• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.217-224
• /
• 2008

Angiogenesis plays an important role in bone development and postnatal bone fracture repair. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFRs) have been thought to be primarily involved in promoting angiogenesis. It is well known that VEGF and its receptors have been reported to play an important role in the regulation of the interaction between angiogenesis and osteogenesis during bone repair processes. Dexamethasone, a potent synthetic glucocorticoid, promotes phenotype markers of osteoblast differentiation, such as ALP and osteocalcin. It stimulates in vitro osteogenesis of human bone marrow osteogenic stromal cells. Dexamethasone has been reported to suppress VEGF gene expression in some cells. However, our previous study demonstrated VEGF quantification increased in a time-dependent manner in periosteal-derived osteogenesis under dexamethasone. So, the purpose of this study was to examine the angiogenic phenotypes in cultured human periosteal-derived cells under high-dose dexamethasone. Periosteal-derived cells were cultured using a technique previously described. After passage 3, the periosteal-derived cells were further cultured for 28 days in an osteogenic inductive culture medium containing ascorbic acid, ${\beta}$-glycerophosphate and high-dose dexamethasone, We evaluated the expression of VEGF isoforms, VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, and neuropilin-1, ALL VEGF isoforms ($VEGF_{121},\;VEGF_{165},\;VEGF_{189}$, and $VEGF_{206}$) expression was observed by RT-PCR analysis. VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2 and neuropilin-1 expression increased up to day 14, particularly during the early stage of mineralization. Our results suggest the involvement of direct VEGFs/VEGFRs system on periosteal-derived cells during early mineralization phase under high-dose of dexamethasone. These also suggest that VEGF might act as an autocrine growth molecule during osteoblastic differentiation of cultured human periosteal-derived cells.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.45 no.2
• /
• pp.325-333
• /
• 2021

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders. Enhancing hippocampal neurogenesis by promoting proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) is a promising therapeutic strategy for AD. 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD) and oleanolic acid (OA) are small, bioactive compounds found in ginseng that can promote NSC proliferation and neural differentiation in vitro. However, it is currently unknown whether PPD or OA can attenuate cognitive deficits by enhancing hippocampal neurogenesis in vivo in a transgenic APP/PS1 AD mouse model. Here, we administered PPD or OA to APP/PS1 mice and monitored the effects on cognition and hippocampal neurogenesis. Methods: We used the Morris water maze, Y maze, and open field tests to compare the cognitive capacities of treated and untreated APP/PS1 mice. We investigated hippocampal neurogenesis using Nissl staining and BrdU/NeuN double labeling. NSC proliferation was quantified by Sox2 labeling of the hippocampal dentate gyrus. We used western blotting to determine the effects of PPD and OA on Wnt/GSK3β/β-catenin pathway activation in the hippocampus. Results: Both PPD and OA significantly ameliorated the cognitive impairments observed in untreated APP/PS1 mice. Furthermore, PPD and OA significantly promoted hippocampal neurogenesis and NSC proliferation. At the mechanistic level, PPD and OA treatments resulted in Wnt/GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway activation in the hippocampus. Conclusion: PPD and OA ameliorate cognitive deficits in APP/PS1 mice by enhancing hippocampal neurogenesis, achieved by stimulating the Wnt/GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway. As such, PPD and OA are promising novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of AD and other neurodegenerative diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.299-306
• /
• 2015

Chrysanthemum zawadskii, a herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the Compositae, grows wild in Asian countries, including Japan, China, and Korea. The biological, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial activities of C. zawadskii have been reported, its antiobesity activity has not been elucidated. In the present study, the effect of C. zawadskii methanol extract (CZME) on pancreatic lipase enzyme activity, adipocyte differentiation, and adipogenesis was investigated using an in vitro assay and a cell model system. CZME effectively suppressed lipase enzyme activity in a dose-dependent manner. CZME also inhibited insulin, dexamethasone, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (MDI)-induced adipocyte differentiation, lipid accumulation, and the level of triglyceride in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner, without cytotoxicity. The antiobesity effect of CZME might be modulated by gene and protein expression of cytidine-cytidine-adenosine-adenosine-thymidine (CCAAT)/enhancer binding proteins (C/EBP) α, C/EBPβ, and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR γ). CZME also triggered lipolysis in a dose-dependent manner in MDI-induced 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Taken together, these results provide important new insights into the antiobesity activities of C. zawadskii, showing that they involve pancreatic lipase inhibition, as well as antiadipogenic and lipolysis effects. CZME might be a promising source in the field of nutraceuticals. However, the active compounds that confer the antiobesity activities of CZME need to be identified.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.38 no.11
• /
• pp.966-974
• /
• 2015

Despite the presence of toll like receptor (TLR) expression in conventional $TCR{\alpha}{\beta}$ T cells, the direct role of TLR signaling via myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) within T lymphocytes on graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) remains unknown. In the allo-SCT model of C57BL/6 ($H-2^b$) ${\rightarrow}$ B6D2F1 ($H-2^{b/d}$), recipients received transplants of wild type (WT) T-cell-depleted (TCD) bone marrow (BM) and splenic T cells from either WT or MyD88 deficient (MyD88KO) donors. Host-type ($H-2^d$) P815 mastocytoma or L1210 leukemia cells were injected either subcutaneously or intravenously to generate a GVHD/GVL model. Allogeneic recipients of MyD88KO T cells demonstrated a greater tumor growth without attenuation of GVHD severity. Moreover, GVHD-induced GVL effect, caused by increasing the conditioning intensity was also not observed in the recipients of MyD88KO T cells. In vitro, the absence of MyD88 in T cells resulted in defective cytolytic activity to tumor targets with reduced ability to produce IFN-${\gamma}$ or granzyme B, which are known to critical for the GVL effect. However, donor T cell expansion with effector and memory T-cell differentiation were more enhanced in GVHD hosts of MyD88KO T cells. Recipients of MyD88KO T cells experienced greater expansion of Foxp3- and IL4-expressing T cells with reduced INF-${\gamma}$ producing T cells in the spleen and tumor-draining lymph nodes early after transplantation. Taken together, these results highlight a differential role for MyD88 deficiency on donor T-cells, with decreased GVL effect without attenuation of the GVHD severity after experimental allo-SCT.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.45-52
• /
• 2000

Membrane type matrix metalloproteinases(MT-MMPs) have been suggested to play an important role during structural remodeling of various tissue. Expression patterns of MT1-MMP and MT2-MMP mRNAs were investigated in oocytes, embryos, ovary and oviduct of mouse during their differentiation or periovulatory period using RT-PCR technique. Both cDNA products of MT1- and MT2-MMP of immature oocytes were barely discernable with a minimum amount but the expressions were distinct in mature oocytes regardless that they were matured in vivo or in vitro. MT2-MMP was not expressed by 2-cell embryos but was expressed by 4-cell stage embryos. From the morula stage untill hatched blastocyst stage, embyos showed intesnse expression of MT2-MMP with a sudden increase at blastocyst stage. While mouse ovarian tissues showed both expression of MT1- and MT2-MMP, there was no stage-specific difference throughout the estrous cycle. Mouse oviducts also exhibit constant amount of both MT1- and MT2-MMP expressions throughout periovulatory period, i.e., before or after ovulation. These observations lead to suggest that the differential expressions of maternal MT1- and MT2-MMP during meiotic resumption of mouse oocytes and embryonic expression of MT2-MMP particularly at blastocyst stage might play a role in the differentiation of mouse oocytes and／or embryos. The precise function of MT1- and MT2-MMP with regards to their participation in the remodeling of ovarian and oviductal tissues remains in a question.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• /
• v.40 no.1
• /
• pp.3-10
• /
• 2014

Objectives: Although nerve growth factor (NGF) could promote the functional regeneration of an injured peripheral nerve, it is very difficult for NGF to sustain the therapeutic dose in the defect due to its short half-life. In this study, we loaded the NGF-bound heparin-conjugated fibrin (HCF) gel in the NGF-delivering implants and analyzed the time-dependent release of NGF and its bioactivity to evaluate the clinical effectiveness. Materials and Methods: NGF solution was made of 1.0 mg of NGF and 1.0 mL of phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Experimental group A consisted of three implants, in which $0.25{\mu}L$ of NGF solution, $0.75{\mu}L$ of HCF, $1.0{\mu}L$ of fibrinogen and $2.0{\mu}L$ of thrombin was injected via apex hole with micropipette and gelated, were put into the centrifuge tube. Three implants of experimental group B were prepared with the mixture of $0.5{\mu}L$ of NGF solution, $0.5{\mu}L$ HCF, $1.0{\mu}L$ of fibrinogen and $2.0{\mu}L$ of thrombin. These six centrifuge tubes were filled with 1.0 mL of PBS and stirred in the water-filled beaker at 50 rpm. At 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, and 14 days, 1.0 mL of solution in each tubes was collected and preserved at $-20^{\circ}C$ with adding same amount of fresh PBS. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was done to determine in vitro release profile of NGF and its bioactivity was evaluated with neural differentiation of pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells. Results: The average concentration of released NGF in the group A and B increased for the first 5 days and then gradually decreased. Almost all of NGF was released during 10 days. Released NGF from two groups could promote neural differentiation and neurite outgrowth of PC12 cells and these bioactivity was maintained over 14 days. Conclusion: Controlled release system using NGF-HCF gel via NGF-delivering implant could be an another vehicle of delivering NGF to promote the nerve regeneration of dental implant related nerve damage.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.30 no.9
• /
• pp.1343-1354
• /
• 2020

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a skin disorder that causes chronic itch. We investigated the inhibitory effects of a mixture of prebiotic short-chain galacto-oligosaccharides and long-chain fructooligosaccharides (scGOS/lcFOS), inulin, or β-glucan on AD development in 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB)-treated NC/Nga mice. Mice were randomly assigned to six groups: untreated mice, AD control, positive control (DNCB-treated NC/Nga mice fed a dietary supplement of Zyrtec), and DNCB-treated NC/Nga mice fed a dietary supplement of prebiotics such as scGOS/lcFOS (T1), inulin (T2), or β-glucan (T3). The prebiotic treatment groups (T1, T2, and T3) showed suppression of AD symptoms, Th2 cell differentiation, and AD-like skin lesions induced by DNCB. In addition, prebiotic treatment also reduced the number of microorganisms such as Firmicutes, which is associated with AD symptoms, and increased the levels of Bacteroidetes and Ruminococcaceae, which are associated with alleviation of AD symptoms. Our findings demonstrate the inhibitory effects of prebiotics on AD development by improving the Th1/Th2 cytokine balance and beneficial symbiotic microorganisms in in vitro and in vivo models.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.43 no.11
• /
• pp.1688-1694
• /
• 2014

Jeju Hallabong Tangor (Citrus kiyomi${\times}$ponkan) is a Citrus species with a variety of physiological properties such as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammation, anti-cancer, and anti-obesity. We investigated the anti-obesity effects of Hallabong Tangor peel extracts before (HLB) and after (HLB-C) bioconversion with cytolase based on modulation of adipocyte differentiation and lipid metabolism in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Treatment with cytolase decreased flavanone rutinoside forms (narirutin and hesperidin) and increased flavanone aglycone forms (naringenin and hesperetin). During adipocyte differentiation, 3T3-L1 cells were treated with 0.5 mg/mL of Sinetrol (a positive control), HLB or HLB-C. Adipocyte differentiation was inhibited in both citrus groups, but not in control and Sinetriol groups. HLB and HLB-C tended to reduce insulin-induced mRNA levels of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$) and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP1c). Compared to the control and Sinetrol groups, HLB and HLB-C markedly suppressed insulin-induced protein expression of $C/EBP{\alpha}$ and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ($PPAR{\gamma}$). The HLB and Sinetrol groups, but not HLB-C group, significantly increased adipolytic activity with higher release of free glycerol compared to the control group in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. These results suggest that bio-conversion of Hallabong Tangor peel extracts with cytolase increases aglycone flavonoids. Irrespective of bioconversion, both Hallabong Tangor peel extracts exert anti-obesity effects that may contribute to prevention of obesity through inhibition of adipocyte differentiation or induction of adipolytic activity.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.227-236
• /
• 2020

Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (P. ginseng) is known to exert a wide range of pharmacological effects both in vitro and in vivo. Although studies on ginsenoside, antioxidant activity, and anticancer effect of the cultivated wild Panax ginseng (CWP) have been conducted, there is little research on the effect of CWP extract on bone metabolism. In this study, we investigated the potential anti-osteoporotic properties of CWP on the growth and differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells. CWP significantly increased the viability and proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells. CWP activated intracellular alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in MC3T3-E1 cells. In addition, CWP increased the mineralized nodules in MC3T3-E1 cells. Furthermore, CWP increased the expression of genes such as Runx2, ALP, OPN and OCN associated with osteoblast growth and differentiation in a dose-dependent manner.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
• /
• v.1 no.2
• /
• pp.137-157
• /
• 1993

This study was carried out to investigate the optimal condition for multiple propagation through leaf tissue culture and to apply anther culture techniques to Pulsatilla koreana Nakai breeding. Leaf and anther of Pulsatilla koreana Nakai were cultured on MS, MT, LS and $B_5$ media supplemented with several growth regulators and nitrogen sources under various conditions. For callus induction and differentiation from the Pulsatilla koreana leaf segments were more effective in the combination of zeatin and auxin than auxin alone. The color of the callus was green when treated with IBA alone. Shoot differentiation was more effective when treated with zeatin than auxin alone, especially the best hormoal combination for shoot differentiation was zeatin 1.0mg/l +NAA 0.1mg/l, while 2,4-D inhibited shoot differentiation. The appeared rate of S pollen was 35% in vivo, while that of S pollen by low temperature$(4^{\circ}C)$ pretreatment for 4 days was increased by 53% and the optimum culture time for callus induction from anther was uni-nucleate stage. $B_5$ basal medium supplemented with NAA 0.5mg/l and zeatin 1 mg/l was the most effective on callus formation and the best results of plant regeneration were obtained from combination of NAA 0.5mg/l and zeatin 0.5mg/l in anther culture. $NH_{4}NO_3$ as more effectives as the nitrogen source than $KNO_3$ and the combination with zeatin 2.0mg /L was the best effective. The best combination for plant regeneration in callus induced from anther was $NH_{4}NO_3$ 1650mg/l + $KNO_3$ 3800mg/l + zeatin 2.0mg/l. Ploidy level of anther-derived plants appeared 28% haploid, 47% diploid and the others were triploid, tetraploid and mixploid. In compare with E.S.T, M.D.H and P.X banding patterns were distinguished among callus, haploid and diploid plants in electrophoresis.