1599 bp open reading frames (ORFs), encoding proteins of 596, 408 and 532 amino acids, respectively. The predicted amino acid sequences of all three genes showed the L-family lipase-like domain (class 3 lipase domain), and exhibited a potential lipase catalytic triad, aspartic acid, histidine and serine in the conserved G-X-S-X-G. All three VfEDL genes were upregulated at 1 hpi against the bacterial and fungal pathogens Rizhobiumvitis and E. ampelina, respectively, except VfEDL1, which was downregulated against E. ampelina at all time points. Against E. ampelina, VfEDL2 and VfEDL3 showed downregulated expression at later time points. When evaluated against R. vitis, VfEDL1 showed downregulated expression at all time points after 1 hpi, while VfEDL3 showed upregulation up to 24 hpi. Based on the expression response, all three genes may be involved in plant resistant responses against R. vitis, and VfEDL2 and VfEDL3 show additional resistant responses against E. ampelina infection.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.375-382
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• 1999

Growing evidence indicates that enhanced generation or actions of nitric oxide (NO) are implicated in the pathogenesis of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats and diabetic nephropathy in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. We investigated whether inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in STZ-induced diabetic rats is responsible for the alterations of vascular reactivity. Diabetic state was confirmed 28 days after injection of STZ (i.p) in rats by measuring blood glucose. In order to evaluate whether short term (4 weeks) diabetic state is related with altered vascular reactivity caused by iNOS expression, isometric tension experiments were performed. In addition, plasma nitrite/nitrate (NOx) levels and expression of iNOS in the lung and aorta of control and STZ-treated rats were compared by using Griess reagent and Western analysis, respectively. Results indicated that STZ-treated rats increased the maximal contractile response of the aorta to phenylephrine (PE), and high $K^+,$ while the sensitivity remained unaltered. Endothelium-dependent relaxation, but not SNP-mediated relaxation, was reduced in STZ-treated rats. Plasma nitrite/nitrates are significantly increased in STZ-treated rats compared to controls. The malondialdehyde (MDA) contents of liver, serum, and aorta of diabetic rats were also significantly increased. Furthermore, nitrotyrosine, a specific foot print of peroxynitrite, was significantly increased in endothelial cells and smooth muscle layers in STZ-induced diabetic aorta. Taken together, the present findings indicate that enhanced release of NO by iNOS along with increased lipid peroxidation in diabetic conditions may be responsible, at least in part, for the augmented contractility, possibly through the modification of endothelial integrity or ecNOS activity of endothelium in STZ-diabetic rat aorta.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.679-688
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• 2018

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are neurodevelopmental disorders that share behavioral features, the results of numerous studies have suggested that the underlying causes of ASDs are multifactorial. Behavioral and/or neurobiological analyses of ASDs have been performed extensively using a valid model of prenatal exposure to valproic acid (VPA). Abnormal synapse formation resulting from altered neurite outgrowth in neural progenitor cells (NPCs) during embryonic brain development has been observed in both the VPA model and ASD subjects. Although several mechanisms have been suggested, the actual mechanism underlying enhanced neurite outgrowth remains unclear. In this study, we found that VPA enhanced the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), particularly mature BDNF (mBDNF), through dual mechanisms. VPA increased the mRNA and protein expression of BDNF by suppressing the nuclear expression of methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2), which is a transcriptional repressor of BDNF. In addition, VPA promoted the expression and activity of the tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), which induces BDNF maturation through proteolytic cleavage. Trichostatin A and sodium butyrate also enhanced tPA activity, but tPA activity was not induced by valpromide, which is a VPA analog that does not induce histone acetylation, indicating that histone acetylation activity was required for tPA regulation. VPA-mediated regulation of BDNF, MeCP2, and tPA was not observed in astrocytes or neurons. Therefore, these results suggested that VPA-induced mBDNF upregulation was associated with the dysregulation of MeCP2 and tPA in developing cortical NPCs.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.267-272
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• 2013

The anti-obesity effects of a hot water extract from wasabi (Wasabia japonica Matsum.) leaves (WLE), without its specific pungent constituents, such as allyl-isothiocyanate, were investigated in high fat-diet induced mice. C57J/BL mice were fed a high-fat diet (control group) or a high-fat diet supplemented with 5% WLE (WLE group). Physical parameters and blood profiles were determined. Gene expression associated with lipid metabolism in liver and white adipose tissue were analyzed. After 120 days of feeding, significantly lower body weight gain, liver weight and epididymal white adipose tissue weight was observed in the WLE group compared to the control group. In liver gene expression within the WLE group, PPAR${\alpha}$ was significantly enhanced and SREBP-1c was significantly suppressed. Subsequent downstream genes controlled by these regulators were significantly suppressed. In epididymal white adipose tissue of the WLE group, expression of leptin, PPAR${\gamma}$, and C/EBP${\alpha}$ were significantly suppressed and adiponectin was significantly enhanced. Acox, related to fatty acid oxidization in adipocytes, was also enhanced. Our results demonstrate that the WLE dietary supplement induces mild suppression of obesity in a high-fat diet induced mice, possibly due to suppression of lipid accumulation in liver and white adipose tissue.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.301-305
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• 2001

The co-expression of the arg U gene in a double-vector expression system of recombi-nant Escherichia coli BL22(DE3)[pET-IEN2a+pAC-argU] significantly enhanced the production level of reconminant human interferon -$\alpha$2a(rhIFN-$\alpha$2a) in high cell density cultures, compared to a recombinant E. coli culture containing only the single expression vector, pET-IEN2a. The dry cell mass concentration increased to almost 100 g/L, and more than 4 g/L of rhIFN-$\alpha$2a was accumu-lated in the culture broth. Evidently, the synthesis of rhIFN-$\alpha$2a was strongly dependent on the pre-induction growtih rate and more efficient at a higher specific growth rate. The additional sup-ply of tRN $A^{Arg(AGG/AGA)}$ enhanced the expression level of the rhIFN-$\alpha$2a gene in the early stage of the post-induction phase, yet thereafter the specific production rate of rhIFN-$\alpha$2a rapidly de-creased due to severe segregational instability of plasmid vector pET-IEN2a. It would appear that the plasmid instability with only occurred to pET-IEN2a in the double vector system, was re-lated to the effect of translational stress due to the over expression of rhIFN-$\alpha$2a.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.503-511
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• 2018

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is known to play a critical role in breast cancer metastasis to bone. In this study, we tried to investigate any role of LPA in the regulation of osteoclastogenic cytokines from breast cancer cells and the possibility of these secretory factors in affecting osteoclastogenesis. Effect of secreted cytokines on osteoclastogenesis was analyzed by treating conditioned media from LPA-stimulated breast cancer cells to differentiating osteoclasts. Result demonstrated that IL-8 and IL-11 expression were upregulated in LPA-treated MDA-MB-231 cells. IL-8 was induced in both MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468, however, IL-11 was induced only in MDA-MB-231, suggesting differential LPARs participation in the expression of these cytokines. Expression of IL-8 but not IL-11 was suppressed by inhibitors of PI3K, NF-kB, ROCK and PKC pathways. In the case of PKC activation, it was observed that $PKC{\delta}$ and $PKC{\mu}$ might regulate LPA-induced expression of IL-11 and IL-8, respectively, by using specific PKC subtype inhibitors. Finally, conditioned Medium from LPA-stimulated breast cancer cells induced osteoclastogenesis. In conclusion, LPA induced the expression of osteolytic cytokines (IL-8 and IL-11) in breast cancer cells by involving different LPA receptors. Enhanced expression of IL-8 by LPA may be via ROCK, PKCu, PI3K, and NFkB signaling pathways, while enhanced expression of IL-11 might involve $PKC{\delta}$ signaling pathway. LPA has the ability to enhance breast cancer cells-mediated osteoclastogenesis by inducing the secretion of cytokines such as IL-8 and IL-11.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.263-268
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• 2015

5-Lipoxygenase (5-LO) plays a pivotal role in the progression of atherosclerosis. Therefore, this study investigated the molecular mechanisms involved in 5-LO expression on monocytes induced by LPS. Stimulation of THP-1 monocytes with LPS ($0{\sim}3{\mu}g/ml$) increased 5-LO promoter activity and 5-LO protein expression in a concentration-dependent manner. LPS-induced 5-LO expression was blocked by pharmacological inhibition of the Akt pathway, but not by inhibitors of MAPK pathways including the ERK, JNK, and p38 MAPK pathways. In line with these results, LPS increased the phosphorylation of Akt, suggesting a role for the Akt pathway in LPS-induced 5-LO expression. In a promoter activity assay conducted to identify transcription factors, both Sp1 and NF-${\kappa}B$ were found to play central roles in 5-LO expression in LPS-treated monocytes. The LPS-enhanced activities of Sp1 and NF-${\kappa}B$ were attenuated by an Akt inhibitor. Moreover, the LPS-enhanced phosphorylation of Akt was significantly attenuated in cells pretreated with an anti-TLR4 antibody. Taken together, 5-LO expression in LPS-stimulated monocytes is regulated at the transcriptional level via TLR4/Akt-mediated activations of Sp1 and NF-${\kappa}B$ pathways in monocytes.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.787-794
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• 2007

Statement of problem. Surface microgrooves on Ti substrata have been shown to alter the expression of genes responsible for various biological activities of cultured fibroblasts. However, their effect on enhancing cell proliferation is not yet clear. Purpose. The purpose of this study was to determine the dimension of surface microgrooves on Ti substrata that enhances proliferation and alters gene expression of cultured human gingival fibroblasts. Material and methods. Commercially pure Ti discs with surface microgrooves of monotonous $3.5{\mu}m$ in depth and respective 15 and $30{\mu}m$ in width were fabricated using photolithography and used as the culture substrata in the two experimental groups in this study (TiD15 and TiD30), whereas the smooth Ti was used as the control substrata (smooth Ti group). Human gingival fibroblasts were cultured on the three groups of titanium substrata and the proliferation, DNA synthesis, and gene expression of theses cells were analyzed and compared between all groups using XTT assay, BrdU assay, and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respectively. Results. From the XTT assay at 48 h incubation, the proliferation of human gingival fibroblasts in TiD30 was significantly enhanced compared to that in smooth Ti and TiD15. The results from the BrdU assay showed that, at 24 h incubation, the DNA synthesis was significantly enhanced in TiD30 compared to that in smooth Ti. In RT-PCR, increase in the expression of PCR transcripts of fibronectin, CDK6, $p21^{cip1}$ genes was noted at 48h incubation. Conclusion. Surface microgrooves $30{\mu}m$ in width and $3.5{\mu}m$ in depth on Ti substrata enhance proliferation and alter gene expression of cultured human gingival fibroblasts.