• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.154-165
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• 2021

This study aimed to investigate whether the antidiabetic drugs dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) inhibitors such as evogliptin and sitagliptin affect the membrane DPP4 (mDPP4) enzymatic activity and immune function of T helper1 (Th1) cells in terms of cytokine expression and cell profiles. The mDPP4 enzymatic activity, cytokine expression, and cell profiles, including cell counts, cell viability, DNA synthesis, and apoptosis, were measured in pokeweed mitogen (PWM)-activated CD4+CD26+ H9 Th1 cells with or without the DPP4 inhibitors, evogliptin and sitagliptin. PWM treatment alone strongly stimulated the expression of mDPP4 and cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-2, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma, IL-13, and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor in the CD4+CD26+ H9 Th1 cells. Evogliptin or sitagliptin treatment potently inhibited mDPP4 activity in a dose-dependent manner but did not affect either the cytokine profile or cell viability in PWM-activated CD4+CD26+ H9 Th1 cells. These results suggest that, following immune stimulation, Th1 cell signaling pathways for cytokine expression function normally after treatment with evogliptin or sitagliptin, which efficiently inhibit mDPP4 enzymatic activity in Th1 cells.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.241-247
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• 2013

This study was carried out to examine the action mechanism of Chamaecyparis obtusa oil (CO) on hair growth in C57BL/6 mice. For alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and ${\gamma}$-glutamyl transpeptidase (${\gamma}$-GT) activities in the skin tissue, at week 4, the 3% minoxidil (MXD) and 3% CO treatment groups showed an ALP activity that was significantly higher by 85% (p < 0.001) and 48% (p < 0.05) and an ${\gamma}$-GT activity that was significantly higher by 294% (p < 0.01) and 254% (p < 0.05) respectively, as compared to the saline (SA) treatment group. For insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) mRNA expression in the skin tissue, at week 4, the MXD and CO groups showed a significantly higher expression by 204% (p < 0.05) and 426% (p < 0.01) respectively, as compared to the SA group. At week 4, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in the MXD and CO groups showed a significantly higher expression by 74% and 96% (p < 0.05) respectively, however, epidermal growth factor (EGF) expression in the MXD and CO groups showed a significantly lower expression by 66% and 61% (p < 0.05) respectively, as compared to the SA group. Stem cell factor (SCF) expression in the MXD and CO groups was observed by immunohis-tochemistry as significant in a part of the bulge around the hair follicle and in a part of the basal layer of the epidermis. Taking all the results together, on the basis of effects on ALP and ${\gamma}$-GT activity, and the expression of IGF-1, VEGF and SCF, which are related to the promotion of hair growth, it can be concluded that CO induced a proliferation and division of hair follicle cells and maintained the anagen phase. Because EGF expression was decreased significantly, CO could delay the transition to the catagen phase.

• BMB Reports
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.302-307
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• 2018

Pinosylvin is known to have anti-inflammatory activity in endothelial cells. In this study, we found that pinosylvin had a pro-apoptotic activity in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-preconditioned leukocytes. This finding suggests that pinosylvin has an effect on the resolution of inflammation. To understand the detailed mechanism, we examined if pinosylvin enhances cyclooxygenase (COX) or lipoxygenase (LOX) activity in THP-1 and U937 cells. LOX activity was found to be markedly increased by pinosylvin, whereas COX activity was not altered. Furthermore, we found that pinosylvin enhanced both levels of ALOX 15 mRNA and protein, implying that LOX activity, elevated by pinosylvin, is attributed to upregulation of ALOX 15 expression. From this cell signaling study, pinosylvin appeared to promote phosphorylations of ERK and JNK. ERK or JNK inhibitors were found to attenuate ALOX 15 expression and LPS-induced apoptosis promoted by pinosylvin. In conclusion, pinosylvin enhances the apoptosis of LPS-preconditioned leukocytes by up-regulating ALOX 15 expression through ERK and JNK. These findings suggest that pinosylvin may induce the resolution of inflammation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.1546-1549
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• 2007

Chitosan oligosaccharide (COS, 3 kDa

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.218-227
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• 2000

Bone morphogenetic protein 1 (BMP-1) is part of a complex capable of inducing ectopic bone formation in mammals. Studies on TGF-β1 processing and Drosophila dorsal-ventral patterning have focused attention on BMP-1 as important in mediating the biological activity of this bone inducing complex. Herein, the bacterial expression, refolding, purification, and initial characterization of the BMP-1 proteolytic domain (BPD) are described. A semi-quantitative fluorescence-based thin layer chromatography assay was developed to assist in rapidly screening for optimal renaturation conditions. According to a preliminary screen for optimal conditions for the refolding of BPD , a detectable proteolytic activity against a high turnover substrate for astacin, a homologous protease from crayfish was observed. The conditions identified have allowed the expression of sufficient amounts of BPD for the characterization of the protein. Its proteolytic activity exhibits the same cleavage specificity as astacin against seven substrates that were previously synthesized for studying astacin. Furthermore, this activity is inhibited by the metal chelator 1,10-phenanthroline but not by its analogue 1,7-phenanthroline. The collagenase inhibitor Pro-Leu-Gly hydroxamate was found to inhibit both astacin and BPD activity. The results presented in this paper argue that BMP-1 does in fact possess an intrinsic proteolytic activity.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.88-92
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• 2006

Genistein was tested for chemopreventive potential against breast cancer by measuring the effect on proliferation of human breast cancer cells, human placental aromatase activity and cyclooxygenases-2 (COX-2) expression and activity, Genistein inhibited the growth of estrogen-independent MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell. However, there is no inhibitory effect of genistein on human placental aromatase activity. The expression of COX-2 was inhibited by genistein in Western blot analysis. Genistein significantly inhibited COX-2 activity at the concentrations of 10 (p<0.05), 25 (p<0.05) and 50 ${\mu}M$ (p<0.01). These results suggest that genistein may have breast cancer chemopreventive potential by inhibiting the growth of human breast cancer cell and expression and activity of COX-2.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.586-594
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• 2017

Mitochondrial activity affects skeletal muscle energy metabolism and phenotype. To address whether mitochondrial activity can modulate muscle phenotype in vitro, protein expression of myosin heavy chain (MyHC) in C2C12 muscle cell lines was investigated after treated with antimycin A, an inhibitor of oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria. Fully differentiated C2C12 myotubes were administrated with different concentration of antimycin A including 0, 100, 200, 500, 700, and 1000 ng/mL. After 72 h treatment, myosin heavy chain isoform expression and related enzyme activity (lactate dehydrogenase; LDH and creatine kinase) were analyzed. Administration of antimycin A changed expression of MyHC in C2C12 myotubes showing a shift from slow to fast twitching muscle type. Protein expression of MyHC type 2b (fast twitching muscle type) was decreased (P < 0.05) by antimycin A treatment (500, 700, and 1000 ng/mL) when compared with control group. Administration of antimycin A (1000 ng/mL), however, decreased (P < 0.05) MyHC type I (slow twitching muscle type). Interestingly, LDH activity was increased (P < 0.05) by antimycin A treatment. Results from our current study proposed a possibility that skeletal muscle phenotype, including MyHC and LDH activity, can be shifted from slow to fast twitching type by inhibiting the mitochondrial activity in C2C12 myotubes.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.1-13
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• 2007

Objective : This study was performed to assess the whitening effect of Bombysis Corpus on melanin synthesis. Methods : The whitening effects of Bombysis Corpus were examined by in vitro melanin production assay. We assessed inhibitory effects of Bombysis Corpus on melanin-release from B16F10, on melanin production in B16F10, on mushroom tyrosinase activity in vitro, on tyrosinase activity in B16F10, effect of Bombysis Corpus on the expression tyrosinase, TRP-1, PKA, ERK-1 ERK-2, AKT-1, MITF in B16F10. Results : 1. Bombysis Corpus inhibited melanin-release, melanin production in B16F10. 2. Bombysis Corpus inhibited tyrosinase activity in vitro and in B16F10. 3. Bombysis Corpus suppressed the expression of tyrosinase, TRP-1 in B16F10. 4. Bombysis Corpus suppressed the expression of PKA in B16F10. 5. Bombysis Corpus suppressed the expression of ERK-1, ERK-2, AKT-1 in B16F10. 6. Bombysis Corpus suppressed the expression of MITF in B16F10. Conclusion : The study shows that Bombysis Corpus inhibited melanin production on the melanogenesis.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.13-22
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• 2019

This study aimed to develop a bile-responsive expression system for lactobacilli. The promoters of four genes, encoding phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent sugar phosphotransferase (mannose-specific), L-lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), HPr kinase, and D-alanine-D-alanine ligase, respectively, which were highly expressed by bile addition in Lactobacillus johnsonii PF01, were chosen. Each promoter was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and fused upstream of the ${\beta}$-glucuronidase gene as a reporter, respectively. Then, these constructs were cloned into E. coli-Lactobacillus shuttle vector pULP2, which was generated by the fusion of pUC19 with the L. plantarum plasmid pLP27. Finally, the constructed vectors were introduced into L. plantarum for a promoter activity assay. The LDH promoter showed the highest activity and its activity increased 1.8-fold by bile addition. The constructed vector maintained in L. plantarum until 80 generations without selection pressure. A bile-responsive expression vector, $pULP3-P_{LDH}$, for Lactobacillus spp. can be an effective tool for the bile-inducible expression of bioactive proteins in intestine after intake in the form of fermented dairy foods.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.143-151
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• 2004

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are capable of degrading extracellular matrix, a process that is necessary for angiogenesis, tumor invasion and metastasis. Platelet-activating factor (PAP) increases angiogenesis, tumor growth and metastasis through nuclear factor (NF)-$\kappa$B activation. Based on these facts, the involvement of MMPs in PAF-induced pulmonary metastasis was investigated in murine sarcoma cells, MMSV-BALB/3T3. Messenger RNA expression and enzymatic activity of MMP-9 were assessed by RT-PCR and zymography, and cell migration and metastasis were done for the detection of MMP-9 functional activity. PAP induced mRNA expression and enzymatic activity of MMP-9, and its effects were either inhibited by the PAP antagonist, WEB 2170 or by the NF-$\kappa$B inhibitor, parthenolide, or p65 antisense oligonucleotide in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, PAF induced promoter activity of MMP-9, which was inhibited by WEB 2170, phenanthroline, NAC, PDTC. These results indicate that PAF induces mRNA expression and enzymatic activity of MMP-9 in NF-$\kappa$B dependent manner. Cell migration assay showed that PAF induced MMSV-BALB/3T3 migration, and its effect was significantly inhibited by treatment with phenanthroline. PAF enhanced pulmonary metastasis of murine sarcoma cells, MMSV-BALB/3T3 was also reduced by phenanthroline. These results suggest that PAF-enhanced cell migration and pulmonary metastasis is mediated through the expression of MMP. In conclusion, It is suggested that PAF enhances pulmonary metastasis by inducing MMP-9 expression via the activation of NF-$\kappa$B.