• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• 제13권1호
• /
• pp.49-54
• /
• 2009

The mushroom Cordyceps militaris has been used for a long time in eastern Asia as a nutraceutical and in traditional Chinese medicine as a treatment for cancer patients. In the present study, a cytotoxic antifungal protease was purified from the dried fruiting bodies of C. militaris using anion-exchange chromatography on a DEAE-Sepharose column. Electrophoretic analyses indicated that this protein, designated C. militaris protein(CMP), has a molecular mass of 12 kDa and a pI of 5.1. The optimum conditions for protease activity were a temperature of $37^{\circ}C$ and pH of $7.0{\sim}9.0$. The enzyme activity was specifically inhibited by the serine protease inhibitor phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride. Amino acid composition of intact CMP and amino acid sequences of three major peptides from a tryptic digest of CMP were determined. CMP exerted strong antifungal effect against the growth of the fungus Fusarium oxysporum, and exhibited cytotoxicity against human breast and bladder cancer cells. These results indicate that C. militaris represents a source of a novel protein that might be applied in diverse biological and medicinal applications.

• 약학회지
• /
• 제48권6호
• /
• pp.369-373
• /
• 2004

We previously reported that Streptococcus pneumoniae capsule attached to the surface protein (JY-Pol) was protective to systemic pneumococcal infection. The JY -Pol antigen induced IgM, IgG, and IgA in mice and provoked cell-mediated immunity. In this current study, we investigated the effect of anti JY-Pol antiserun and monoclonal antibody C2 (Mab C2) specific for the JY-Pol antigen against the pneumococcal disease. Mice that were given the antiserum survived longer than mice that received antiserum pre-absorbed with S.pneumoniae cells or DPBS as a negative control. Heat-treated anti JY-Pol antiserum resulted in survival rates similar to intact fresh JY-Pol antiserum. Mab C2 isolated from JY-Pol-immunized mice also enhanced resistance of naive mice against the pneumococcal diseaser. This protection by Mab C2 appeared to be mediated by opsonization as determined in a RAW 264.7 monocyte/macrophage cell line. Epitope analysis showed that Mab C2 epitope consisted of glucuronic acid and glucose that blocked the interaction of JY-Pol to the C2. Taken together, these data indicate that the antiserum induced by the JY-Pol, a naturally pneumococcal conjugate formula, mediated the protection by passive transfer, which was confirmed by protective effect of Mab C2.

• 한국임상수의학회지
• /
• 제35권5호
• /
• pp.240-242
• /
• 2018

A 1-year-old, female Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) presented signs of weight loss and dark browncolored diarrhea. On fecal examination, numerous intact and broken red blood cells were found, but both parasites and inflammatory signs were absent. No significant findings were seen in serum biochemistry profiles, including electrolytes, with negative feline pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (fPLI). Diagnostic kits using feces or peripheral blood were negative for feline parvovirus, feline coronavirus, feline immunodeficiency virus, and feline leukemia virus. Based on the result of feline trypsin-like immunoreactivity (fTLI) concentration ($4.6{\mu}g/L$), the tiger was provisionally diagnosed to have exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). After this diagnosis, pancreatic enzymes were prescribed. The feces of the tiger returned to normal form and her weight was increasing. EPI is uncommon and not described extensively in Felidae, including domestic cats. Feline EPI is associated with a variety of non-specific signs and it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cases presenting with weight loss, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal signs. In this case, the patient was strongly suspected to have EPI based on the very low fTLI concentration, though the concentration of fTLI in tigers has not yet been determined. This is the first report to present a suspected EPI case in Bengal tigers.

• 치과방사선
• /
• 제27권1호
• /
• pp.243-249
• /
• 1997

Adenoid cystic carcinoma is a malignant salivary gland tumor with typical histologic patterns. The majority of these tumors occurs in the minor salivary glands. especially mucosa of the hard palate. The authors experienced the patients, who complained the tumor-like soft tissue masses on the palatal and mouth floor area. After careful analysis of clinical, radiological and histopathological findings, we diagnosed them as adenoid cystic carcinomas in the minor salivary glands, and obtained results were as follows : 1. Main clinical symptoms were a slow growing soft tissue mass with normal intact mucosa on the palatal area, and soft tissue mass with mild pain on the mouth floor area. 2. In the radiographic exarnminations, soft tissue masses were observed with invasion to adjacent structures, and moderate defined, heterogeneous soft tissue mass with enhanced margin, respectively. 3. In the histopathologic exarnminations, dark-stained, small uniform basaloid cells in the hyaline or fibrous stroma were observed as solid and cribriform patterns, respectively.

• BMB Reports
• /
• 제48권8호
• /
• pp.454-460
• /
• 2015

Naturally occurring reoviruses are live replication-proficient viruses that specifically infect human cancer cells while sparing their normal counterpart. Since the discovery of reoviruses in 1950s, they have shown various degrees of safety and efficacy in pre-clinical or clinical applications for human anti-cancer therapeutics. I have recently discovered that cellular tumor suppressor genes are also important in determining reoviral tropism. Carcinogenesis is a multi-step process involving the accumulation of both oncogene and tumor suppressor gene abnormalities. Reoviruses can exploit abnormal cellular tumor suppressor signaling for their oncolytic specificity and efficacy. Many tumor suppressor genes such as p53, ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM), and retinoblastoma associated (RB) are known to play important roles in genomic fidelity/maintenance. Thus, a tumor suppressor gene abnormality could affect host genomic integrity and likely disrupt intact antiviral networks due to the accumulation of genetic defects which in turn could result in oncolytic reovirus susceptibility. This review outlines the discovery of oncolytic reovirus strains, recent progresses in elucidating the molecular connection between oncogene/tumor suppressor gene abnormalities and reoviral oncotropism, and their clinical implications. Future directions in the utility of reovirus virotherapy is also proposed in this review. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(8): 454-460]

• 한국수의병리학회지
• /
• 제1권1호
• /
• pp.72-76
• /
• 1997

Histological investigation of the number of follicles following gonadotropin treatments for superovulation was carried out in mature Sprague-Dwaley(SD) rats. Routinely serial sections of paraffin-embedded ovaries were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and evaluated with light microscope. During the study unusual cases of microscopic alterations were observed in the medulla of ovaries in two rats. Case one: An ovum and its follicular fluid outflowed in medulla of ovary. The follicular fluid was densly proteinuous. Corona raiata consisted of 2-6 layers thick cells in the periphery of the ovum. While the cortical side of the follicular wall was intact with normal granulosa cell layer the meullary side of it was ruptured. Case two: A large cyst was present in medulla of ovary hilus. The cyst occupied the entire medulla displacing the ovarian archetecture and enclosed by connective tissue and smooth muscle wall.

• 대한한의학회지
• /
• 제18권2호
• /
• pp.15-32
• /
• 1997

This study was undertaken to define the mechanism of Siegesbeckiae Herba-induced relaxation in rabbit common carotid artery contracted by agonists. In order to investigate the effect of Siegesbeckiae Herba on contracted rabbit carotid arterial strips, transverse strips with intact or damaged endothelium were used for the experiment using organ bath. To analyze the mechanism of Siegesbeckiae Herba-induced relaxation, Siegesbeckiae Herba extract infused into contracted arterial strips induced by agonists after treatment of lanthanum chloride, indomethacin, atropine, $N\omega-nitro-{_L}-arginine$, cobalt chloride or methylene blue. The relaxation effect of Siegesbeckiae Herba was dependent on the presence of endothelium, showing that Siegesbeckiae Herba-induced relaxation was not observed in the strips without endothelium. The endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by Siegesbeckiae Herba was suppressed by the pretreatment of lanthanum chloride, $N\omega-nitro-{_L}-arginine$, cobalt chloride or methylene blue, but it was not observed in the strips pretreated with indomethacin or atropine. These results demonstrated that Siegesbeckiae Herba may inhibit agonist-induced contraction through an increase in the cyclic GMP by the production of nitric oxide in the vascular endothelial cells.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제19권2호
• /
• pp.262-265
• /
• 2006

The antioxidative properties of lactobacilli originating from humans (Lactobacillus acidophilus KCTC 3111, Lactobacillus jonsonii KCTC 3141, Lactobacillus acidophilus KCTC 3151, and Lactobacillus brevis KCTC 3498) were investigated using in vitro methods, including inhibition of lipid peroxidation, resistance to hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radical, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity. L. acidophilus KCTC 3111 showed the highest inhibition of lipid peroxidation in both intact cells (49.7%) and cell lysate (65.2%). This strain exhibited resistance to hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radical, which was viable for 7 h in the concentration of 1.0 mM hydrogen peroxide. In addition, this strain showed high hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. In the GPX activity assay, the highest activity was measured in L. brevis 3498. GPX activity of L acidophilus 3111 was lower than that of L. brevis 3498.

• BMB Reports
• /
• 제42권3호
• /
• pp.142-147
• /
• 2009

Small-molecule inhibitors of protein kinases have contributed immensely to our understanding of biological signaling path-ways and have been exploited therapeutically for the treatment of cancers and other disease states. The pyridinyl imidazole compounds SB 203580 and SB 202190 were identified as ATP competitive antagonists of the p38 stress-activated protein kinases and have been widely used to elucidate p38-dependent cellular processes. Here, we identify SB 203580 and SB 202190 as potent inhibitors of stress-induced CREB phosphorylation on Serine 111 (Ser-111) in intact cells. Unexpectedly, we found that the inhibitory activity of SB 203580 and SB 202190 on CREB phosphorylation was independent of p38, but instead correlated with inhibition of casein kinase 1 (CK1) in vitro. The inhibition of CK1-mediated CREB phosphorylation by concentrations of pyridinyl imidazoles commonly employed to suppress p38, suggests that in some cases conclusions of p38-dependence derived solely from the use of these inhibitors may be invalid.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제12권5호
• /
• pp.773-779
• /
• 2002

A gene (hap) encoding aminopeptidase from the chromosomal DNA of Bacillus licheniformis was cloned. The gene is 1,347 bp long and encodes a 449 amino acid preproprotein with a major mature region of 401 amino acids (calculated molecular mass 43,241 Da). N-Terminal sequence of the purified protein revealed a potential presence of N-terminal propeptide. The deduced primary amino acid sequence and the mass analysis of the purified protein suggested that a C-terminal peptide YSSVAQ was also cleaved off by a possible endogeneous protease. Tho amino acid sequence displayed 58% identity with that of the aminopeptidase from alkaliphilic Bacillus halodurans. This bacterial enzyme was overexpressed in recombinant Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis cells. Clones containing the intact hap gene, including its own promoter and signal sequence, gave rise to the synthesis of extracellular and thrmostable enzyme by B. subtilis transformants. The secreted protein exhibited the same biochemical properties and the similar apparent molecular mass as the B. lichenzyormis original enzyme.