• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.125-132
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• 2008

멜라토닌(N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine)은 포유동물의 뇌의 송과선에서 분비되는 호르몬으로 수면과 생체 리듬 등을 조절하고 난소 기능과 번식에도 영향을 미친다. 또한, 강력한 scavenger로서 항산화제의 역할을 한다. 이 연구의 목적은 멜라토닌이 생쥐 난구세포-핵낭(germinal vesicle, GV) 시기 난자 복합체의 체외성숙에 미치는 영향을 알아보는 것이다. 3주령의 ICR 암컷 생쥐의 난소에서 회수된 난자-난구세포 복합체를 0, 0.1 nM, 10 nM, 1,000 nM의 멜라토닌이 첨가된 배양액에서 18시간 동안 배양하고, 제1극체의 방출 여부를 확인하여 성숙율을 확인하였다. 체외성숙 후 TUNEL assay와 성숙율이 가장 높게 나타났다. 체외성숙된 난자에서는 세포자연사가 나타나지 않았으나 난구세포에서는 관찰되었으며, 1,000 nM을 첨가하여 배양한 군의 난구세포는 유의하게 낮은 세포자연사를 나타냈다. 그리고 1,000 nM의 멜라토닌을 첨가한 군의 난구세포에서 멜라토닌 수용체의 mRNA가 대조군에 비해 낮게 발현되었다. 이상의 결과를 종합하면 체외성숙 배양액에 첨가된 멜라토닌은 난구세포의 세포자연사를 줄여줌으로써 생쥐 미성숙 난자의 체외성숙을 향상시키는 역할을 하는 것으로 사료된다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.201-207
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• 2004

Objective: The Id family of helix-loop-helix proteins are thought to affect the balance between cell growth and differentiation by negatively regulating the function of basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcriptional factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression pattern of Ids (Id-1, -2, -3, and -4) in preimplantation mouse embryos at mRNA and protein levels. Methods: Oocytes and preimplantation embryos were collected from reproductive organs of female ICR mice following superovulation. RT-PCR was performed to investigate the mRNA expression patterns of Id genes and their protein were localized by immunofluorescence analysis. Results: Id-1 and Id-3 mRNAs were strongly expressed at the germinal vesicle (GV) oocyte and the blastocyst stages. Id-2 mRNA was expressed throughout preimplantation embryo development, but Id-4 was not expressed. Immunofluorescence showed that Id-1 and Id-2 were predominantly localized in cytoplasmic region, but the immunofluorescence signal of Id-3 was weak throughout preimplantation embryo development. Conclusion: These data show for the first time that Ids are expressed in preimplantation mouse embryos and suggest that Ids may play an important role in early preimplantation embryo development and uterine physiological changes.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.7-13
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• 2014

Molecular mimicry is an attractive mechanism for triggering autoimmunity. In this review, we explore the potential role of evolutionary conserved bacterial proteins in the production of autoantibodies with focus on granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Seven autoantigens characterized in GPA and RA were BLASTed against a bacterial protein database. Of the seven autoantigens, proteinase 3, type II collagen, binding immunoglobulin protein, glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, ${\alpha}$-enolase, and heterogeneous nuclear ribonuclear protein have well-conserved bacterial orthologs. Importantly, those bacterial orthologs are also found in human-associated bacteria. The wide distribution of the highly conserved stress proteins or enzymes among the members of the normal flora and common infectious microorganisms raises a new question on how cross-reactive autoantibodies are not produced during the immune response to these bacteria in most healthy people. Understanding the mechanisms that deselect auto-reactive B cell clones during the germinal center reaction to homologous foreign antigens may provide a novel strategy to treat autoimmune diseases.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.53-60
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• 1987

This experiment was performed on mice to investigate the effects of an immunopotentiator, picibanil(PC), on the immune responses such as phagocytic activity of reticuloen-dothelial(RE) system, E rosette formation rate of splenic lmphocytes and morphological changes of lymph node tissue. Groups of mice were treated with a single(1KE/kg BW) or sequential(0.1, 0.25 and 0.5KE/kg BW for successive 3 days) intravenous injections of PC. PC treated and untreated control mice were sensitized with 50% sheep erythrocyte suspension(0.2ml/mouse) at 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 days after PC treatment. Functional and morphological examinations were carried out 5 days after sensitization. The following results were obtained: The phagocytic activity of RE system and the weight of liver and spleen were increased significantly at 3rd, 5th and 7th day. The peripheral polymorphonuclear leukocyte and percent of lymphocyte and monocyte were slightly increased. The rates of E rosette formation of splenic lymphotytes, sequential PC treated groups were more increased at 3rd and 5th day in sequential PC treated groups than in single treated groups. Thereafter it returned gradually to the control level by the time of 10th day. Microscopically primary lymph follicles with indistinct germinal center (GC) were partially disrupted and the parafollicular areas were consisted of the pyroninophilic cells in control group. In PC treated group, the parafollicular areas were markedly proliferated and developments of secondary lymph follicles with enlarged and prominent GC were more pronounced in the sequential injected groups compared to single injected groups. These results indicate that PC affected not only parafollicular area of the T-cell area, but also GC of the B-cell area. It suggests that PC may potentiate both cell mediated immunity and humoral immunity.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제57권5호
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• pp.543-547
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• 2019

Toxoplasma gondii can infect humans worldwide, causing serious diseases in pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals. T. gondii rhoptry protein 13 (ROP13) is known as one of the key proteins involved in host cell invasion. In this study, we generated virus-like particles (VLPs) vaccine expressing T. gondii rhoptry ROP13 and investigated VLPs vaccine efficacy in mice. Mice immunized with ROP13 VLPs vaccine elicited significantly higher levels of T. gondii-specific IgG, IgG1, IgG2a, and IgA antibody responses following boost immunization and challenge infection, whereas antibody inductions were insignificant upon prime immunization. Differing immunization routes resulted in differing antibody induction, as intranasal immunization (IN) induced greater antibody responses than intramuscular immunization (IM) after boost and challenge infection. IN immunization induced significantly higher levels of IgG and IgA antibody responses from feces, antibody-secreting cells (ASCs), $CD4^+$ T, $CD8^+$ T cells and germinal center B cell responses in the spleen compared to IM immunization. Compared to IM immunization, IN immunization resulted in significantly reduced cyst counts in the brain as well as lesser body weight loss, which contributed to better protection. All of the mice immunized through either route survived, whereas all na?ve control mice perished. These results indicate that the ROP13 VLPs vaccine could be a potential vaccine candidate against T. gondii infection.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.59-66
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• 2006

Background: CM1 (Centrocyte/-blast Marker I) defined by a mAb developed against concanavalin-A activated PBMC, is expressed specifically on a subpopulation of centroblasts and centrocytes of human germinal center (GC) B cells. Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is a tumor consisting of tumor cells with the characteristics of GC B cell. Previously we reported that CM1 ligation with anti-CM1 mAb induced apoptosis in Ramos $(IgM^{high})$ and Raji $(IgM^{low})$ cells. Methods & Results: In the present study, we observed that CM1 ligation with anti-CM1 mAb induced Fas ligand and Fas expression in Ramos cells, but not in Raji cells. Furthermore, anti-Fas blocking antibody, ZB4, blocked CM1-mediated apoptosis effectively in Ramos cells, but not in Raji cells. Increased mitochondrial membrane permeabilization, which was measured by $DiOC_6$, was observed only in Raji cells. In contrast to no significant change of Bax known as pro-apoptotic protein, anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 was significantly decreased in Raji cells. In addition, we observed that CM1 ligation increased release of mitochondrial cytochrome c and upregulated caspase-9 activity in Raji cells. Conclusion: These results suggest that apoptosis induced by CM1-ligation is mediated by Fas-Fas ligand interaction in Ramos cells, whereas apoptosis is mediated by down-regulation of Bcl-2 and subsequent decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential in Raji cells.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제53권4호
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• pp.245-251
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• 2013

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) have been suspected to have immunosuppressive effects on pigs. To investigate the correlation between these virus infection and the lesions of lymph nodes including sub-mandibular and inguinal lymph node, 44 pigs (PCV2 single, n = 14; PRRSV single, n = 10; PCV2/PRRSV, n = 14; negative control, n = 6) were examined by histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Histopathologically, granulomatous lymphadenitis characterized by lymphoid depletion with histiocytic cells infiltration was observed in PCV-2 single and PCV-2/PRRSV group. Immunohistochemically, there were significant reduction of B and T lymphocytes in lymph nodes of these groups, while the number of macrophages was increased. In only PRRSV infected group, germinal center hypertrophy and lymphoid necrosis were observed. Immunohistochemically, the number of CD3+ T lymphocytes was slightly increased. Severe lymphocytic depletion in PCV-2 infection-related lymph nodes might be associated with producing immunocompromised state in pig. Comparing with PCV-2 infected group, PRRSV produced minor effects on the changes in immune cell population in the lymph nodes of pigs. PRRSV may increase susceptibility of the disease in pigs by disruption of the first defense lines in target organs, such as the alveolar macrophages in lungs.