• Journal of Korean Dental Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.41-49
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• 2013

Purpose: This study sought to compare the elemental constitution, morphological characteristics, particle size distribution, biocompatibility, and mineralization potential of Ortho MTA (OMTA) and ProRoot MTA (PMTA). Materials and Methods: OMTA and PMTA were compared using energy-dispersive spectrometry, particle size analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The biocompatibility and mineralization-related gene expression (osteonectin and osteopontin) of both MTAs were also compared using methylthiazol tetrazolium assay and reverse transcription-polymerization chain reaction analysis, respectively. The results were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis test with Bonferroni correction. P-value of <0.05 was considered significant. Result: The morphology of OMTA powders was similar to that of PMTA. The constituent elements of both MTAs were calcium, silicon, and aluminum. The mean particle sizes of OMTA and PMTA were 4.60 and 3.34 mm, respectively. Both MTAs had equally favorable in vitro biocompatibility and affected the messenger RNA expression of osteonectin and osteopontin. Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, OMTA could be a promising biomaterial in clinical endodontics.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.4 no.5
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• pp.339-346
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• 2000

Using murine immortalized microglial cells (BV-2), we examined the regulation of RANTES production stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), focusing on the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor $(NF)-{\kappa}B.$ The result showed that RANTES (regulated upon activation of normal T cell expressed and secreted) was induced at the mRNA and protein levels in a dose- and time-dependent manner in response to LPS. From investigations of second messenger pathways involved in regulating the secretion of RANTES, we found that LPS induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk), p38 MAPK and c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK), and activated $(NF)-{\kappa}B.$ To determine whether this MAPK phosphorylation is involved in LPS-stimulated RANTES production, we used specific inhibitors for p38 MAPK and Erk, SB 203580 and PD 98059, respectively. LPS-induced RANTES production was reduced approximately 80% at $25\;{\mu}M$ of SB 203580 treatment. But PD 98059 did not affect RANTES production. Pyrrolidine-dithiocarbamate (PDTC), $(NF)-{\kappa}B$ inhibitor, reduced RANTES secretion. These results suggest that LPS-induced RANTES production in microglial cells (BV-2) is mainly mediated by the coordination of p38 MAPK and $(NF)-{\kappa}B$ cascade.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.453-462
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Platycodon grandiflorum (PG), an oriental herbal medicine, has been known to improve liver function, and has both anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. However, little is known about the immune-enhancing effects of PG and its mechanism. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether fermented PG extract (FPGE), which has increased platycodin D content, activates the immune response in a murine macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7. MATERIALS/METHODS: Cell viability was determined by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and the nitric oxide (NO) levels were measured using Griess reagent. Cytokine messenger RNA levels of were monitored by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying immunomodulatory actions of FPGE in RAW 264.7 cells, we have conducted luciferase reporter gene assay and western blotting. RESULTS: We found that FPGE treatment induced macrophage cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. FPGE also modulated the expression of NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6. The activation and phosphorylation levels of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) were increased by FPGE treatment. Moreover, 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide, an activator of AMP-activated kinase (AMPK), significantly reduced both lipopolysaccharides- and FPGE-induced NF-κB reporter gene activity. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our findings suggest that FPGE may be a novel immune-enhancing agent acting via AMPK-NF-κB signaling pathway.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.341-347
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• 2015

Purpose: Chrysanthemum indicum (CHI) has been used for edible and medical purposes for a long time in Korea. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of CHI water extract in lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Methods: To investigate the anti-inflammatory effects on LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophage cells, CHI extract as a whole plant was used in this study. RAW 264.7 cells were treated with various concentrations of CHI extract (1, 10, and $100{\mu}g/mL$). After that Nitric Oxide (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) expression level were measured. Results: CHI extract significantly suppressed the LPS-induced NO production and decreased the level of iNOS, IL-$1{\beta}$, COX-2 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression and also the down regulation of $PGE_2$ expression in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: The present study suggested that CHI extract can be substituted for anti-inflammatory drugs and provide a safe and effective non pharmacological therapeutic approach.

• Journal of Korean Dental Science
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2014

Purpose: Capseal I and Capseal II are calcium silicate and calcium phosphate based experimental root canal sealers. This study sought to evaluate the biocompatibility and mineralization potential of Capseal I and Capseal II. Materials and Methods: The biocompatibility and mineralization related gene expression (alkaline phosphatase [ALP], bone sialoprotein [BSP], and osteocalcin) of Capseal I and Capseal II were compared using methylthiazol tetrazolium assay and reverse transcription-polymerization chain reaction analysis, respectively. The results were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis test. A P-value of <0.05 was considered significant. Result: Both Capseal I and Capseal II were favorable in terms of biocompatibility, influencing the messenger RNA expression of ALP and BSP. Conclusion: Within the limitation of this study, Capseal is biocompatible, with mineralization promoting potential; thus, it could be a promising root canal sealer.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.40-42
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• 2014

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by neurological, cutaneous, and ophthalmological manifestations. A 33-year-old woman with typical symptoms of NF1 visited Ajou University Hospital. Screening of the whole-messenger RNA region of NF1 at the complementary DNA level by polymerase chain reaction-direct sequencing confirmed the presence of an NF1 mutation at the genomic level. The mutation analysis revealed an in-frame skipping of exon 46 (c.6757_6858del) caused by a point mutation (c. 6792C>A) in exon 46. In this report, we have described the first Korean case of a proband with NF1 that carries an allele with an exon 46 deletion caused by an exonic splicing enhancer site mutation, leading to the skipping of the whole of exon 46 (c.6757_6858del).

• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.8
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• pp.449-454
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• 2016

Stress Granules (SGs) are microscopically visible, phase dense aggregates of translationally stalled messenger ribonucleoprotein (mRNP) complexes formed in response to distinct stress conditions. It is generally considered that SG formation is induced to protect cells from conditions of stress. The precise constituents of SGs and the mechanism through which SGs are dynamically regulated in response to stress are not completely understood. Hence, it is important to identify proteins which regulate SG assembly and disassembly. In the present study, we report Neuregulin-2 (NRG2) as a novel component of SGs; furthermore, depletion of NRG2 potently inhibits SG formation. We also demonstrate that NRG2 specifically localizes to SGs under various stress conditions. Knockdown of NRG2 has no effect on stress-induced polysome disassembly, suggesting that the component does not influence early step of SG formation. It was also observed that reduced expression of NRG2 led to marginal increase in cell survival under arsenite-induced stress.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.115-115
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• 2017

Zinc finger proteins constitute a large family which has been studied to have various functions in different organisms. Tandem CCCH zinc finger proteins (TZFs), members of the zinc finger protein family, are known to participate as post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression in eukaryotes. Here, we showed that the OsZn15, a gene for tandem CCCH zinc finger protein, is induced by abiotic stress and its overexpression in transgenic rice plants (PGD1:OsZn15) gains higher drought tolerance. Gene expression analysis of promoter:GFP plants revealed that OsZn15 is specifically expressed in anther and embryo, but not in vegetative organs. In-field evaluation, grain yield was higher in the PGD1:OsZn15 than nontransgenic plants under drought conditions. Interestingly, OsZn15 is shown to not only localize at nucleus but also co-localize with both processing bodies (PB) and stress granules (SG), two messenger ribo-nucleoprotein complexes which are known to activate by forming cytoplasmic foci under stress conditions. In sum, these results suggest that OsZn15 increases drought stress tolerance of rice probably by participating in RNA turnover in PB and SG.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.876-879
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• 2001

${\gamma}$ -Tubulin is an essential component involved in microtubule nucleation. The present work examined whether the fast proliferation of cancer cells can be retarded by the depletion of ${\gamma}$ -tubulin expression. Two different gastric cancer cell lines and one control cell line were treated with antisence oligonucleotides complementary to the messenger RNA of ${\gamma}$ -tubulin. The$[^3H]$ -thymidine incorporation in the two gastric cancer cell lines, SNU-1 and SNU-216, was dramatically reducd by treatment with the ${\gamma}$ -tubulin antisense oligonucleotides in a dosage-dependent manner. In contrast, the control cell line, NIH/3T3, showed no significant effect from the antisense oligonucleotides even at a high concentration. The ablation of ${\gamma}$ -tubulin expression in the tumor cells resulted in an altered DNA synthesis during mitosis and it decreased the cell progression. Accordingly, the use of antisense oligonucleotides may be an effective way of inhibiting the proliferation of human gastric cancers.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.49-53
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• 2021

Balanophora laxiflora Hemsl. (Balanophoraceae) is a traditional medicinal plant with a diverse array of biological activities. In our exploration of new bioactive constituents from B. laxiflora, we isolated five compounds, including a new lignan, balanophorone (5), and four known phenolic compounds (1-4). The chemical structures of these compounds were determined by extensive spectroscopic analyses, including 1D and 2D NMR, HR-ESI-MS, and CD. In addition, we evaluated the effects of each of the isolates (1-5) on the messenger RNA expression levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages and cytotoxicity against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Compound 2 showed significant inhibition of LPS-induced COX-2 and TNF-α expression in RAW 264.7 macrophages, while compound 4 showed moderate cytotoxicity against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, with IC50 values of 18.3 and 30.7 µM, respectively. No significant effects on the viability of normal mammary epithelial cells were observed.