• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.85-89
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• 2007

Efficient gene delivery to specific tissues, such as inflammatory and cancerous tissues, is currently a major concern in disease treatment. The human transferrin receptor (hTR) has been detected in the synovium and fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS), which raises the possibility that expression of hTR is associated with the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To investigate whether the hTR is a useful target for gene transduction into the FLS of RA patients, recombinant adenoviruses with wildtype fiber (AdLac) and transferrin peptide-tagged fiber (Tf-AdLac) were used. The hTR expression level in FLS was notably increased by basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Gene transduction to FLS was significantly higher by the hTR-targeted adenovirus than by the AdLac adenovirus, and treatment of the FLS with bFGF resulted in increased gene transduction by Tf-AdLac. Taken together, these data support Tf-AdLac as a new strategy for gene transduction in the treatment of RA patients.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.1307-1314
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• 2015

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a member of the IL-6 cytokine family, having pleiotropic actions such as maintaining stem cell pluripotency and enabling blastocyst implantation. Because the action of LIF is mediated by a ligand-receptor interaction with the LIF receptor (LIF-R), an antagonist for LIF-R has been developed to inhibit LIF-induced signaling. In this study, we present a novel method for the production and purification of an antagonist to human LIF-R (hLA). His-tagged hLA was expressed in E. coli, and simple purification methods without any endopeptidase cleavage were designed. In addition, we determined the optimal temperature conditions for enhancing the production of soluble hLA. Finally, the bioactivity of His-tagged hLA was examined using STAT3 phosphorylation and receptivity of human endometrial ECC-1 cells. Our strategy provides a rapid and efficient method to produce biologically active recombinant hLA.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.111-119
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• 1996

The production of interleukin-1(IL-1)and nitric oxide(NO) by cultured fibroblast cells of human nasal turbinate was revealed by biological assay respectively. The cells were incubated for various periods of time in the presence of staphyloccocal toxic shock syndrome toxin-1(TSST-1) and house dust mite(Dermatophagoides farinae, HDM), and the culture supernatants were harvested. There was a little difference in the activities of IL-1beta and the amount of NO produced by the cells when stimulated with 0.002-0.1$\mu$g/ml of TSSTO-1 and 0.02-1$\mu$g/ml of HDM. The shapes of the time course curves for the production of IL-1beta and NO by the cells were different. Groups stimulated with TSST-1 or HDM produced more IL-beta in 2 h than no exposure group(Control). A certain mixed group(TSST-1, 10ng+mite, 100 ng) continued to produce IL-1beta highly throughout the entire incubation period. The cells stimulated with TSST-1 or HDM produced more NO in 2 h and 6 h than that produced in the end of incubation(48 h). Also, the mixed groups were generally similar. There results suggest that induction of IL-1beta by a certain mixed condition(TSST-1+mite) in fibroblast cell in vivo may play a role in inflammation.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.403-415
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• 1974

The author has investigated epidemiological features of human cases of epidemic encephalitis (E. E.) in the Republic of Korea and the status of antibody requisition in pre-and post-epidemic time. And virological and serological studies with regarding the relationship of E. E. infection between human and piglet, and field survey against its vector by means of virus isolation from mosquitoes were carried out. Finally, vaccine field trial against human population has also been evaluated in order to confirm its effectiveness. The results of the studies are summarized as follows : 1. The annual incidence of reported cases during the past 25 years (1949-1973) in the Republic of Korea has shown two patterns, one was typical cyclic incidence and the other one was irregular. Annual average morbidity and mortality rate per 100,000 population were 5.7 and 2.1 and fatality rate was 34.6% in typical cyclic years. 2. With regard to the geographical distribution of E. E., the province of Jeolla-Bug-Do illustrated the highest incidence regardless of the epidemic size. 3. The main epidemic period was between mid-August and mid-September (above 90% of the total number of cases). The first case was reported in middle of July and the epidemic ceased in late of October. 4. An analysis of the age distribution of cases of E. E., has shown that above 90% of the total cases occurred in the age groups under 14 years and it was noted that about its 54% were occurred in the age groups between 5-9 years group. 5. Through the Haemagglutination Inhibition (H-I) test for the laboratory diagnosis of E. E., it was found that higher H-I antibody titer was usually detected in the convalescent phase, 15 days after onset. 6. The H-I antibody survey against 563 healthy population by age groups during the pre-epidemic season showed that 422(75%) were less than H-I titer, 1:20 and 122(21.7%) were positive H-I titer, 1:20. Among the 94 American in Seoul who had not been in E. E. endemic area previously only one person had appeared sero-conversion as a H-I titer of 1:80 after post-epidemic season. 7. The E. E. virus could be isolated from the mosquitos pools-C, tritaeniorhyncus which were caught between late July and middle August. 8. E.E. Virus was also isolated from piglet blood on early August and H-I antibody conversion was occurred mostly on middle of August. 9. H-I antibody sero-conversion rate reached to high level when vaccine purified by mouse brain tissue inoculated, showing 98.9%. Higher antibody titer was acquired when booster inoculation was performed, Four fold rise of H-I add N-T antibodies was confirmed with 93.2% and 82.1% respectively.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.143-144
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• 2001

Eukaryotic nuclear transcription factor, NF-B and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has been implicated in pathogenesis of many human diseases including tumor and are known to be activated by various external stimuli. Recently, increasing evidences have supported that L-ascorbic acid (LAA) is selectively toxic to some types of tumors at pharmacological concentrations as a prooxidant, rather than antioxidant.(omitted)

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.631-636
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• 2008

Acanthopanax divaricatus var. albeofructus (ADA) have been shown to have various levels of activity such as antioxidant, anticancer, antivirus, and immunostimulatory effects. However, little is known about its mechanism related to the modulation of immune activities. In this study, a water extract of ADA leaves were used to treat human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMC) to determine the underlying mechanisms for the immunostimulatory effects. To characterize its immunomodulatory activity, the secretion level of various cytokines including IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IFN-$\gamma$, and TNF-$\alpha$ were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Treatment of hPBMC with ADA leaf extract in an in vitro experiment induced various Th1 cytokines in a dose-dependent manner. A significant increase of IL-2, IL-12, IFN-$\gamma$, and TNF-$\alpha$ secretion was observed in the presence of ADA leaf extract. In contrast, Th2 cytokines including IL-4 and IL-6 were suppressed. There was no significant change in IL-10 release. Our results showed an increase in Th1 and a decrease in Th2 cytokine secretion which suggests that ADA may influence the immune response towards a predominance of Th1 cytokines in the immune system.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.168-176
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of the current study was to examine the effect of dexamethasone (Dex) at various concentrations on the apoptosis and mineralization of human periodontal ligament (hPDL) cells. Methods: hPDL cells were obtained from the mid-third of premolars extracted for orthodontic reasons, and a primary culture of hPDL cells was prepared using an explant technique. Groups of cells were divided according to the concentration of Dex (0, 1, 10, 100, and 1,000 nM). A 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay was performed for evaluation of cellular viability, and alkaline phosphatase activity was examined for osteogenic differentiation of hPDL cells. Alizarin Red S staining was performed for observation of mineralization, and real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed for the evaluation of related genes. Results: Increasing the Dex concentration was found to reduce cellular viability, with an increase in alkaline phosphatase activity and mineralization. Within the range of Dex concentrations tested in this study, 100 nM of Dex was found to promote the most vigorous differentiation and mineralization of hPDL cells. Dex-induced osteogenic differentiation and mineralization was accompanied by an increase in the level of osteogenic and apoptosis-related genes and a reduction in the level of antiapoptotic genes. The decrease in hPDL cellular viability by glucocorticoid may be explained in part by the increased prevalence of cell apoptosis, as demonstrated by BAX expression and decreased expression of the antiapoptotic gene, Bcl-2. Conclusions: An increase in hPDL cell differentiation rather than cellular viability at an early stage is likely to be a key factor in glucocorticoid induced mineralization. In addition, apoptosis might play an important role in Dex-induced tissue regeneration; however, further study is needed for investigation of the precise mechanism.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.96-102
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• 2008

Piceatannol is a polyphenol that is found in abundant quantities in grapes and wine. Although recent experimental data revealed the anti-cancer potency of piceatannol, the molecular mechanisms underlying the antileukemic activity have not yet been studied in detail. In the present study, we investigated further possible mechanisms by which piceatannol exerts its anti-proliferative action in cultured human leukemia U937 cells. Exposure of U937 cells to piceatannol resulted in growth inhibition and induction of apoptosis as measured by MTT assay and flow cytometry analysis, which was associated with S phase arrest of the cell cycle. Piceatannol treatment markedly inhibited the activity of telomerase, and the levels of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and telomerase-associated protein-1 (TEP-1), main determinants of the telomerase enzymatic activity, were progressively down-regulated by piceatannol treatment in a dose-dependent fashion. However, the levels of cyclooxygenases (COXs) expression and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) release were not changed in piceatannol-treated U937 cells. Taken together, these findings provide important new insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer activity of piceatannol.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.1-14
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of Sa-Am spleen-tonifying acupuncture on radial pulse in healthy human subjects. Methods : Forty healthy human subjects participated in this study, divided into acupuncture group and control group. Radial pulse was measured by 3 dimensional pulse imaging system(DMP-3000) before, right after, 30 minutes after and 60 minutes after acupuncture in the acupuncture group. The subjects in the control group didn't received acupuncture but took a rest and then the radial pulse was measured at the same time points as the acupuncture group. The parameters were analyzed by gender, measuring location, and measuring time point. However the time related parameters exceptionally were analyzed without distinction of measuring location. Results : 1. T, variance of period, T2/T, T4/T, (T-T4)/T, T4/(T-T4), and W significantly changed after acupuncture. 2. Pressure, amplitude of H1, amplitude of H2, Amplitude of H4 and pulse energy significantly changed after acupuncture. 3. Pulse area, systolic pulse area and diastolic pulse area significantly changed after acupuncture. 4. Elasticity, AIx and AIx/HR significantly changed after acupuncture. Conclusions : The effect of Sa-Am spleen-tonifying acupuncture in healthy human may be observed on time, amplitude, pulse area and augmentation index. Further studies on the effects of Sa-Am acupuncture using radial pulse are needed.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.391-396
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• 1990

4.0$\times$10-3 (IU/cells/day) of maximum specific scu-PA production, which was higher than those by a 75$\textrm{cm}^2$ T-flask and conventional perfusion systems, was maintained by tube-type bioreactor at 0.35 (1/h) of perfusion rate corresponding to 0.15 (dynes/$\textrm{cm}^2$) of shear stress. The production of scu-PA is also increased as shear stress was slowly increased, which is similar to natural human blood circulation. The tube reactor proves that there may be no limitation of oxygen supply by showing 1.0 (1/h) of oxygen transfer coefficient at steady state and this system yields much lower shear stress of 0.3(dynes/$\textrm{cm}^2$) than that of 5-8(dynes/$\textrm{cm}^2$) by conventional agitation systems.