• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.201-207
• /
• 2009

Our previous study demonstrated that flavone inhibits vascular contractions by decreasing the phosphorylation levelof the myosin phosphatase target subunit (MYPT1). In the present study, we hypothesized that flavone attenuates vascular contractions through the inhibition of the RhoA/Rho kinase pathway. Rat aortic rings were denuded of endothelium, mounted in organ baths, and contracted with either 30 nM U46619 (a thromboxane A2 analogue) or 8.0 mM NaF 30 min after pretreatment with either flavone (100 or 300 $({\mu}M$) or vehicle. We determined the phosphorylation level of the myosin light chain ($MLC_{20}$), the myosin phophatase targeting subunit 1 (MYPT1) and the protein kinase C-potentiated inhibitory protein for heterotrimeric myosin light chain phophatase of 17-kDa (CPI17) by means of Western blot analysis. Flavone inhibited, not only vascular contractions induced by these contractors, but also the levels of $MLC_{20}$ phosphorylation. Furthermore, flavone inhibited the activation of RhoA which had been induced by either U46619 or NaF. Incubation with flavone attenuated U46619 or NaF-induced phosphorylation of $MYPT1^{Thr855}$ and $CPI17^{Thr38}$, the downstream effectors of Rho-kinase. In regards to the $Ca^{2+}$-free solution, flavone inhibited the phosphorylation of $MYPT1^{Thr855}$ and $CPI17^{Thr38}$, as well as vascular contractions induced by U 46619. These results indicate that flavone attenuates vascular contractions, at least in part, through the inhibition of the RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.40 no.1
• /
• pp.33-37
• /
• 2013

Autophagy is a degradation process that acts in response to environmental stressors. Recently, autophagy has been detected in normal term, preeclamptic and intrauterine growth-restricted placentas. The object of this work was to investigate the presence of autophagy in first trimester voluntary interruption of pregnancy placental villi by the expression of autophagy-related proteins, light chain 3 (LC3), and Beclin-1. In first trimester placental villi laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) analysis revealed LC3 and Beclin-1 immunoreactivity prevalently located in villous cytotrophoblasts. Using LSCM, LC3, and Beclin-1 were localized to the cytoplasm of the trophoblast layer in human full-term placentas. Beclin-1 expression and LC3 activation were confirmed by western blotting. These data emphasize that autophagy activation is different among cytotrophoblasts and syncytiotrophoblasts depending on the gestational age and thus we speculate that autophagy might play a prosurvival role throughout human pregnancy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.22
• /
• pp.9847-9851
• /
• 2014

Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a haematological cancer characterized by clonal proliferation of plasma cells.The aim of this study was to investigate the activity of serum paraoxonase-1 (PON1) and arylesterase (ARE) in multiple myeloma with and without free light chain excretion(FLCe-MM and NFLCe-MM); as well as to investigate possible alterations in oxidative stress parameters. Materials and Methods: Total thiol (T.thl), oxidative stress index (OSI), total oxidant status (TOS) and total antioxidant status (TAS) were examined in addition to the PON1 and ARE enzyme activities in twenty one FLCe-MM and nineteen NFLCe-MM subjects. Routine parameters like lipid panel, serum total protein, albumin, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), uric acid and hemoglobin levels were compared with the oxidative stress markers. Results: Serum total protein, BUN, creatinin, and uric acid levels were significantly higher (p=0.04, p=0.001, p=0.001 and p=0.0022, respectively), while hemoglobin and albumin levels were significantly lower in FLCe-MM patients (p=0.009 and p=0.04,respectively). PON1 and ARE activities were significantly lower in patients with FLCe-MM compared to those with NFLCe-MM (p=0.001 and p=0.008, respectively). Conclusions: Depending on our results of prognostic markers of MM such as age, hemoglobin, albumin, and creatinine we feel confident to presume FLCe-MM as a subgroup with a worse prognosis. A decrease in PON1 and ARE activities may contribute to the prognosis and may be used as a prognostic tool in MM.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2017

Intestinal disorders often co-occur with inflammation and dysmotility. However, drugs which simultaneously improve intestinal inflammation and co-occurring dysmotility are rarely reported. Atractylodin, a widely used herbal medicine, is used to treat digestive disorders. The present study was designed to characterize the effects of atractylodin on amelioration of both jejunal inflammation and the co-occurring dysmotility in both constipation-prominent (CP) and diarrhea-prominent (DP) rats. The results indicated that atractylodin reduced proinflammatory cytokines TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6 in the plasma and inhibited the expression of inflammatory mediators iNOS and NF-kappa B in jejunal segments in both CP and DP rats. The results indicated that atractylodin exerted stimulatory effects and inhibitory effects on the contractility of jejunal segments isolated from CP and DP rats respectively, showing a contractile-state-dependent regulation. Atractylodin-induced contractile-state-dependent regulation was also observed by using rat jejunal segments in low and high contractile states respectively (5 pairs of low/high contractile states). Atractylodin up-regulated the decreased phosphorylation of 20 kDa myosin light chain, protein contents of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), and MLCK mRNA expression in jejunal segments of CP rats and down-regulated those increased parameters in DP rats. Taken together, atractylodin alleviated rat jejunal inflammation and exerted contractile-state-dependent regulation on the contractility of jejunal segments isolated from CP and DP rats respectively, suggesting the potential clinical implication for ameliorating intestinal inflammation and co-occurring dysmotility.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.123-128
• /
• 2004

Numerous novel ingredients have been introduced for the higher functionality of whitening cosmetics. Through the preliminary research, we have found Trichosanthes kirilowii root, Prunella vulgaris leaf and Clematis chinensis root have high whitening efficacy. But they are insoluble. Moreover the discoloration of and decrease in content take place when they are exposed to light, heat or oxygen. From Trichosanthes kirilowii root, Prunella vulgaris leaf and Clematis chinensis root, efficacious ingredients were ethanol-extracted by heating to 75∼85$^{\circ}C$ for 6∼8 h. These extracts have the inhibitory activity of tyrosinase and B16 melanin formation, thus enhancing whitening effect. We made liposomes using propylene glycol (PG)/hydrogenated lecithin/middle chain triglycerides (MCT)/glycerin/water and microfuidizer to stabilize extracts. The stability against heat and light was enhanced by 3∼5 times compared with untreated extracts. Particle size analyzer, freeze fracture transmission electron microscopy (FF-TEM), chromameter and HPLC are used for the analysis.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.290-296
• /
• 2002

Serum immunoglobulins (Igs) from Israeli carp were purified using affinity chromatography. Fish were immunized with purified mouse IgG, and the specific fish antibodies were purified from the immune serum on a mouse IgG-immobilized agarose gel. Rabbit anti-Israeli carp Igs (R $\alpha$ I. carp Igs) antibodies were produced following hyperimmunization with mouse IgG specific carp antibodies. SDS-PAGE analysis under reducing condition showed that Israeli carp Igs were composed of two $\mu$-like heavy chains with about 82 and 50 kd, respectively, and one light chain with about 25 kd. On immunoblotting analysis, however, R $\alpha$ I. carp Igs failed to react with the light chain. When both protein A and protein G-purified normal carp Ig were compared with mouse IgG-specific Israeli carp Ig, no significant structural differences among them were observed. To investigate if there is any homology between other fish Ig molecules, cross-reactivity of R $\alpha$ I. carp Igs against Ig molecules from 6 different fish sera and mouse control serum was checked on immunoblotting analysis. As a result, R $\alpha$ I. carp Igs responded to Israeli carp, common carp, and tilapia Ig molecules. In flow cytometry study, however, R $\alpha$ I. carp Igs appeared to recognize 42.0%, 35.8% and <5% of Israeli carp, common carp and tilapia $Ig^+$ head kidney cells, respectively. The result suggests the heterogeneity between receptor Igs on B-like lymphocytes and soluble Igs in serum. It is crucial to obtain pure fish Igs to produce reagent antibodies as tools for the study on their specific immune responses.

• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.227-236
• /
• 2002

The structure of pregel state in thermoreversible poly(vinylidene fluoride)(PVDF) /propylene carbonate(PC) system was investigated by laser light scattering. It was found that the PVDF chain did not exist as a separate chain even in a very dilute concentration(i.e. 100 times more dilute than the gel formation concentration) but as a large spherical aggregate with the radius of gyration $R_G$, of 232 nm and the effective hydrodynamic radius $R_H$= of 407 nm at $40^{\circ}C$. Based upon experimental results such as $R_H/R_G$=ratio of 1.75 and the pattern of scattering intensity with a minimum, a core-shell type sphere model was suggested as a structure of the aggregate. According to this model, the radius of core part was estimated as 215 nm, the shell thickness as 192 nm, and the ratio of monomer density of the shell part to that of the core part as about 0.075.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.199-205
• /
• 2009

It is very important to differentiate of DNA derived from live or dead bacteria within mixed microbial communities in aquatic environments. Ethidium monoazide (EMA) is a DNA intercalating agent and the treatment of EMA with strong visible light cleaves the genomic DNA of bacteria. In dead bacterial cells, EMA intercalates into the genomic DNA, induces the cleavage of DNA, and inhibits the PCR amplification. In this study, we developed the EMA-PCR and EMA real-time PCR to detect the DNA derived from viable Escherichia coli (E.coli) in mixed cultures of live and dead E.coli. The treatment of EMA, $50{\mu}g/mL$, and 650 W visible halogen light exposure for 2 minutes cleaved the genomic DNA derived from heat killed E.coli but did not those of live E.coli. EMA-PCR could detect the DNA from live E.coli in mixed culture samples of live and dead E.coli at various ratio and there was no DNA amplification in only dead E.coli cultures. Similar results were observed in EMA real-time PCR. Further studies are needed to develop various EMA-PCR methods to detect viable waterborne pathogens such as Helicobacter pylori, Giardia lamblia, and so on.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.52 no.4
• /
• pp.389-397
• /
• 2020

Microglial cells function as major immune cells in the brain, playing an important role in the protection and damage of neurons. BV2 microglia, activated by drug stimulation, secrete inflammatory cytokines by activating the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of the activated B cells pathway and are involved in neuroinflammatory and immune responses. The overactivation of microglia by stimuli can cause neuronal damage, leading to brain disease. Noni, a natural product, reduces the activity of microglia to prevent neuronal damage and is a potential natural medicine because it exerts excellent regeneration and anti-inflammatory effects on damaged cells. In this study, when noni was used to treat BV2 cells stimulated by the anti-cancer drug doxorubicin, it reduced the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines from BV2. On the other hand, neuronal damage is a side effect of doxorubicin. Therefore, the cytokines released from doxorubicin-stimulated BV2 cells treated with noni had a positive effect on the neuronal viability compared to those released from doxorubicin-stimulated BV2 cells not treated with Noni. Thus, Noni increases neuronal viability. These results suggest that noni inhibits the release of cytokines by regulating the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of the activated B cells pathway of BV2, thereby inhibiting neuronal damage.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.61 no.2
• /
• pp.202-209
• /
• 2023

Lophomonas blattarum is an anaerobic protozoan living in the intestine of cockroaches and house dust mites, with ultramicroscopic characteristics such as the presence of a parabasal body, axial filament, and absence of mitochondria. More than 200 cases of Lophomonas infection of the respiratory tract have been reported worldwide. However, the current diagnosis of such infection depends only on light microscopic morphological findings from respiratory secretions. In this study, we attempted to provide more robust evidence of protozoal infection in an immunocompromised patient with atypical pneumonia, positive for Lophomonas-like protozoal cell forms. A direct search of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid via polymerase chain reaction (PCR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and metagenomic next-generation sequencing did not prove the presence of protozoal infection. PCR results were not validated with sufficient rigor, while de novo assembly and taxonomic classification results did not confirm the presence of an unidentified pathogen. The TEM results implied that such protozoal forms in light microscopy are actually non-detached ciliated epithelial cells. After ruling out infectious causes, the patient's final diagnosis was drug-induced pneumonitis. These findings underscore the lack of validation in the previously utilized diagnostic methods, and more evidence in the presence of L. blattarum is required to further prove its pathogenicity.