• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.11-16
• /
• 2015

Our body's immune system has defense mechanisms against pathogens such as viruses and bacteria. Immune responses are primarily initiated by the activation of toll-like receptors (TLRs). In particular, TLR4 is well-characterized and is known to be activated by gram-negative bacteria and tissue damage signals. TLR4 requires myeloid differentiation factor 2 (MD2) as a co-receptor to recognize its ligand, lipopolysaccharides (LPS), which is an extracellular membrane component of gram-negative bacteria. Gambogic acid is a xanthonoid isolated from brownish or orange resin extracted from Garcinia hanburyi. Its primary effect is tumor suppression. Since inflammatory responses are related to the development of cancer, we hypothesized that gambogic acid may regulate TLR4 activation. Our results demonstrated that gambogic acid decreased the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines ($TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6, IL-12, and $IL-1{\beta}$) in both mRNA and protein levels in bone marrow-derived primary macrophages after stimulation with LPS. Gambogic acid did not inhibit the activation of Interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) induced by TBK1 overexpression in a luciferase reporter gene assay using IFN-${\beta}$-PRD III-I-luc. An in vitro kinase assay using recombinant TBK1 revealed that gambogic acid did not directly inhibit TBK1 kinase activity, and instead suppressed the binding of LPS to MD2, as determined by an in vitro binding assay and confocal microscopy analysis. Together, our results demonstrate that gambogic acid disrupts LPS interaction with the TLR4/MD2 complex, the novel mechanism by which it suppresses TLR4 activation.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
• /
• v.43 no.6
• /
• pp.29-33
• /
• 2009

The purpose of this study was carried out to investigate the effects of plant growth regulators on in vitro propagation of Liliem cernum Komarov. Small bulblets were poliferated from callus explants after 2 weeks and leaf, root and bulb were formed after 4 weeks culture. Leaf differentiation was promoted vigorously by the combination of TDZ 0.1 mg/L and NAA 0.01 mg/L(87.5%). The rate of root differentiation was the greatest at BA 0.2 mg/L alone(81.8%). The rate of callus formation was the high in medium containing TDZ. The number of bulblets and leaves formed in bulb scales was the greatest at TDZ 0.1 mg/L(5.7). Also, the longest length of total length, leaf and root length were in Zeatin 1.0 mg/L + NAA 0.1 mg/L(10.5 cm). However the longest bulblet was in TDZ 0.1 mg/L(1.4 cm).

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.339-347
• /
• 2011

Human eyelid adipose-derived stem cells (hEAs) and amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (hAMs) are very valuable sources for the cell therapeutics. Both types of cells have a great proliferating ability in vitro and a multipotency to differentiate into adipocytes, osteoblasts and chondrocytes. In the present study, we evaluated their stem cell characteristics after long-time cryopreservation for 6, 12 and 24 months. When frozen-thawed cells were cultivated in vitro, their cumulative cell number and doubling time were similar to freshly prepared cells. Also they expressed stem cell-related genes of SCF, NANOG, OCT4, and TERT, ectoderm-related genes of NCAM and FGF5, mesoderm/endoderm-related genes of CK18 and VIM, and immune-related genes of HLA-ABC and ${\beta}$2M. Following differentiation culture in appropriate culture media for 2-3 weeks, both types of cells exhibited well differentiation into adipocyte, osteoblast, and chondrocyte, as revealed by adipogenic, osteogenic or chondrogenic-specific staining and related genes, respectively. In conclusion, even after long-term storage hEAs and hAMs could maintain their stem cell characteristics, suggesting that they might be suitable for clinical application based on stem cell therapy.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.49-56
• /
• 2007

One of the goals of stem cell technology is to control the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), thereby generating large numbers of specific cell types for many applications including cell replacement therapy. Although individual hESC lines resemble each other in expressing pluripotency markers and telomerase activity, it is not clear whether they are equivalent in their developmental potential in vitro. We compared the developmental competence of three hESC lines (HSF6, Miz-hES4, and Miz-hES6). All three generated the three embryonic germ layers, extraembryonic tissues, and primordial germ cells during embryoid body (EB) formation. However, HSF6 and Miz-hES6 readily formed neuroectoderm, whereas Miz-hES4 differentiated preferentially into mesoderm and endoderm. Upon terminal differentiation, HSF6 and Miz-hES6 produced mainly neuronal cells whereas Miz-hES4 mainly formed mesendodermal derivatives, including endothelial cells, leukocyte progenitors, hepatocytes, and pancreatic cells. Our observations suggest that independently-derived hESCs may differ in their developmental potential.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.73-84
• /
• 1984

In order to investigate the effect of neurotransmitter on myoblast differentiation in vitro, the effects of dopamine and epinephrine on myoblast fusion and on the intracellular cAMP level in cultured myoblasts were examined. Dopamine $(3\\times10^{-5}M)$ and epinephrine $(3\\times10^{-5}M)$, when added at 34 hr after cell plating, markedly inhibited myoblast fusion, and dopamine was more potent than epinephrine. Both dopamine and epinephrine had no effect on intracellular cAMP level. At the same time, exogeneous dbcAMP, $PGE_1$, and aspirin were used to examine whether cAMP is involved in myoblast differentiation. dbcAMP $(1\\times10^{-4}M)$ inhibited myoblast fusion, whereas $PGE_1 (3\\times10^{-6}M)$ had no inhibitory effect, rather enhancing myoblast fusion. Aspirin, an inhibitor of PG synthetase, was shown to inhibit myoblast fusion. Possible mechanism by which dopamine or epinephrine at a specific concentration used inhibits myoblast fusion is discussed.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.21 no.8
• /
• pp.1199-1203
• /
• 2011

The present study evaluated the beneficial effects of polycalcium (a mixture of Polycan and calcium lactate-gluconate 1:9 [g/g]) on osteoporosis using in vitro assays. Cell proliferation and alkaline phosphatase activities of osteoblasts (human primary osteoblasts) and osteoclast differentiation of RAW264.7 cells (murine osteoclast progenitor cells) treated with different concentrations of polycalcium for various periods were assessed. Osteoblast proliferation was stimulated and prevented RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation of RAW264.7 cells. These results support the development of ideal anti-osteoporotic agents, such as polycalcium, that exhibit properties that accelerate bone formation and inhibit bone resorption.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.327-333
• /
• 2006

Future cell-based therapies such as tissue engineering will benefit from a source of autogenous pluripotent stem cells. There are embryonic stem cells (ESC) and autologous adult stem cells, two general types of stem cells potentilally useful for these applications. But practical use of ESC is limited due to potential problems of cell regulation and ethical considerations. To get bone marrow stem cells is relatively burden to patients because of pain, anesthesia requirement. The ideal stem cells are required of such as the following advantages: easy to obtain, minimal patient discomfort and a capability of yielding enough cell numbers. Adipose autologus tissue taken from intraoral fatty pad or abdomen may represent such a source. Our study designed to demonstrate the ability of human adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (hATSC) from human abdominal adipose tissue diffentiating into osteocyte and adipocyte under culture in vitro conditions. As a result of experiment, we identified stromal cell derived adipose tissue has the multilineage potentiality under appropriate culture conditions. And the adipose stromal cells expressed several mesenchymal stem cell related antigen (CD29, CD44) reactions. Secondary, we compared the culture results of a group of hATSC stimulated with TGF-${\beta}$1, bFGF with a hATSC group without growth factors to confirm whether cytokines have a important role of the proliferation in osteogenic differentiation. The role of cytokines such as TGF-${\beta}$1, bFGF increased hATSC's osteogenic differentiation especially when TGF-${\beta}$1 and bFGF were used together. These results suggest that adipose stromal cells with growth factors could be efficiently available for cell-based bone regeneration.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.419-425
• /
• 2006

Phospholipase $C-{\gamma}1\;(PLC-{\gamma}1)$ is an important signaling molecule for cell proliferation and differentiation. $PLC-{\gamma}1$ contains two pleckstrin homology (PH) domains, which are responsible for protein-protein interaction and protein-lipid interaction. $PLC-{\gamma}1$ also has two Src homology (SH)2 domains and a SH3 domain, which are responsible for protein- protein interaction. To identity proteins that specifically binds to PH domain of $PLC-{\gamma}1$, we prepared and incubated the glutathione S-transferase(GST)-fused PH domains of $PLC-{\gamma}1$ with COS7 cell lysate. We found that 90 kDa protein specifically binds to PH domain of $PLC-{\gamma}1$. By matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight-mass spectrometry, the 90 kDa protein revealed to be heat shock protein (Hsp) $90{\beta}$. Hsp $90{\beta}$ is a molecular chaperone that stabilizes and facilitates the folding of proteins that are involved in cell signaling, including receptors for steroids hormones and a variety of protein kinases. To know whether Hsp $90{\beta}$ affects on $PLC-{\gamma}1$ activity, we performed $PIP_2$ hydrolyzing activity of $PLC-{\gamma}1$ in the presence of purified Hsp $90{\beta}$ in vitro. Our results show that the Hsp $90{\beta}$ dose-dependently inhibits the enzymatic activity of $PLC-{\gamma}1$ and further suggest that Hsp $90{\beta}$ regulates cell growth and differentiation via regulation of $PLC-{\gamma}1$ activity.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.32 no.1 s.55
• /
• pp.17-22
• /
• 2006

Phosphatidyiserine (PS) is a phospholipid which plays the structural role in membranes and serves as a cofactor of signaling enzymes for diverse cellular functions. In this study, we observed that topical treatment with PS significantly decreased trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) induced by tape-stripping in hairless mice. Also, ceramides in epidermis were increased in PS-treated group compared to vehicle-treated one in vivo. the amounts of non-hydroxyl ceramide (NHCER) (1.4 fold) and glucosylceramide (glucosylCER) (1.6 fold), in the skin of hairless mice, were increased by topical treament with PS. Also, we demonstrated that PS stimulated keratinocyte differentiation. We observed that PS treatment morphologically altered normal human keratinocyte (NHK) from the proliferating phase to the differentiating one, suggesting that PS stimulated epidermal differentiation in NHK. We also showed that the expressions of the specific markers for epidermal differentiation, involucrin (INV) (3.5 fold up) and transglutaminase 1 (TG'ase 1) (3 fold up), were significantly increased by PS treatment, compared to untreated control in vitro. In addition, topical treatment with PS resulted in a progressive increase in INV and loricrin protein levels in vivo. In conclusion, we provide the first evidence for the physiological activities of PS in skin, and we suggest that PS strengthen the epidermal permeability harrier by stimulation of keratinocyte differentiation.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.37 no.7
• /
• pp.533-539
• /
• 2004

It has been reported that CLA decreases fat deposition in vivo and in vitro experiments. Among CLA isomers, c9t11 and t10c12 have been shown to exert active biological activities. For example, t10c12 reduces body weight and increases lean body mass, whereas, c9t11 has little effect on body fattness. However, the underlying molecular mechanism for the anti-obesity action of CLA isomers are not well understood. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of t10c12 and c9t11 on lipid accumulation, cell proliferation, cell death and the expression levels of Ucp genes which are proposed as targets for anti-obesity in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Isomers of CLA at 50$\mu$M were added into preadipocyte differentiation medium for 3, 6 and 9days. Control cells received only the vehicle in the differentiation medium. Cytochemical analyses for lipid accumulation, cell proliferation and apotosis were carried out to compare lipidogenesis and cellular activity. RT-PCR analysis of GAPDH, Ucp 2,3 and 4 were also performed to find any modulatory effects of CLA isomers on the metabolic genes. Lipid accumulation indicated by Oil Red-O staining was inhibited in CLA isomers as compared to the control. T10c12 isomer showed less lipidogenesis than c9t11 did. A decrease occurred in CLA isomers as shown by BrdU incorporation. Apotosis has occured at higher level in t10c12 when compared to that of t9c11. Ucp 2, 3 and 4 genes were also upregulated in CLA isomers. T10c12 showed higher level of Ucp gene expressions than the c9t11 did. The biological activities of CLA isomers were also found to be different during differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, suggesting that different isomers may be active in certain stage of lipidogenesis. The results indicate that both c9t11 and t10c12 CLA isomers decrease lipidogenesis, inhibit cell proliferation, increase cell death and upregulate in Ucp gene expressions during 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation. T10c12 isomer was more effective than c9t11 in overall anti-obesity activity.