• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.559-568
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• 2020

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a hormone protein that affects cell growth and proliferation, and has various medical applications. In the present study, the gene of human EGF was codon-optimized with E. coli and the expression vector was constructed by cloning into pRSET. In order to obtain the recombinant human EGF in an active form rather than an inclusion body, chaperone co-expression was attempted along with codon optimization, for the first time. The expressed human EGF was isolated in the pure form by performing Ion Exchange Chromatography in two consecutive runs. ELISA analysis showed that the activity of purified EGF was greater than 99%, which is similar to commercially available EGF. Cell proliferation test confirmed that the recombinant human EGF has the ability to promote cell proliferation of human skin fibroblasts. The human EGF expression system of this study gives a significant amount of protein, and does not require the renaturation step and the additional chromatographic system to remove a fusion contaminant, thereby providing a very useful alternative to conventional expression systems for the preparation of recombinant human EGF.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.241-245
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• 2011

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a genetic multisystem disorder that results from mutations in the TSC1 or TSC2 genes, and is associated with hamartomas in several organs, including subependymal giant cell tumors. The neurological manifestations of TSC are particularly challenging and include infantile spasms, intractable epilepsy, cognitive disabilities, and autism. The TSC1- and TSC2-encoded proteins modulate cell function via the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling cascade, and are key factors in the regulation of cell growth and proliferation. The mTOR pathway provides an intersection for an intricate network of protein cascades that respond to cellular nutrition, energy levels, and growth factor stimulation. In the brain, TSC1 and TSC2 have been implicated in cell body size, dendritic arborization, axonal outgrowth and targeting, neuronal migration, cortical lamination, and spine formation. The mTOR pathway represents a logical candidate for drug targeting, because mTOR regulates multiple cellular functions that may contribute to epileptogenesis, including protein synthesis, cell growth and proliferation, and synaptic plasticity. Antagonism of the mTOR pathway with rapamycin and related compounds may provide new therapeutic options for TSC patients.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.106-114
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• 2018

Angiogenesis is the new blood vessel formation process and has known to a fundamental event of tumor growth and metastasis. Especially, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptors (VEGFRs) are the crucial regulators of angiogenesis in tumor. VEGF-A is one of the VEGF family and binds to endothelial cell specific VEGFR1 and VEGFR2, which are associated with tumor growth and tumor angiogenesis. $VEGF_{121}$ is more tumorigenic isomer of VEGF-A. Targeted VEGF or VEGFR molecular imaging has been widely used to enable diagnosis and monitoring of proliferation and development of angiogenic tumors. Therefore, in this review, we have focused on the radioligands with $VEGF_{121}$ for angiogenesis of tumor.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.489-496
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• 2000

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of streptozotocin-induced (STZ) diabetes on insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs), and IGF-I carrier proteins in serum, liver, and kidney. The levels of total and free IGF-I were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The patterns of IGFBPs were determined by western ligand blotting (WLB) analysis. The profiles of IGF-I carrier proteins in serum were determined by column chromatography. The levels of total and free IGF-I in serum were lower in STZ-induced diabetic rat than normal rat (p<0.01). Similarly, the levels of total IGF-I in liver was lowered in STZ-induced diabetic rats. On the other hand, the levels of total IGF-I in kidney were increased in STZ-induced diabetic rats compared with normal rats (p<0.01). In serum and liver from STZ-induced diabetic rats, the amount of IGFBP-3 was decreased and the amount of IGFBP-2 was increased compared with normal rats. There was a not difference in amount of IGFBP-4 in serum between STZ-induced diabetic rats and normal rats. The serums of normal rats have higher 150kDa carrier proteins than in STZ-induced diabetic rats, whereas, most of 50kDa carrier proteins were found in STZ-induced diabetic rats. These results demonstrate that in STZ-induced diabetic rats, IGF-I/IGFBPs system that included functional bioactivity was changed in serum as well as tissues, and these changes may play an important role in pathogenesis of diabetes.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.420-424
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• 2011

Allomatrix (Wright Medical Tech, Inc., Arlington, Tenn, USA), is a newly designed, injectable putty with a reliable demineralized bone matrix (DBM), derived from human bone. The compound contains 86% DBM and other bone growth factors such as bone morphogenic protein (BMP)-2, BMP-4, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-${\beta}1$. It has excellent osteoinduction abilities. In addition, DBM is known to have osteoconduction capacity as a scaffold due to its collagen matrix. This product contains a powder, which is a mix of DBM and surgical grade calcium sulfate as a carrier. A practitioner can blend the powder with calcium sulfate solution, making a putty-type material which has the advantages of ease of handling, better fixation, and no need for a membrane, because it can function as membrane itself. This study reports the clinical and radiographic results of various guided bone regeneration cases using Allomatrix, demonstrating its strong potential as a graft material.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2017

Gastric cancer (GC) has high mortality owing to its aggressive nature. Tumor angiogenesis plays an essential role in the growth, invasion, and metastatic spread of GC. The aim of this work was to review the angiogenic biomarkers related to the behavior of GC, documented in the literature. A search of the PubMed database was conducted with the MeSH terms: "Stomach neoplasms/blood [MeSH] or stomach neoplasms/blood supply [MeSH] and angiogenic proteins/blood [Major]". A total of 30 articles were initially collected, and 4 were subsequently excluded. Among the 26 articles collected, 16 examined the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), 4 studied endostatin, 3 investigated angiopoietin (Ang)-2, 2 studied the Ang-like protein 2 (ANGTPL2), and 1 each examined interleukin (IL)-12, IL-8, and hypoxia inducible factor. Regarding VEGF, 6 articles concluded that the protein was related to lymph node metastasis or distant metastases. Five articles concluded that VEGF levels were elevated in the presence of GC and decreased following tumor regression, suggesting that VEGF levels could be a predictor of recurrence. Four articles concluded that high VEGF levels were correlated with poor prognosis and lower survival rates. Ang-2 and ANGTPL2 were elevated in GC and associated with more aggressive disease. Endostatin was associated with intestinal GC. VEGF is the most extensively studied angiogenic factor. It is associated with the presence of neoplastic disease and lymph node metastasis. It appears to be a good biomarker for disease progression and remission, but not for diagnosis. The data regarding other biomarkers are inconclusive.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.307-314
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• 2013

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a potent pro-fibrotic factor, which is implicated in fibrosis through extracellular matrix (ECM) induction in diabetic cardiovascular complications. It is an important downstream mediator in the fibrotic action of transforming growth factor ${\beta}$ ($TGF{\beta}$) and is potentially induced by hyperglycemia in human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Therefore, the goal of this study is to identify the signaling pathways of CTGF effects on ECM accumulation and cell proliferation in VSMCs under hyperglycemia. We found that high glucose stimulated the levels of CTGF mRNA and protein and followed by VSMC proliferation and ECM components accumulation such as collagen type 1, collagen type 3 and fibronectin. By depleting endogenous CTGF we showed that CTGF is indispensable for the cell proliferation and ECM components accumulation in high glucose-stimulated VSMCs. In addition, pretreatment with the MEK1/2 specific inhibitors, PD98059 or U0126 potently inhibited the CTGF production and ECM components accumulation in high glucose-stimulated VSMCs. Furthermore, knockdown with ERK1/2 MAPK siRNA resulted in significantly down regulated of CTGF production, ECM components accumulation and cell proliferation in high glucose-stimulated VSMCs. Finally, ERK1/2 signaling regulated Egr-1 protein expression and treatment with recombinant CTGF reversed the Egr-1 expression in high glucose-induced VSMCs. It is conceivable that ERK1/2 MAPK signaling pathway plays an important role in regulating CTGF expression and suggests that blockade of CTGF through ERK1/2 MAPK signaling may be beneficial for therapeutic target of diabetic cardiovascular complication such as atherosclerosis.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.651-659
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• 2022

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different water temperatures (8, 11, 14 and 17℃) on growth, survival and hematological parameters of juvenile chum salmon(Oncorhynchus keta) for eight weeks. At the end of the experiment, at 14℃, the final body weights of the O. keta group were the highest compared to the other groups. Also, the O. keta showed a higher tendency in the 14℃ group than the 8, 11, and 17℃ groups in terms of growth performances, including specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), feed efficiency (FE), weight gain (WG), and condition factor (CF). The survival rate (SR) was 100% at 8 and 11℃ groups, 96% at 14℃ group and 98% at 17℃ group. In the plasma components, the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was significantly decreased at 17℃ group, whereas there was no significant change in the albumin (ALB), total protein (TP), sodium (Na⁺), potassium (K⁺) and chloride (Cl^-) levels. Among the whole-body composition of salmon, moisture, crude protein, and ash were not significantly affected by water temperature. However, crude lipid in the 8℃ group was significantly higher than in other water temperature groups. The results of this study demonstrated that the optimal temperature to stable growth performance for juvenile O. keta was 14℃.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.674-682
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• 2011

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of acupuncture & moxibustion therapy on the hair follicle growth of skin 5 days and 10 days by macroscopic, microscopic and immunohistochemical methods. The results were as follows : Macroscopic hair follicle growth of plum-blossom needle treated group and strong moxibustion treated group was more increase than that of control group. Microscopic hair follicle growth of plum-blossom needle treated group and strong moxibustion treated group was hair growing cycle, anagen phase VI and that of control group and weak moxibustion treated group was hair growing cycle, anagen phase IV. Immunohistochemical observations on the expression of various growth factors, enzyme and receptor in hair follicle cycle after local treatment of acupuncture & moxibustion therapy are as follows: Expression of fibroblast growth factor was more intense in epidermis in plum-blossom needle treated group, epidermis and secondary hair germ cells in strong moxibustion treated group than control group. Expression of epidermal growth factor was more intense in epidermis in all experimental groups, and secondary hair germ cells in moxibustion treated group than control group. Expression of c-kit receptor was more intense in epidermis, secondary hair germ cells, outer root sheath in all experimental groups than control group. Expression of protein kinase C-${\alpha}$ was more intense in epidermis, secondary hair germ cells, outer root sheath in all experimental groups than control group. Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor was more intense in epidermis, bulge, secondary hair germ cells, outer root sheath in plum-blossom needle treated group and strong moxibustion treated group than control group. We concluded that acupuncture & moxibustion therapy related to the expression of various growth factors, enzymes and receptor on the hair growth cycle for hair growth.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.57-65
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• 2000

Partial enteral nutrition (PEN) supplemented with insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) to neonatal piglets receiving parenteral nutrition increases lactase-phlorizin hydrolase (LPH) activity, but not LPH mRNA. The goal of the current study was to investigate the mechanism by which IGF-I up-regulates LPH activity. We hypothesized that IGF-I regulates LPH synthesis post-transcriptionally. Methods: Newborn piglets (n=15) received 100% parenteral nutrition (TPN), 80% parenteral nutrition + 20% PEN (PEN), or PEN + IGF-I (1.0mg/kg/d). On day 7, two stable isotopes of leucine, [$^2 H_3$]-leucine and [$^{13}C_1$]-L-leucine were intravenously administered to measure mucosal protein and brush LPH (BB LPH) synthesis. Results: Weight gain, nutrient intake and jejunal weight and length were similar among the treatment groups. PEN increased mucosal weight, villus width and cross-sectional area, LPH activity, mRNA expression and the abundance of proLPHh compared to 100% TPN (p<0.05). IGF-I further increased mucosal weight, LPH activity and LPH activity per unit BB LPH ~2-fold over PEN alone (p<0.05), but did not affect LPH mRNA or the abundance of proLPHh or mature LPH. Isotopic enrichment of [$^2 H_3$]-leucine and [$^{13}C_1$]-L-leucine in plasma, mucosal protein and LPH precursors, and the fractional and absolute synthesis rates of mucosal protein and LPH were similar among the treatment groups. Total mucosal protein synthesis was increased 60% (p<0.05) and LPH synthesis tended (p=0.14) to be greater in the IGF-I treated animals compared to the other two groups. Conclusions: The primary mechanism by which IGF-I up-regulates LPH may be post-translational, either via reducing LPH turnover, or by specifically altering LPH activity.