• International Journal of Stem Cells
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.177-186
• /
• 2018

Background and Objectives: Glial scarring and inflammation after spinal cord injury (SCI) interfere with neural regeneration and functional recovery due to the inhibitory microenvironment of the injured spinal cord. Stem cell transplantation can improve functional recovery in experimental models of SCI, but many obstacles to clinical application remain due to concerns regarding the effectiveness and safety of stem cell transplantation for SCI patients. In this study, we investigated the effects of transplantation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) that were genetically modified to express Olig2 in a rat model of SCI. Methods: Bone marrow-derived hMSCs were genetically modified to express Olig2 and transplanted one week after the induction of contusive SCI in a rat model. Spinal cords were harvested 7 weeks after transplantation. Results: Transplantation of Olig2-expressing hMSCs significantly improved functional recovery in a rat model of contusive SCI model compared to the control hMSC-transplanted group. Transplantation of Olig2-expressing hMSCs also attenuated glial scar formation in spinal cord lesions. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that transplanted Olig2-expressing hMSCs were partially differentiated into Olig1-positive oligodendrocyte-like cells in spinal cords. Furthermore, NF-M-positive axons were more abundant in the Olig2-expressing hMSC-transplanted group than in the control hMSC-transplanted group. Conclusions: We suggest that Olig2-expressing hMSCs are a safe and optimal cell source for treating SCI.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.135-141
• /
• 2003

The human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (hGM-CSF) gene was introduced into tobacco plants. The cell suspension culture was established from leaf-derived calli of the transgenic tobacco plants in order to express and secrete a biologically active hGM -CSF. The recombinant hGM-CSF from the transgenic plant cell culture (prhGM-CSF) was identified as a yield of about 180 ${\mu}$g/L in the culture filtrate, as determined by ELISA. The addition of 0.5 g/L polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) to the plant cell culture medium both stabilized the secreted prhGM-CSF and increased the level of production approximately 1.5-fold to 270 ${\mu}$g/L. The biological activity of the prhGM-CSF was confirmed by measuring the proliferation of the hGM-CSF-dependent cell line, TF-1. Interestingly, the specific activity of the prhGM-CSF was estimated to be approximately 2.7 times higher than that of a commercially available preparation from E. coli.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.189-195
• /
• 2017

This study aimed to compare the cellular toxicities of three clinically used dry eye treatments; 3% diquafosol tetrasodium and hyaluronic acid at 0.3 and 0.18%. A methyl thiazolyltetrazoiun (MTT)-based calorimetric assay was used to assess cellular proliferation and a lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage assay to assess cytotoxicity, using Human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) exposed to 3% diquafosol tetrasodium, 0.3% hyaluronic acid (HA), or 0.18% HA or 1, 6 or 24 h. Cellular morphology was evaluated by inverted phase-contrast light microscopy and electron microscopy, and wound widths were measured 24 h after confluent HCECs were scratched. Diquafosol had a significant, time-dependent, inhibitory effect on HCEC proliferation and cytotoxicity. HCECs treated with diquafosol detached more from the bottoms of dishes and damaged cells showed degenerative changes, such as, reduced numbers of microvilli, vacuole formation, and chromatin of the nuclear remnant condensed along the nuclear periphery. All significantly stimulated reepithelialization of HCECs scratched, which were less observed in diquafosol. Therefore, epithelial toxicity should be considered after long-term usage of diquafosol and in overdose cases, especially in dry eye patients with pre-existing punctated epithelial erosion.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.211-217
• /
• 2001

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of functional herbal foods on the growth of intestinal lactic acid bacteria. When Bifidobacterium breve and human intestinal microflora were inoculated in the general anaerobic medium which contained each functional food water extract, most of functional herbal foods induced the growth of lactic acid bacteria by decreasing pH of the broth. The pH decreasing effects of Liriipe platyphylla and Platycodon grandiflorum were excellent. The growth of lactic acid bacteria effectively inhibited the bacterial enzymes, $\beta$-glucosidase and $\beta$ -glucuronidase. Eugenia caryophyllata and Liriipe platyphylla potently inhibited the productivity of P -glucosidase of B. breve and human intestinal bacteria. Cinnamomum cassia, Gardenia jasminoides and Platycodon grandiflorum potently inhibited the productivity of $\beta$-glucuronidase of human intestinal bacteria. The growth component isolated from Platycodon grandiflorum was sucrose (compound B).

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.34-39
• /
• 1998

We have already prepared a human lysozyme (HLY) structural gene from chemically synthesized 38 oligomers with high codon usage in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. For directing the synthesis and secretion of HLY in S. cerevisiae, two types of expression vectors, a YCp centromere-based vector, pHK101 and a YEp 2-$\mu\textrm{m}$ circle-based vector, pHK501 were constructed. With the resulting plasmids, we have confirmed that yeast transformant harboring pHK501 has more secreted HLY than pHK101-transformant by using a lysoplate and a turbidimetric assay. In flask cultivation, pHK501-transformant produced active HLY about 8 times (55 units/$m\ell$) higher than pHK101-transformant. From batch cultivation, the HLY productivity was obtained with 1.12 units/$m\ell$/h, corresponding to a 1.8-fold increase compared with flask fermentation. These results indicate that yeast transformant with pHK501 vector overexpressed and secreted HLY than that of YCp type vector.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.39-44
• /
• 2004

The present study is to determine whether the Red-ginseng extract has a proliferative or cytotoxic effect on the human neuronal stem cells(hNSCs). The hNSCs were grown and incubated with different doses of Red-ginseng extract. We tested the proliferative or cytotoxic effects by MTT and FACS analysis. Cell viability cell cycle analysis, DNA fragmentation, and bax or PARP expressions were evaluated. The hNSCs showed a proliferafe trend with its peak concentration at 0.3 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$. Beyond this point, higher doses decreased viabilities and showed a cytotoxic effect at 10 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$. There was a tendency of increased S and G2/M phases during cell proliferation. In a cytotoxic condition, decreased S phase and increased G0/G1 phases were noted, suggesting cell cycle arrest. The cytotoxic effect was associated with increase DNA fragmentation in a dose-dependent manner, However PARP cleavage or bax expression was not detected. Our results suggest that Red-ginseng extract has dual effects, the cell proliferative or cytotoxic effect, on hNSCs in vitro with dose-dependent manner.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.8
• /
• pp.3581-3586
• /
• 2014

Aim: To investigate the effects of tetramethypyrazine (TMP) on proliferation and apoptosis of the human gastric carcinoma cell line 7901 and its possible mechanism of action. Methods: The viability of TMP-treated 7901 cells was measured with a 3-(4, 5-dimethyl-thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay (MTT) and cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. The distribution of cells in different phases of cell cycle after exposure of TMPs was analyzed with flow cytometry. To investigate the molecular mechanisms of TMP-mediated apoptosis, the expression of NF-${\kappa}Bp65$, cyclinD1 and p16 in SGC-7901 cells was analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blotting. Results: TMP inhibited the proliferation of human gastric carcinoma cell line 7901 in dose and time dependent manners. Cell growth was suppressed by TMP at different concentrations (0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 mg/ml), the inhibition rate is 0.46%, 4.36%, 14.8%, 76.1% (48h) and 15.5%, 18.5%, 41.2%, 89.8% (72h) respectively. When the concentration of TMPs was 2.0mg/ml, G1-phase arrest in the SGC-7901 cells was significant based on the data for cell cycle distribution. RT-PCR demonstrated that NF-${\kappa}Bp65$ and cyclin D1 mRNA expression was significantly down-regulated in 7901 cells treated with 2.0 mg/ml TMP for 72h (p<0.05), while the p16 mRNA level was up-regulated (p<0.05). The protein expression of NF-${\kappa}Bp65$ and cyclin D1 decreased gradually with the increase in TMP concentration, compared with control cells (p<0.05), while expression of protein p16 was up-regulated (p<0.01). Conclusion: TMP exhibits significant anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects on the human gastric carcinoma cell line SGC-7901. NF-${\kappa}Bp65$, cyclinD1 and p16 may also play important roles in the regulation mechanisms.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.24 no.5
• /
• pp.605-613
• /
• 2014

We have previously shown that paraquat (PQ)-induced oxidative stress causes dramatic damage in various human cell lines. Naringenin (NG) is an active flavanone, which has been reported to have beneficial bioactivities, including antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antitumorigenic activities, with a relatively low toxicity to normal cells. In this study, we intended to assess the cytoprotective effect of NG against PQ-induced toxicity in the human bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cell line. Co-treatment with NG in PQ-treated BEAS-2B cells can reduce PQ-induced cellular toxicity. NG can also decrease the generation of intracellular ROS caused by PQ treatment. We also observed that treatment with NG in PQ-exposed BEAS-2B cells can significantly induce the expression of antioxidant-related genes, including GPX2, GPX3, GPX5, and GPX7. NG co-treatment can also activate the NRF2 transcription factor and promote its nuclear translocation. In addition, NG co-treatment can induce the expression of NRF2-downstream target genes such as that of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1). A small interfering RNA study revealed that the knockdown of NRF2 can abrogate NG-mediated protection of the cells from PQ-induced cellular toxicity. We propose that NG effectively alleviates PQ-induced cytotoxicity in human bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells through the NRF2-regulated antioxidant defense pathway, and NG might be a good therapeutic candidate molecule in oxidative stress-related diseases.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.77-89
• /
• 2000

In this study, to activate the industrialization and to improve the quality of Toha-jeot by shortening the fermentation period, we investigated the changes in the nutritional components of Toha-jeot. salt-fermented Toha shrimp( Caridina denticulata denticulata $D_{E}$ $H_{AAN}$) which was salted with a low-salt group and high-salt group during fermentation. In this experiment. there are four groups of Toha-jeot which were manufactured with 15% ratio of common salt: the first group containing 2% wheat bran (w2%-L). the second high-salt group containing 2% wheat bran( w2%-H) , the third low-salt group containing 4% wheat bran (w4%-L) and the last high-salt group containing 4% wheat bran(w4%-H). These four groups were refrigerated at 4${\pm}$1$^{\circ}C$ and then taken out for analysis at three month intervals during 9 month. Among the free amino acid contents in Toha-jeot, 22 kinds were detected. 6 month after the fermentation when the quantity of the amino acid contents in Toha-jeot is highest, ornitine, glutamic acid, leucine. alanine. lysine and valine occupy the majority, in the order of abundance. In cases of nucleotides. 6 month after the fermentation. from the groups w2%-L, w2%-H and w4%-L, inosine and IMP were not detected. and hypoxanthine, AMP, ADP were detected but 9 month after the fermentation ADP was not detected. The main constituents of fatty acid were as follows : (a) from w2%-L, w2%-H, 6 month after the fermentation. $C16:0$, $C12:0$, $C18:1$, $C18:3$, and $C16:1$. (b) from w4%-L. 6 month after the fermentation, $C18:3$, $C16:0$, $C12:0$ and $C18:1$. (c) from W4%-H, $C16:0$, $C12:0$, $C18:3$ and $C18:1$. In case of mineral contents. Na, Ca. K. Mg, Fe. Zn, Mn and Cu were detected according to the magnitude of the quantity. From the group w4%-H, high quantity of Na was detected during the total fermentation period. In case of color value, from the groups w2%. the values of L. a. b were highest after 6 month fermentation and were decreased after 9 month fermentation, while from groups w4%, the values of L, a, b were gradually decreased after 3 month fermentation.ion.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.42 no.5
• /
• pp.473-479
• /
• 1998

Lovastatin (LOVA), a fungal metabolite isolated from cultures of Aspergillus terreus, is a competitive HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor used for the treatment of primary hyper cholesterolemia, and has also been shown to suppress growth in a variety of non-glioma tumor cell lines. A sensitive reversed-phase high-perfonnance liquid chromatographic method with ultraviolet (UV) absorbance detection has been developed to quantitate LOVA in human plasma and urine samples using liquid-liquid extraction procedure. Baseline separation of LOVA and internal standard, simvastatin was achieved on a Novapak $C_{18}$ analytical column with a mobile phase containing 0.025M $NaH_2PO_4$: CAN (35:65, v/v%), adjusted pH to 4.5. The flow rate was set at 1.5ml/min, and the column effluent was monitored by a UV detection at 238nm. The limit of quantification was determined to be 0.5${\mu}$g/ml while extraction efficiency of LOVA ranged from 73.4-82.9% at LOVA concentrations of 0.5 to 10${\mu}$g/ml. Good linearity with correlation coefficients greater than 0.999 was obtained in the range of LOVA concentrations from 0.5 to 10${\mu}$g/ml. The accuracy and the precision were proven excellent with relative standard deviation (RSD, %) and relative error (RE, %) of less than 4.2 and 4.0, respectively. Intraday precision, evaluated at five LOVA concentrations (0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10${\mu}$g/ml) and expressed as RSD ranged from 0-1.82% while the interday precision at the same concentrations ranged from 0.7-10.5%. The analytical method described was then successfully employed for the determination of LOVA concentrations in plasma samples obtained during a phase II clinical trial using high doses of LOVA (30-40mg/kg/day). This method could be further utilized for the ongoing pharmacolkinetic studies and therapeutic drug monitoring of the high-dose LOVA therapy in adenocarcinoma patients.