• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 2002

Background: Viral antigens presented on the cell surface in association with MHC class I molecules are recognized by CD8+ T cells. MHC restricted peptides are important in eliciting cellular immune responses. As peptide antigens have a weak immunigenicity, pH-sensitive liposomes were used for peptide delivery to induce effective cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses. In the previous study, as the HBx peptides could induce specific CTLs in vitro, we tested whether the HLA-A2/$K^b$ transgenic mice that were immunized by HBx-derived peptides could be protected from a viral challenge. Methods: HBx-peptides encapsulated by pH-sensitive liposomes were prepared. $A2K^b$ transgenic mice were immunized i.m. on days one and seven with the indicated concentrations of liposome-encapsulated peptides. Three weeks later, mice were infected with $1{\times}10^7pfu$/head of recombinant vaccinia virus (rVV)-HBx via i.p. administration. The ovaries were extracted from the mice, and the presence of rVV-HBx in the ovaries was analyzed using human TK-143B cells. IFN-${\gamma}$ secretion by these cells was directly assessed using a peptide-pulsed target cell stimulation assay with either peptide-pulsed antigen presenting cells (APCs), concanavalin A ($2{\mu}g/ml$), or a vehicle. To generate peptide-specific CTLs, splenocytes obtained from the immunized mice were stimulated with $20{\mu}g/ml$ of each peptide and restimulated with peptide-pulsed APC four times. The cytotoxic activity of the CTLs was assessed by standard $^{51}Cr$-release assay and intracellular IFN-${\gamma}$ assay. Results: Immunization of these peptides as a mixture in pH-sensitive liposomes to transgenic mice induced a good protective effect from a viral challenge by inducing the peptide-specific CD8+ T cells. Mice immunized with $50{\mu}g/head$ were much better protected against viral challenge compared to those immunized with $5{\mu}g$/head, whereas the mice immunized with empty liposomes were not protected at all. After in vitro CTL culture by peptide stimulation, however, specific cytotoxicity was much higher in the CTLs from mice immunized with $5{\mu}g/head$ than $50{\mu}g/head$ group. Increase of the number of cells that intracellular IFN-${\gamma}$ secreting cell among CD8+ T cells showed similar result. Conclusion: Mice immunized with XEPs within pH-sensitive liposome were protected against viral challenge. The protective effect depended on the amount of antigen used during immunization. XEP-3-specific CTLs could be induced by peptide stimulation in vitro from splenocytes obtained from immunized mice. The cytotoxic effect of CTLs was measured by $^{51}Cr$-release assay and the percentage of accumulated intracellular IFN-${\gamma}$ secreting cells after in vitro restimulation was measured by flow cytometric analysis. The result of $^{51}Cr$-release cytotoxicity test was well correlated with that of the flow cytometric analysis. Viral protection was effective in immunized group of $50{\mu}g/head$, while in the in vitro restimulation, it showed more spectific response in $5{\mu}g$/head group.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.165-173
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• 2007

In the previous study, we reported the antioxidative and cellular protective effects of Jeju native plant extracts. In this study, we investigated the anti-oxidative, anti-wrinkle and whitening effects of new 37 plant extracts collected from self-growing plants in Jeju island. Their anti-oxidant activities were measured by the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH) radical scavenging assay and reactive oxygen species(ROS) scavenging assay in $Fe^{3+}-EDTA/H_2O_2$ system. The cytoprotective properties of 37 plant extracts were assessed in the rose-bengal sensitized photohemolysis of human erythrocytes. The inhibitory effect of 37 plant extracts on tyrosinase were investigated to assess their whitening efficacy. Finally, their anti-elastase activities were measured to predict the anti-wrinkle efficacy in the human skin. The results showed that the extracts of Myrica rubra stem bark and Securinega suffruticosa have the free radical scavenging activity($FSC_{50}:\;5,\;8{\mu}g/mL$, respectively), and the extracts of Quercus acutissima leaf and Securinega suffruticosa stem bark have the prominent ROS scavenging activity($OSC_{50}:\;0.009{\mu}g/mL$). Photohemolysis of erythrocytes in the presence of rose-bengal as a sensitizer was inhibited by the extracts of Securinega suffruticosa stem bark and Salix koreensis stem(${\tau}_{50}$, 895 min, 640 min at 50 ${\mu}g/mL$, respectively. Myrica rubra stem bark extract(77.8% at 200 ${\mu}g/mL$) and Salix koreensis stem extract(76.2% at 200 ${\mu}g/mL$) also have the inhibitory effect on tyrosinase and elastase activities, respectively. These results indicated that the stem park of Myrica rubra, Securinega suffruticosa, and Camellia japonica, the stem of Salix koreensis, and the leaf of Quercus aqutissima and Camellia japonica could have e benefitial effects when they are added as ingredients in cosmetics.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.975-982
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• 2017

Health of human intestine has deteriorated due to excessive stress and western diet. In this study, Vigna angularis was fermented by Bacillus subtilis KCCM11965P in order to develop prebiotic resource for improving bowel movement. The contents of ash and crude protein were $3.35{\pm}0.04%$ and $21.1{\pm}0.19%$ respectively. Vigna angularis extract (1, 3, 5%) were incubated with 3% (v/v) Bacillus subtilis KCCM 11965P for 0, 24, 48, and 72 h. Total bacterial numbers showed that the combination of 3% powdered seeds and 72 h incubation time was optimum condition for this experiment. Total polyphenol content increased from $0.18{\pm}0.010mg/mL$ in pre-incubation to $0.23{\pm}0.007mg/mL$ in post-incubation with the condition mentioned above. DPPH radical scavenging activity also increased from $36.1{\pm}6.0%$ to $63.6{\pm}5.2%$. Analysis of protease activity showed $2.69{\pm}0.003unit/mL$ in combination of 5% powdered seeds and 72 h incubation time. Amylase activity increased from $1.0{\pm}0.1unit/mL$ in pre-incubation to $26.0{\pm}0.2unit/mL$ in post-incubation. The analysis of free amino acids after incubation with Bacillus subtilis KCCM 11965P showed that leucine increased from 5.22 mg/L to 67.59 mg/L and tyrosine, one of non-essential amino acid also increased 10.08 mg/L to 259.35 mg/L by incubation with 5% powdered seeds. Most of organic acid were reduced by incubation for 72 h. These results suggest that Vigna angularis could be utilized most as a prebiotic resources.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.79-85
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• 2007

Compound K (CK) is a final metabolite of panaxadiol ginsenosides. Although panax ginseng is known to have anti-diabetic activity, the active ingredient is not yet fully identified. Therefore, it would be interesting to know whether and how CK has an anti-diabetic activity. First, insulin secretion-stimulating activity of CK was examined using RIN-m5F cell line and primary cultured islets. CK enhanced the insulin secretion in a concentration dependent manner. This effect, however, was almost completely abolished in the presence of diazoxide, $K^+$ channel opener, indicating that the insulin secretion-stimulating activity of CK is presumably due to blockade of ATP sensitive $K^+$ channel. In addition, effects of CK on gene expressions of hepatic enzymes (phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase[PEPCK], glucose-6-phos-phatase[G6Pase]) and on adipocyte differentiation in H4IIE and 3T3-Ll cells, respectively, were examined. CK suppressed the induction of PEPCK and G6Pase mRNA expressions under the dexamethasone/cAMP stimulation condition. CK also reduced the $PPAR-{\gamma}$ mRNA expression and triglyceride accumulation in a dose dependent manner as compared to the control. The present study suggests that CK deserves to examine whether it shows an anti-diabetic activity in animal and human studies.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1008-1016
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• 2013

SAR measurement which was applied only to the mobile phone has been expanded in the Korean radio regulation law to the portable wireless communication equipments within 20 cm from the human body since Jan. 2012. The two-way radio operating at 150 MHz frequency band was newly included following the revised radio regulation in the target equipment of measurement. SAR measurement system at 150 MHz satisfying this regulation is necessary accordingly for SAR conformity assessment. The international SAR measurement standard(IEC 62209-2) includes the evaluation method on frequencies above 300 MHz, and the commercial SAR measurement system can measure SAR above 300 MHz only. The size of the reference dipole antenna(760 mm, return loss: -27.57 dB) and flat phantom ($1,300 mm(L){\times}900 mm(W){\times}200 mm(H)$), targeted SAR values for numerical analysis(1 g: 1.08 W/kg, 10 g: 0.77 W/kg) for SAR validation evaluation at 150 MHz frequency are proposed in this paper. The suggested dipole antenna and flat phantom are assembled and used to verify the conformity assessment of commercial SAR measurement system. The measured SAR values of 1 g and 10 g were obtained respectively to be 1.13 W/kg, 0.81 W/kg, and they satisfied the effective range(within ${\pm}10$ %) of IEC international standard. The standards based on this study are expected to be used for the domestic SAR measurement standard and IEC(International Electrotechnical Commission) international standard.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.97-109
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• 2021

Plant parasitic nematodes are causing significant damage in crop production. There is a need to develop eco-friendly nematicide that reduces the damage of nematode and has little effect on the environment and human. In this study, we have isolated a substance having nematicidal activity from Ginkgo biloba L. outer seedcoat. Studies of G. biloba L. outer seedcoat are insufficient compared to the seed and leaves due to their odor and toxicity. The dried G. biloba L. outer seedcoat was extracted with dichloromethane:methanol (1:1) and fractionated into hexane, ethyl acetate and H₂O. Four steps TLC were performed from EtOAc fraction to purely isolate GB4-3 with nematicidal activity. To compare nematicidal activity, G. biloba L. seedcoat methanol extract and purified GB4-3 were investigated in terms of treatment concentration and time. As a result, the nematicidal activity increased with concentration and time. In the place treated with 20 ㎍/mL of crude G. biloba L. seedcoat MeOH extract, strong activity appeared after 12 hours, and 46% nematicidal activity shown after 18 hours. About 69% of nematicidal activity was confirmed in the place where GB4-3 purified from outer seedcoat was treated with 20 ㎍/mL, and the possibility of development as nematicide was very high. This study could be used as a basic data for the development of a nematode preparation from G. biloba L. outer seedcoat.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.20-30
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to identify the ecological characteristics of Namhan Mountain Fortress Walls vascular plants through investigation and analysis of Namhan Mountain Fortress Walls and to provide basic data when establishing a plan for conservation and management of Namhansanseong Fortress Wall vascular plants. The result of this survey revealed 249 taxa composed of 77 families, 169 genera, 222 species, 5 subspecies, 19 varieties and 3 forms. In terms of life form of Namhan Mountain Fortress Walls, the appearance rate of Hemicryptophytes(H) was high. Rare plants was 1 taxa and Korea endemic plants was 5 taxa. The total number of floristic regional indicator plants was 15 taxa, gradeI 9 taxa, gradeII 2 taxa, gradeIII 3 taxa, gradeIV 1 taxa. Among them, Polygala tatarinowii Regel is considered to the most important(gradeIV), and it is first description because in Gyeonggi-do, as no additional forms have been confirmed other than this site. Plants identified as rock vegetation were found in 21 taxa. Invasive alien plants were identified 20 taxa. Plants distributed on the walls of Namhan Mountain Fortress, such as Aconitum longecassidatum Nakai, Clematis heracleifolia DC. var. tubulosa (Turcz.) Kuntze, Hylotelephium spectabile (Boreau) H.Ohba and Polygala tatarinowii Regel etc, are feared to decrease the number of species and individuals due to the loss of walls, the spread of invasive alien plant and human interference, so conservation and management measures are needed.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.202-210
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• 2020

Fluoxetine is used widely as an antidepressant for the treatment of cancer-related depression, but has been reported to also have anti-cancer activity. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxicity of fluoxetine to human gastric adenocarcinoma cells; as shown by the MTT assay, fluoxetine induced cell death. Subsequently, cells were treated with 10 or 20 µM fluoxetine for 24 h and analyzed. Apoptosis was confirmed by the increased number of early apoptotic cells, shown by Annexin V- propidium iodide staining. Nuclear condensation was visualized by DAPI staining. A significant increase in the expression of cleaved PARP was observed by western blotting. The pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK was used to detect the extent of caspase-dependent cell death. The induction of autophagy was determined by the formation of acidic vesicular organelles (AVOs), which was visualized by acridine orange staining, and the increased expression of autophagy markers, such as LC3B, Beclin 1, and p62/SQSTM 1, observed by western blotting. The expression of upstream proteins, such as p-Akt and p-mTOR, were decreased. Autophagic degradation was evaluated by using bafilomycin, an inhibitor of late-stage autophagy. Bafilomycin did not significantly enhance LC3B expression induced by fluoxetine, which suggested autophagic degradation was impaired. In addition, the co-administration of the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine and fluoxetine significantly increased fluoxetine-induced apoptosis, with decreased p-Akt and markedly increased death receptor 4 and 5 expression. Our results suggested that fluoxetine simultaneously induced both protective autophagy and apoptosis and that the inhibition of autophagy enhanced fluoxetine-induced apoptosis through increased death receptor expression.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.156-162
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• 2013

Moments of inertia of limb segments are essential to calculate parameters related to the segmental rotation. To analyze the human motion accurately and specifically, moments of inertia obtained from the individual are required. In this study, a simple method to determine a subject-specific moment of segmental inertia using a dynamometer is introduced. In order to evaluate the method, one male participated to test for his forearm plus hand on a commercial dynamometer. Three passive speeds, i.e. 240, 270, and $300^{\circ}/s$, were chosen to confirm whether the moment of inertia values at each speed approach to a fixed value. The same procedure was repeated on the day after to evaluate whether the method is reproducible. As the results, there were no significant differences among the speeds and between the days. The value of the moment of the forearm inertia was 0.216 $kg{\cdot}m^2$ that is apparently higher compared to values by previous models. Nonetheless, it seems to be acceptable based on our body mass index analysis using reported subject height and mass in each previous study. According to our results, the developed method could be useful to determine the segmental moment of inertia of an individual, showing no significant differences among the speeds and between the days. Thus, we believe that our results are reliable according to two appropriate evaluation procedures. This finding would be helpful to calculate segmental rotation related parameters of an individual.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2000

The purpose of this study is to establish the assessment techniques of hazardous chemicals by the development of analytical method of biological samples. In this study, we have developed an extraction method of nine pesticides used for rice paddy that resulted in high recovery from the spiked human urine by the liquid-liquid extraction with diethyl ether at pH 7.0. Calibration curve obtained from each pesticide standard using by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry/selected ion monitoring has shown good linearity and detection limits were the range of $0.4{\sim}2.0$ ng/mL in urine. As a biological monitoring, urine samples of local farmers exposed directly to nine pesticides in the field were collected and analyzed by GC/MS. Of the tested pesticides, metabolites of phenthoate assumed were identified by GC/MS analysis. No parent compound was detected.