• Natural Product Sciences
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.1-4
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• 2017

Sinensetin, a pentamethoxyflavone, is known to exert various pharmacological activities including anti-angiogenesis, anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory activities. However, its effects on the human mast cell - 1 (HMC-1) mediated inflammatory mechanism remain unknown. To explore the mediator and cellular inflammatory response of sinensetin, we examined its influence on phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) plus A23187 induced inflammatory mediator production in a human mast cell line. In this study, interleukin (IL)-6 production was measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Sinensetin inhibited PMA plus A23187 induced IL-6 production in a dose-dependent manner as well as IL-4, IL-5 and IL-8 mRNA expression. Furthermore, sinensetin inhibited signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) phosphorylation, suggesting that sinensetin inhibits the production of inflammatory mediators by blocking STAT3 phosphorylation. Moreover, sinensetin was found to inhibit nuclear factor kappa B activation. These findings suggest that sinensetin may be involved in the regulation of mast cell-mediated inflammatory responses.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.45.1-45.8
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• 2021

Brassica napus is the third most important oilseed crop in the world; however, in Korea, it is greatly affected by cold stress, limiting seed growth and production. Plants have developed specific stress responses that are generally divided into three categories: cold-stress signaling, transcriptional/post-transcriptional regulation, and stress-response mechanisms. Large numbers of functional and regulatory proteins are involved in these processes when triggered by cold stress. Here, our objective was to investigate the different genetic factors involved in the cold-stress responses of B. napus. Consequently, we treated the Korean B. napus cultivar Naehan at the 4-week stage in cold chambers under different conditions, and RNA and cDNA were obtained. An in silico analysis included 80 cold-responsive genes downloaded from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database. Expression levels were assessed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and 14 cold-triggered genes were identified under cold-stress conditions. The most significant genes encoded zinc-finger proteins (33.7%), followed by MYB transcription factors (7.5%). In the future, we will select genes appropriate for improving the cold tolerance of B. napus.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.35.1-35.13
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• 2022

Background: The testis has been reported to be a naturally O2-deprived organ, dimethyloxaloylglycine (DMOG) can inhibit hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1α) subject to degradation under normal oxygen condition in cells. Objectives: The objective of this study is to detect the effects of DMOG on the proliferation and differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in Bama minipigs. Methods: Gradient concentrations of DMOG were added into the culture medium, HIF-1α protein in SSCs was detected by western blot analysis, the relative transcription levels of the SSC-specific genes were analyzed using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Six days post-induction, the genes related to spermatogenesis were detected by qRT-PCR, and the DNA content was determined by flow cytometry. Results: Results revealed that the levels of HIF-1α protein increased in SSCs with the DMOG treatment in a dose-dependent manner. The relative transcription levels of SSC-specific genes were significantly upregulated (p < 0.05) by activating HIF-1α expression. The induction results showed that DMOG significantly increased (p < 0.05) the spermatogenesis capability of SSCs, and the populations of haploid cells significantly increased (p < 0.05) in DMOG-treated SSCs when compared to those in DMOG-untreated SSCs. Conclusion: We demonstrate that DMOG can promote the spermatogenesis activity of SSCs.

• 한국동물위생학회지
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• 제46권4호
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• pp.269-281
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• 2023

In this study, a new triplex real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (tqRT-PCR) assay was developed for the rapid and differential detection of three feline viral pathogens including feline calicivirus (FCV), feline herpesvirus 1 (FHV-1), and influenza A virus (IAV) in a single reaction. The assay specifically amplified three targeted viral genes with a detection limit of below 10 copies/reaction. The assay showed high repeatability and reproducibility, with intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation of less than 1%. Based on the diagnostic results of the assay using 120 clinical samples obtained from cats with feline respiratory disease complex (FRDC)-suspected signs, the prevalence of FCV, FHV-1, or IAV was 43.3%, 22.5%, or 0%, respectively, indicating that the diagnostic sensitivity was comparable or superior to those of previously reported monoplex qRT-PCR/qPCR assays. The dual infection rate for FCV and FHV-1 was 8.3%. These results indicate that FCV and FHV-1 are widespread and that co-infection with FCV and FHV-1 frequently occur in the Korean cat population. The developed tqRT-PCR assay will serve as a promising tool for etiological and epidemiological studies of these three bacterial pathogens, and the prevalence data for three feline viruses obtained in this study will contribute to expanding knowledge about the epidemiology of FRDC in the current Korean cat population.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제22권8호
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• pp.1165-1169
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• 2012

In April 2009, the H1N1 pandemic influenza virus emerged as a novel influenza virus. The aim of this study was to compare the performances of several molecular assays, including conventional reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), two real-time reverse transcription (rRT)-PCRs, and two multiplex RTPCRs. A total of 381 clinical specimens were collected from patients (223 men and 158 women), and both the Seeplex RV7 assay and rRT-PCR were ordered on different specimens within one week after collection. The concordance rate for the two methods was 87% (332/381), and the discrepancy rate was 13% (49/381). The positive rates for the molecular assays studied included 93.1% for the multiplex Seeplex RV7 assay, 93.1% for conventional reverse transcription (cRT)-PCR, 89.7% for the multiplex Seeplex Flu ACE Subtyping assay, 82.8% for protocol B rRT-PCR, and 58.6% for protocol A rRT-PCR. Our results showed that the multiplex Seeplex assays and the cRT-PCR yielded higher detection rates than rRT-PCRs for detecting the influenza A (H1N1) virus. Although the multiplex Seeplex assays had the advantage of simultaneous detection of several viruses, they were time-consuming and troublesome. Our results show that, although rRT-PCR had the advantage, the detection rates of the molecular assays varied depending upon the source of the influenza A (H1N1)v virus. Our findings also suggest that rRT-PCR sometimes detected virus in extremely low abundance and thus required validation of analytical performance and clinical correlation.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제56권2호
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• pp.135-145
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• 2018

Due to the critical location and physiological activities of the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell, it is constantly subjected to contact with various infectious agents and inflammatory mediators. However, little is known about the signaling events in RPE involved in Toxoplasma gondii infection and development. The aim of the study is to screen the host mRNA transcriptional change of 3 inflammation-related gene categories, PI3K/Akt pathway regulatory components, blood vessel development factors and ROS regulators, to prove that PI3K/Akt or mTOR signaling pathway play an essential role in regulating the selected inflammation-related genes. The selected genes include PH domain and leucine- rich-repeat protein phosphatases (PHLPP), casein kinase2 (CK2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), glutamate-cysteine ligase (GCL), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1). Using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), we found that T. gondii up-regulates PHLPP2, $CK2{\beta}$, VEGF, GCL, GST and NQO1 gene expression levels, but down-regulates PHLPP1 and PEDF mRNA transcription levels. PI3K inhibition and mTOR inhibition by specific inhibitors showed that most of these host gene expression patterns were due to activation of PI3K/Akt or mTOR pathways with some exceptional cases. Taken together, our results reveal a new molecular mechanism of these gene expression change dependent on PI3K/Akt or mTOR pathways and highlight more systematical insight of how an intracellular T. gondii can manipulate host genes to avoid host defense.

• 한국응용과학기술학회지
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.173-182
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• 2013

아토피성 피부염은 만성 재발성 염증성 피부질환으로 피부장벽기능의 이상과 환경유발인자에 대한 피부과민성과 연관되어 있다. 이전의 연구에서는 아토피성피부염에 효과적인 약용식물 추출물을 발굴하기 위하여 노회, 자회지정, 석류, 석곡 추출물들의 세포독성, 항산화, 항염, 항알레르기 효과를 검토하였다. 본 연구에서는 지질다당류로 활성화시킨 대식세포 RAW26.7 에 대한 약용식물 추출물들의 항염작용을 보다 상세하게 검토하여 항염작용의 근본적인 분자기전을 확인하고자 하였다. 역전사중합효소연쇄반응분석(reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis) 결과, 석류, 석곡, 노회는 염증성 사이토카인인 IL-6 와 IL-$1{\beta}$ 유전자발현을 현저하게 억제시켰으며 자화지정은 영향이 없었다. 형질주입과 발광효소분석(transfection and luciferase analysis) 결과, 약용식물 모두가 전사 핵인자 카파비(NF-${\kappa}B$)의 활성화를 억제시켰다. 웨스턴 블럿 분석(western blot analysis) 결과, 노회는 JNK MAP 인산화효소의 활성화를 차단하였지만 p38 MAP 인산화효소의 활성화는 차단하지 못하였다. 반면에 자화지정, 석류, 석곡은 JNK MAP 인산화효소뿐만 아니라 p38 MAP 인산화효소의 활성화도 차단하였다. 이들 실험결과들은 노회, 자화지정, 석류, 석곡은 항염효능을 가지고 있으며 따라서 아토피성 피부염의 증상을 경감 또는 완화시키는 잠재력이 있음을 보여 준다.

• 한국해양생명과학회지
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.145-153
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• 2022

수은은 생물 축적과 먹이사슬을 통한 생물 농축되며, 미량에서도 유해한 영향을 나타내기 때문에 해양 환경 내에서 중요한 문제가 되고 있다. 그러나 해양 소형 갑각류에 대한 수은의 생물 영향은 다른 금속에 비해 연구가 미흡하다. 본 연구에서는 기수산 물벼룩 Diaphanosoma celebensis을 아치사 농도(0.2, 0.4, 0.8 ㎍/l)의 무기 수은(HgCl₂)에 48시간 노출시킨 후, 대사 관련 유전자의 발현 양상을 조사하였다. 해독효소 유전자 5종(cytochrome P450; cyp360A1, cyp361A1, cyp4AP3, cyp4C122, cyp370C5)과 소화효소 6종(alpha amylase (AMY), alpha amylase related protein (AMY-like), trypsin (TRYP), chymotrypsin-like protein (CHY), lipase (LIP), pancreatic lipase-related protein (PLRP))의 유전자 발현을 quantitative real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR)을 이용하여 분석하였다. Cyp 유전자의 경우 clan2에 속하는 cyp370C5와 clan4에 속하는 cyp4AP3 유전자의 발현이 농도 의존적으로 유의하게 증가하였다. 한편 소화효소 유전자 중에서는 단백질 소화와 관련 있는 TRYP 유전자의 발현이 농도 의존적으로 증가하였다. 이러한 결과는 cyp370C5와 cyp4AP3가 수은 독성을 해독하는 과정에서 중요한 역할을 담당할 것으로 보이며, 수은이 소화효소 유전자의 발현을 조절함으로써 에너지 대사에 영향을 미칠 수 있음을 제시한다. 본 연구는 해양 소형 갑각류에서 수은에 대한 분자 수준의 영향을 이해하는데 도움이 될 것이다.

• 한국동물생명공학회지
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• 제34권4호
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• pp.292-299
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• 2019

Interferon tau (IFNT) regulation, an anti-luteolytic factor produced by conceptuses of the ruminant ungulates, is essential for the maintenance of early pregnancy, but a definitive mechanism for its temporal transcription has not been elucidated. We and others have observed the T-box protein eomesodermin (EOMES) exhibited high mRNA expression in the ovine embryonic trophectoderm; thus, both caudal-relatedhomeobox-2 (CDX2) and EOMES coexist during the early stages of conceptus development. Objective of this study was to examine the effect of EOMES on ovine IFNT gene transcription when evaluated with CDX2, ETS2 and AP1 transcription factors implicated in the control of cell differentiation in the trophectoderm. In this study, quantitatively via reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis between ovine trophoblast cells was initially performed, finding that transcription factors CDX2 and 'EOMES transcription factor mRNAs' were specific to trophectoderm cells. These mRNAs were also found in days 15, 17, and 21 ovine conceptuses. Furthermore, human choriocarcinoma JEG3 cells (trophoblast cell line) were cotransfected with an ovine IFNT (-654bp)-luciferase reporter (-654-oIFNT-Luc) construct and several transcription factor expression plasmids. Cotransfection of the reporter construct with CDX2, ETS2 and AP1 increased transcription of -654-oIFNT-Luc by about 11-fold compared with transfection of the construct alone. When cells were initially transfected with EOMES followed by transfection with CDX2, ETS2 and/or AP1, the expression of -654-oIFNT-Luc was decreased. Also, EOMES factor inhibited the stimulatory activity of CDX2 alone. These results suggest that when conceptuses attach to the uterine epithelium, ovine IFNT gene transcription is down-regulated by an increase of EOMES factor expression in the attached ovine trophoblast cells.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.22.1-22.9
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• 2020

Rabid raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides koreensis) have been responsible for animal rabies in South Korea since the 1990s. A recombinant rabies vaccine strain, designated as ERAGS, was constructed for use as a bait vaccine. Therefore, new means of differentiating ERAGS from other rabies virus (RABV) strains will be required in biological manufacturing and diagnostic service centers. In this study, we designed two specific primer sets for differentiation between ERAGS and other RABVs based on mutation in the RABV glycoprotein gene. Polymerase chain reaction analysis of the glycoprotein gene revealed two DNA bands of 383 bp and 583 bp in the ERAGS strain but a single DNA band of 383 bp in the field strains. The detection limits of multiplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were 80 and 8 FAID₅₀/reaction for the ERAGS and Evelyn-Rokitnicki-Abelseth strains, respectively. No cross-reactions were detected in the non-RABV reference viruses, including canine distemper virus, parvovirus, canine adenovirus type 1 and 2, and parainfluenza virus. The results of multiplex RT-PCR were 100% consistent with those of the fluorescent antibody test. Therefore, one-step multiplex RT-PCR is likely useful for differentiation between RABVs with and those without mutation at position 333 of the RABV glycoprotein gene.