• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2007

During the past decade, many salivary parameters have been used to characterize disease states. Ghrelin (GAH) is recently-discovered peptide hormone secreted mainly from the stomach but also produced in a number of other tissues including salivary glands. The aim of this work was to examine the relationship between active (aGAH) and inactive (dGAH) ghrelin in the saliva and other salivary parameters in type II diabetic patients and healthy controls. Salivary parameters were assessed in a single measurement of unstimulated whole saliva from 20 obese and 20 non-obese type II diabetes patients, and in 22 healthy controls. Total protein and alpha-amylase were determined by colorimetric methods, and glucose by the glucose-oxidase method. Saliva aGAH and dGAH levels were measured using a commercial radioimmunoassay (RIA) kit. Salivary concentrations of aGAH and dGAH ghrelin were more markedly decreased in obese diabetic subjects than in the two other groups. Glucose and alpha-amylase levels were higher in diabetic subjects than in controls. Furthermore, there were correlations between GAH levels and BMI, and between GAH and blood pressure. However, there was no marked variability in saliva flow rates among the groups. These results indicate that measurement of salivary GAH and its relationship to other salivary parameters might help to provide insight into the role of ghrelin in diabetes.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.267-274
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• 2010

The decrease in sperm quality under heat stress causes a great loss in animal husbandry production. In order to reveal the mechanism underlying the sperm quality decrease caused by heat stress, we first established a mild heat-treated mouse model. Then, the sperm quality was identified. Further, the testicular proteome profile was mapped and compared with the control using 2D electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Finally, the differential expressed proteins involved in the heat stress response were identified by real-time PCR and Western blotting. The results showed that heat stress caused a significant reduction in mouse sperm quality (P<0.05). Further, 52 protein spots on the 2D gel were found to differ between the heat-shocked tissues and the control. Of these spots, some repair proteins which might provide some explanation for the influence on sperm quality were found. We then focused on Bag-1, Hsp40, Hsp60 and Hsp70, which were found to be differently expressed after heat shock (P<0.05). Further analysis in this heat-shocked model suggests numerous potential mechanisms for heat shock-induced spermatogenic disorders.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.169-172
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• 1995

The changes in blood pressure may relate to the alterations of the responsiveness to vasoconstrictors and vasodilators, and these alterations can arise the modifications in the properties of angiotensin II (AII) receptor. In order to examine the changes of AII receptor in the hypertensive mechanism of renin-dependent hypertensive rats (RHRs; two-kidney, one-ligated type), we compared the equilibrium binding characteristics of $[^3H]$All in adrenal cortex and medulla from RHRs and normotensive rats. The dissociation constants of AII binding in both tissues of RHRs were very similar to those in the respective tissue of normotensive rats. However, the maximum binding was increased from 805 to 1050 fmole/mg protein in the adrenal cortex of RHRs, and decreased from 172 to 126 fmole/mg protein in the adrenal medulla of RHRs. These results imply that the up- and down-regulation of the All receptor population on the cell surface of adrenal glands from RHRs are consorted with the elevation of blood pressure and the activation of renin-angiotensin system.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.652-658
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• 1999

To reveal the inhibitory mechanism of NO-dependent vasorelaxation by quinone derivatives (OQ1 and OQ21), we have compared the generation of free radicals by oxidative stress and the formation of cellular adducts by arylation. First, we measured oxygen consumption by quinone derivatives as a marker of oxidative stress in order to investigate whether these quinone compounds could generate reactive oxygen species. Both OQ1 and OQ21 generated free radicals and OQ21 was more potent. These results suggested that free radicals be involved in the inhibition of vasorelaxation by quinones. Next, we measured the binding capacity of quinone derivatives with intracellular GSH and protein thiols (-SH) in order to investigate whether these quinones have arylation capacity. Compared to positive control groups (menadione), both OQ1 and OQ21 depleted intracellular GSH and protein thiols very slightly. These compounds have low toxicities in mammalian tissues. From these results, we concluded that the inhibition of vasorelaxation by quinone derivatives (OQ1, OQ21) may be cuased by generation of free radicals.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.199-203
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• 2009

The somatic Sertoli cells play an essential role in testis determination and spermatogenesis by providing nutrition and structural support. In the current study, we report on the novel Ankrd7 gene that contains five ankyrin repeat domains. This gene was specifically expressed in Sertoli cells and was regulated in a maturation-dependent manner. Its expression was restricted to testicular tissue, and its mRNA could be detected in testes at as early as 14 dpp (days post partum) using RT-PCR analysis. In both testicular tissue sections and in vitro cultured Sertoli cells, the Ankrd7 protein was localized to the nucleus of the Sertoli cell. Immunohistochemistry and immunocytochemistry investigations showed that the protein was detectable in testicular tissues at 20 dpp, at which time Sertoli cells were gradually differentiating into their mature cellular form. These results suggest that Ankrd7 is probably involved in the process of Sertoli cell maturation and in spermatogenesis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1776-1781
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• 2012

Multiple viruses such as Lily symptomless virus (LSV), Lily mottle virus (LMoV), and cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) are the most prevalent viruses infecting lilies in Korea. Leaf samples and bulbs showing characteristic symptoms of virus infection were collected from Gangwon, Chungnam, and Jeju provinces of Korea in 2008-2011. Coat protein (CP) genes of LSV and LMoV were amplified from collected samples by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and cloned into a pET21d(+) expression vector to generate recombinant CPs. The resulting carboxy-terminal His-tagged CPs were expressed in Escherichia coli strain BL21(DE3) by isopropyl-1-thio-${\beta}$-D-galactoside induction. The recombinant proteins were purified using Ni-NTA agarose beads, and the purified proteins were used as an immunogen to produce polyclonal antibodies in rabbits. The resulting polyclonal antisera recognized specifically LSV and LMoV from infected plant tissues in Western blotting assays. Indirect enzymelinked immunosorbent assay and immunocapture RT-PCR using these polyclonal antisera were developed for the sensitive, efficient, economic, and rapid detection of Lily viruses. These results suggest that large-scale bulb tests and economic detection of Lily viruses in epidemiological studies can be performed routinely using these polyclonal antisera.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.277-285
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• 2020

The disease-causing koi herpes virus (KHV), also known as cyprinid herpesvirus-3 (CyHV3), causes mass mortality of koi and carp. Koi (Cyprinus carpio) is a host for KHV, one of 12 virus species in the Alloherpesviridae family. We examined the effects of KHV disease koi (KK), and on koi×red common carp (KR) and red common carp×koi (RK) cross, using a virus challenge test. The infected fish had clinical signs that included gill necrosis and skin lesions. The RK and KR were highly more resistant (cumulative mortality: RK; 6% and KR; 8%) to KHV infection than KK fish (cumulative mortality: 28%). KHV DNA was confirmed in the tissues of all dead fish in groups by use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the presence of the KHV protein in kidney was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Histological analysis showed severe gill lesions and fusion of the lamellae in KK fish, but less severe damage in RK fish. In immunohistochemistry analysis, the KHV protein localized in the cytoplasm of infected kidney cells of KK, but the cross groups had lower levels of KHV antigen. Our data indicate that the cross groups had increased resistance to KHV disease.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.44 no.7
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• pp.493-499
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• 2021

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by a progressive loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the midbrain, which results in decreased dopamine levels accompanied by movement symptoms. Oral administration of l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-dopa), the precursor of dopamine, provides initial symptomatic relief, but abnormal involuntary movements develop later. A deeper understanding of the regulatory mechanisms underlying dopamine homeostasis is thus critically needed for the development of a successful treatment. Here, we show that p21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4) controls dopamine levels. Constitutively active PAK4 (caPAK4) stimulated transcription of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) via the cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) transcription factor. Moreover, caPAK4 increased the catalytic activity of TH through its phosphorylation of S⁴⁰, which is essential for TH activation. Consistent with this result, in human midbrain tissues, we observed a strong correlation between phosphorylated PAK4^S474, which represents PAK4 activity, and phosphorylated TH^S40, which reflects their enzymatic activity. Our findings suggest that targeting the PAK4 signaling pathways to restore dopamine levels may provide a new therapeutic approach in PD.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.479-485
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Gelidium amansii (GA) contains plenty of agars and various biological substances, which make them a popular functional food to control body weight in previous studies. Unlike previous studies focused on agar in GA, objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of agar-free GA extract (AfGAE) on preventive and treatment models by using diets-induced obese (DIO) C57BL/6J mice. MATERIALS/METHODS: AfGAE were used to test their effects on the prevention (Exp-1) and treatment (Exp-2) against obesity after pilot study in DIO mice. The weight changes of the body and fat tissues and protein expression related to lipid metabolism and inflammation as well as plasma lipid profile and insulin were detected. RESULTS: Although AfGAE did not prevent long-term DIO, it did increase the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokine production and lipolysis protein. We further evaluated various doses of AfGAE in preventive and treatment models. As a result, our findings suggested that an AfGAE administration as a preventive model might be a better approach to achieve its anti-inflammatory and lipolysis-promoting effects in DIO mice. CONCLUSION: Although future studies to investigate the target materials such as polyphenols in AfGAE are required, the result suggests that GA without agar might be a therapeutic tool to improve health conditions related to inflammation.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.289-296
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• 2019

We investigated the mortality and the oxidative damages of Deschampsia antarctica in response to waterlogging stress. In field, we compared the changes in the density of D. antarctica tuft at the two different sites over 3 years. The soil water content at site 2 was 6-fold higher than that of site 1, and the density of D. antarctica tuft decreased significantly by 55.4% at site 2 for 3 years, but there was no significant change at site 1. Experimental results in growth chamber showed that the $H_2O_2$ and malondialdehyde content increased under root-flooding treatment (hypoxic conditions-deficiency of $O_2$), but any significant change was not perceptible under the shoot-flooding treatment (anoxic condition-absence of $O_2$). However, total chlorophyll, soluble sugar, protein content, and phenolic compound decreased under the shoot-flooding treatment. In addition, the catalase activity increased significantly on the 1st day of flooding. These results indicate that hypoxic conditions may lead to the overproduction of reactive oxygen species, and anoxic conditions can deplete primary metabolites such as sugars and protein in the leaf tissues of D. antarctica. Under present warming trend in Antarctic Peninsula, D. antarctica tuft growing near the shoreline might more frequently experience flooding due to glacier melting and inundation of seawater, which can enhance the risk of this plant mortality.