• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제29권8호
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• pp.1281-1287
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• 2019

Nattokinase (NK, E.C. 3.4.21.62) is a serine protease produced by Bacillus subtilis natto that shows promise for the treatment of thrombotic disease. In this study, we assessed the effects of NK on the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a principal malignancy of the liver that causes morbidity and mortality worldwide. Crude extracts of NK (NCE) were isolated from fermentation medium by centrifugation and separated into three fractions (<10 K, 100~30 K and >30K). Orthotopic HCC mouse models were established and NCE was administered by oral gavage. H&E staining was performed to examine the pathology of HCC livers. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were used to evaluate FOXM1, CD31, CD44 and vimentin expression in the liver. Compared to PBS groups, NCE increased the survival rates of HCC-bearing mice to 31% and decreased ascites. Low-intensity ultrasound imaging showed that the hypoechoic mass area was lower in NCE-treated mice and that tumor growth significantly decreased. IHC staining showed that the expression of FOXM1 was inhibited by NCE treatment. Immunofluorescence results revealed lower levels of CD31, CD44 and vimentin in the NCE groups. Taken together, these data demonstrate that NCE from Bacillus subtilis natto improves survival and inhibits tumor growth in HCC mice.

• Laboraroty Animal Research
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• 제33권2호
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• pp.76-83
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• 2017

Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) is an important disease featured as intense inflammation, protease imbalance, and air flow limitation and mainly induced by cigarette smoke (CS). In present study, we explored the effects of $Pycnogenol^{(R)}$ (PYC, pine bark extract) on pulmonary fibrosis caused by CS+lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure. Mice were treated with LPS intranasally on day 12 and 26, followed by CS exposure for 1 h/day (8 cigarettes per day) for 4 weeks. One hour before CS exposure, 10 and 20 mg/kg of PYC were administered by oral gavage for 4 weeks. PYC effectively reduced the number of inflammatory cells and proinflammatory mediators caused by CS+LPS exposure in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. PYC inhibited the collagen deposition on lung tissue caused by CS+LPS exposure, as evidenced by Masson's trichrome stain. Furthermore, transforming growth $factor-{\beta}1$ ($TGF-{\beta}1$) expression and Smad family member 2/3 (Smad 2/3) phosphorylation were effectively suppressed by PYC treatment. PYC markedly reduced the collagen deposition caused by CS+LPS exposure, which was closely involved in $TGF-{\beta}1$/Smad 2/3 signaling, which is associated with pulmonary fibrotic change. These findings suggest that treatment with PYC could be a therapeutic strategy for controlling COPD progression.

• 대한한방소아과학회지
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• 제36권1호
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• pp.57-64
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• 2022

Objectives The purpose of this study is to confirm the regulate effect of T helper (Th) 2 differentiation that Sabaek-san extract may produce to improves skin lipid barrier damage. Methods Four-weeks-old NC/Nga mice were divided into four groups: control group (Ctrl, n=10), lipid barrier eliminated group (LBE, n=10), Dexamethasone treatment after lipid barrier elimination group (DXT, n=10), and Sabaek-san extract treatment group after lipid barrier elimination (SBT, n=10). Sabaek-san extract was administered for 3 d after removal of the skin fat barrier in SBT group. Then, we identified changes in external symptoms of the skin, factors affecting skin barrier such as potential of hydrogen (pH), filaggrin, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and Th2 differentiation factors like Interleukin (IL)-4, Kallikrein Related Peptidase 7 (KLK7), and protease activated receptor 2 (PAR-2) through our immunohistochemistry. Results After lipid barrier elimination, the reduction of morphological skin inflammations was less in SBT group than in LBE and DXT group. Also, pH and TEWL were significantly decreased with SBT group. However, filaggrin was significantly increased in SBT group compared to LBE, DXT, and Ctrl group. All kinds of Th2 differentiation factors (IL-4, KLK7 and PAR-2) were also decreased in SBT compared to the LBE and DXT. Conclusions As a result of this study, SBT administration decreased pH, TEWL, and increased filaggrin, thus participating in recovering damaged skin barrier. Since Th2 differentiation factors were decreased as well, SBT's regulatory effect in sequential immune reactions may be a possible explanation of how it enhances recovery of the damaged lipid barrier.

• 한국해양바이오학회지
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.61-68
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• 2022

This study aimed to investigate the hepatoprotective activities of the sea cucumber products, including extracts and hydrolysates, in vitro and in vivo. Dried sea cucumber, produced on the western coast of Korea, was boiled in water or 70% ethanol at 85℃ or 100℃ for 18 or 24 h, respectively, to extract bioactive compounds. The enzymatic hydrolysates were prepared by reacting the dried sea cucumber with pepsin or neutral protease (PNL) under optimal enzyme conditions. The anti-inflammatory effect of the samples was investigated using RAW 264.7 cells treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The amount of nitric oxide (NO) was produced from the cells treated with LPS and each sample was compared. Therefore, the pepsin hydrolysate treatment decreased NO production compared to LPS sole treatment. Furthermore, the effects of the samples on cell injury in the hepatic cell line and bisphenolA-induced hepatic injury mouse model were investigated. The water extracts and the pepsin hydrolysates of sea cucumber significantly inhibited cell injury generated in the hepatocytes without cytotoxicity (p < 0.05), whereas the ethanol extracts were cytotoxic. However, these results indicate that the extracts and the enzymatic hydrolysates derived from sea cucumber can be used as beneficial materials for inhibiting liver damage.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제46권12호
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• pp.764-777
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• 2023

Recombinant immunotoxins (RITs) are fusion proteins consisting of a targeting domain linked to a toxin, offering a highly specific therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment. In this study, we engineered and characterized RITs aimed at mesothelin, a cell surface glycoprotein overexpressed in various malignancies. Through an extensive screening of a large nanobody library, four mesothelin-specific nanobodies were selected and genetically fused to a truncated Pseudomonas exotoxin (PE24B). Various optimizations, including the incorporation of furin cleavage sites, maltose-binding protein tags, and tobacco etch virus protease cleavage sites, were implemented to improve protein expression, solubility, and purification. The RITs were successfully overexpressed in Escherichia coli, achieving high solubility and purity post-purification. In vitro cytotoxicity assays on gastric carcinoma cell lines NCI-N87 and AGS revealed that Meso(Nb2)-PE24B demonstrated the highest cytotoxic efficacy, warranting further characterization. This RIT also displayed selective binding to human and monkey mesothelins but not to mouse mesothelin. The competitive binding assays between different RIT constructs revealed significant alterations in IC₅₀ values, emphasizing the importance of nanobody specificity. Finally, a modification in the endoplasmic reticulum retention signal at the C-terminus further augmented its cytotoxic activity. Our findings offer valuable insights into the design and optimization of RITs, showcasing the potential of Meso(Nb2)-PE24B as a promising therapeutic candidate for targeted cancer treatment.

• 한국식품과학회지
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• 제22권6호
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• pp.640-645
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• 1990

우육에 7.5%의 당을 첨가하고 $121^{\circ}C$에서 가열처리하여 근원섬유단백질의 전기영동 pattern 변화를 알아보았다. 당을 첨가하지 않은 경우 가열처리시간이 길어짐에 따라 myosin heavy chain(MHC) 등의 분자량이 큰 단백질의 band강도는 크게 약화되었지만 actin 등의 분자량이 작은 단백질은 거의 변화가 없었으며 당을 첨가한 처리구에서는 가열처리에 의하여 MHC 등의 band강도가 더욱 약화되었는데 특히 glucose 첨가시 15분간 가열처리구에서는 actin band의 강도도 크게 약해졌다. 시료에 peptidase를 작용시킨 후 추출한 단백질의 전기영동 pattern은 거의 변화가 없었으며 chymotrypsin을 작용시켰을 때 근원섬유를 구성하는 단백질들이 소화된 것을 보여주었으나 갈변반응이 심하게 발생하였던 glucose 첨가구에서는 myosin분자 등의 중합체가 나타났다 Trypsin을 작용시켰을 때 전체적으로 chymotrypsin의 경우보다 더욱 소화된 것을 보여주면서 glucose 첨가구에서는 myosin분자 등의 중합체가 더욱 강하게 나타났으며 peptidase chymotrypsin, trypsin을 동시에 작용시켜도 glucose 첨가구에서는 myosin 분자 등의 중합체가 소화되지 못하며 그 강도도 fructose 첨가구의 것보다 강한 것을 보여 주었다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제56권4호
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• pp.381-392
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• 2004

연구배경 : Arsenic trioxide($As_2O_3$)은 재발성 또는 불응성 급성전골수성백혈병의 치료제로 쓰이는 항암제로서 비소세포폐암을 포함한 다른 암세포주에도 효과가 있는 것으로 되어있다. NSAIDs는 항암 예방약제로 사용되고 있고, 세포고사를 통해 다른 항암제나 방사선치료의 반응성을 강화시키는 것으로 알려져 있다. 저자들은 NCI-H157 세포주에서 $As_2O_3$와 sulindac의 병합치료가 그것들의 세포고사를 배가시키는지 여부를 알아보고자 하였다. 방 법 : 세포 독성은 MTT 방법으로 측정하였고, 세포고사를 알아보기 위해 핵산 염색과 유식세포 분석을 시행하였다. 세포고사의 기전을 보기 위해 caspasefamily의 활성을 보았고, PARP와 ICAD의 분절을 western blotting으로 확인하였다. 또한 Fas와 Fas-L의 발현유무를 western blotting을 통해 관찰하였다. 결 과 : NCI-H157 폐암세포에 $As_2O_3$와 sulindac을 병합치료시 단독치료군에 비해 생존율이 의미 있게 감소하였고, 이러한 세포사는 핵산염색을 통한 염색사의 응축과 핵 분절 유도와 유식세포 분석에 의한 $sub-G_0/G_1$ DNA분획의 증가현상을 통해 세포고사에 의해 매개됨을 알 수 있었다. 세포고사의 유도에는 caspase 3, 8, 9를 통한 활성화와 이에 의한 PARP와 ICAD의 절단을 확인하였다. 또한 caspase-8 protease의 활성화에는 Fas와 Fas/L 단백질의 발현증가가 유도되었음을 알 수 있었다. 결 론 :NCI-H157 폐암세포주에 $As_2O_3$와 sulindac의 병합요법은 Fas/FasL 신호전달계의 활성화와 caspase 단백질 활성화 의해 세포고사가 유도되었다.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제45권5호
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• pp.702-710
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• 2016

본 연구는 ${\beta}$-glucosidase 활성이 있는 Bacillus subtilis HJ18-9와 HJ25-8, 두 가지 균주를 혼합한 HJ18-9+HJ25-8의 3가지 균주를 스타터로 접종하여 발효시킨 soy grits 청국장의 품질 특성과 isoflavone의 함량을 측정하였다. 환원당을 유리하는 데 관여하는 ${\alpha}$-amylase 효소 활성의 경우 두 가지 균주를 혼합한 HJ18-9+HJ25-8을 접종해 발효한 시료에서 다른 시료와 비교하였을 때 높은 활성을 보였다. 청국장의 단백질을 분해하여 특유의 구수한 맛 성분을 유리하는 protease 활성의 경우 HJ25-8, HJ18-9+HJ25-8, HJ18-9의 순으로 높은 활성을 나타내었다. 또한 아미노태 질소와 암모니아태질소의 함량은 HJ25-8을 접종해 발효한 SG 청국장에서 높았으며, 청국장 isoflavone 비배당체 함량은 HJ18-9+HJ25-8의 $272.40{\pm}2.04{\mu}g/g$에 비해 HJ18-9와 HJ25-8 접종구에서 $697.03{\pm}9.46$, $683.10{\pm}2.05{\mu}g/g$으로 높았다. ${\beta}$-glucosidase 활성이 있는 두 가지 균의 혼합으로 isoflavone aglycone 함량의 전환율을 더 높일 수 있는 시너지 효과를 기대했으나 단일 균주로 접종하여 발효했을 때 더 높은 aglycone 함량을 얻을 수 있었다. 본 연구를 통해 청국장 제조에 알맞은 균주를 개발 평가하여 청국장 가공품 개발의 기초연구가 되고자 하였다.

• 미생물학회지
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• 제49권3호
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• pp.253-261
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• 2013

본 연구에서는 숙성된 된장으로부터 분리된 유산균에 의한 aflatoxin $B_1$의 결합 정도를 배양조건에 따라 측정하였고, 물리화학적 처리조건이 aflatoxin $B_1$에 대한 유산균 세포의 결합력에 미치는 영향을 살펴보았다. Enterococcus faecium DJ22, Lactobacillus fermentum DJ35, Lactobacillus rhamnosus DJ42 및 Lactobacillus pentosus DJ47는 19.3-52.1% 정도의 aflatoxin $B_1$ 결합 효과를 나타내어 균종에 따라 결합력에 차이가 있었다. 하지만 E. faecalis DJ14, Lactobacillus panis DJ29 및 Pediococcus halophilus DJ50 균주는 aflatoxin $B_1$에 대한 결합력을 나타내지 않았다. Aflatoxin $B_1$에 대한 유산균의 결합력과 결합속도는 독소의 농도, 반응시간 및 온도와 초기 세포수 등의 배양 조건에 따라 유의한 차이가 있었다. Aflatoxin $B_1$의 결합력은 세척 횟수에 따라 현저하게 감소하였고, 감소율은 살아있는 세포와 가열 처리한 세포에서 비슷하게 나타났다. 가열, 산성 pH, ${\alpha}$-amylase, protease, lysozyme 혹은 sodium metaperiodate의 처리에 의해 결합력이 유의하게 감소된 것으로 보아 주로 세포벽에 존재하는 당이나 단백질에 aflatoxin $B_1$이 결합되며, urea의 처리에 의해 결합력에 낮아지는 것은 이들 사이에는 소수성 결합이 작용하는 것으로 추정되었다.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제34권3호
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• pp.185-191
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• 2010

Plasminogen activators (PAs) are serine protease that cleave plasminogen to form the active protease plasmin and may participate in mammalian fertilization. Although correlations have been reported between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and sperm function, the relationship between PA activity and ROS is unknown. We determined the effects of ROS on sperm function and PA activities in boar spermatozoa preincubated under the X-XO system. When spermatozoa were treated with the X+XO group, a significant increase (p<0.05) was observed in the percentage of acrosome reacted spermatozoa compared with that of the control group. However, when antioxidants were added to the medium with X+XO, the rate of acrosome reaction tended to decrease. Also, a significantly lower percentage of acrosome reacted spermatozoa was observed in the X+XO+catalase group at 6 hr of incubation compared with that of X+XO group. The density of malondialdehyde (MDA) was higher in the X+XO group than in different treatment groups. In another experiment, incubation of spermatozoa in medium with X+XO was associated with a significant (p<0.05) increase in activity of tPA-PAI and tPA compared with the control group. Antioxidants decreased the increased activity of tPA-PAI and tPA by preincubation in the X-XO system. Also, a significantly lower (p<0.05) activities of tPA-PAI and tPA were observed in the X+XO+catalase group compared with the X+XO group. No significant differences, however, were observed in the activity of uPA. These results suggest that the increase of acrosome reaction by the X-XO system resulted in increase of PAs activity in the sperm incubation medium.