• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.588-595
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• 2013

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are often known to have a therapeutic potential in the cell-mediated repair for fatal or incurable diseases. In this study, canine umbilical cord MSCs (cUC-MSCs) were isolated from umbilical cord matrix (n = 3) and subjected to proliferative culture for 5 consecutive passages. The cells at each passage were characterized for multipotent MSC properties such as proliferation kinetics, expression patterns of MSC surface markers and self-renewal associated markers, and chondrogenic differentiation. In results, the proliferation of the cells as determined by the cumulative population doubling level was observed at its peak on passage 3 and stopped after passage 5, whereas cell doubling time dramatically increased after passage 4. Expression of MSC surface markers (CD44, CD54, CD61, CD80, CD90 and Flk-1), molecule (HMGA2) and pluripotent markers (sox2, nanog) associated with self-renewal was negatively correlated with the number of passages. However, MSC surface marker (CD105) and pluripotent marker (Oct3/4) decreased with increasing the number of subpassage. cUC-MSCs at passage 1 to 5 underwent chondrogenesis under specific culture conditions, but percentage of chondrogenic differentiation decreased with increasing the number of subpassage. Collectively, the present study suggested that sequential subpassage could affect multipotent properties of cUC-MSCs and needs to be addressed before clinical applications.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.331-338
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• 2011

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) function as a key regulator of diverse cellular functions. To find out novel miRNAs that promote the differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs), we compared the miRNAs expression profiles of mESCs under self-renewal vs. differentiation states. We noticed that miR-222 was highly expressed during the differentiation of mESCs. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that expression of miR-222 was up-regulated during the embryonic bodies formation and retinoic acid -dependent differentiation. When miR-222 was suppressed by antogomiR-222, the differentiation of mESCs was delayed compared to control. Self-renewal marker expression or cell proliferation was not affected but the expression of lineage specific marker was suppressed by the treatment of miR-222 inhibitor during the differentiation of mESCs. Taken together, these results suggest that miR-222 functions to promote the differentiation of mESCs by regulating expression of differentiation related genes.

• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.3-10
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• 2016

microRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of cell state transition and retention during stem cell proliferation and differentiation by post-transcriptionally downregulating hundreds of conserved target genes via seed-pairing in their 3' untranslated region. In embryonic and adult stem cells, dozens of miRNAs that elaborately control stem cell processes by modulating the transcriptomic context therein have been identified. Some miRNAs accelerate the change of cell state into progenitor cell lineages—such as myoblast, myeloid or lymphoid progenitors, and neuro precursor stem cells—and other miRNAs decelerate the change but induce proliferative activity, resulting in cell state retention. This cell state choice can be controlled by endogenously or exogenously changing miRNA levels or by including or excluding target sites. This control of miRNA-mediated gene regulation could improve our understanding of stem cell biology and facilitate their development as therapeutic tools. [BMB Reports 2016; 49(1): 3-10]

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.59-66
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• 2007

Understanding molecular mechanisms that control embryonic stem cell (ESC) self-renewal and differentiation is important for the development of ESC-based therapies. Statins, inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase), potently reduce cholesterol level. As well as inhibiting cholesterol synthesis, statins inhibit other intermediates in the mevalonate pathway such as farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP), major substrates for protein isoprenylation. Studies showed that pleiotropic effects of statins beyond cholesterol lowering property arise from inhibition of protein isoprenylation that is involved in various cellular functions including proliferation and differentiation. It has been determined that statins have inhibitory effect on ESC self-renewal and stimulatory effect on ESC differentiation into adipogenic/osteogenic lineages. Importantly, statins mediate downregulation of ESC self-renewal by inhibiting RhoA-dependent signaling, independently of their choresterol-lowering properties. Understanding statin's actions on ESCs may provide important insights into the molecular mechanisms that regulate self-renewal or differentiation of ESCs.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.87-93
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• 2010

Researches for stem cells have been focused on scientists in biomedical sciences as well as clinical application for its great therapeutic potentials. Stem cells have two distinct characteristics: self-renewal and differentiation. In this short review, the links between stem cell research and biomedical engineering is discussed based on the basic characteristics of stem cells. This concept can be extended to the fundamental questions of biological sciences for cells such as proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, and migration. For understanding proliferation and apoptosis of stem cells, techniques from biomedical engineering such as surface patterning, MEMS, nanotechnologies have been used. The advanced technologies such as microfluidic technologies, three dimensional scaffold fabrication, and mechanical/electrical stimulation have also been used in cell differentiation and migration. Basic and unsolved questions in the stem cell research field have limitations by studying conventional technologies. Therefore, the strategic fusion between stem cell biology and novel biomedical engineering field will break the barriers for understanding fundamental questions of stem cells, which can open the window for the clinical applications of stem cell based therapeutics as well as regeneration of damaged tissues.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.7
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• pp.948-957
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• 2016

We previously developed an herbal composition (HemoHIM) based on the water extracts of Angelica gigas radix, Cnidium officinale rhizoma, and Paeonia japonica radix to protect and recover hematopoietic and intestinal tissues against radiation injuries. In this study, to develop a composition with improved activities based on enhanced fat-soluble polyphenol contents, we prepared a new herbal composition, MH-30, from the above three herbs by 30% ethanol extraction and hot water extraction. HPLC analysis of the ethanol fractions of MH-30 and HemoHIM revealed that MH-30 had higher contents of many fat-soluble polyphenol compounds than HemoHIM (8.7-fold increase for decursin), whereas contents of water-soluble polyphenol compounds showed little differences between the two compositions. Then, we evaluated MH-30 and HemoHIM for their in vitro antioxidant and immune cell-stimulating activities as well as in vivo protective effects against radiation injuries in hematopoietic and self-renewal tissues. In antioxidant activity assays, MH-30 showed higher hydroxyl radical scavenging activity than HemoHIM (1.4- to 1.9-fold for compositions and 2.3- to 4.5-fold for ethanol fractions). On the other hand, MH-30 and HemoHIM exhibited similar immune cell-stimulating activities as measured by in vitro lymphocyte proliferation. MH-30 increased endogenous spleen colony formation, decreased bone marrow cell apoptosis, and enhanced survival of intestinal crypts in irradiated mice, demonstrating effective protection of MH-30 against radiation-induced injuries in hematopoietic and self-renewal tissues. The 30-day survival rate of lethally irradiated mice, a comprehensive index for radioprotective efficacy, was also elevated by MH-30. Noticeably, MH-30 showed higher protective effects than HemoHIM in all mouse experiments. These results demonstrate that MH-30 can protect hematopoietic and self-renewal tissues against radiation injuries more effectively than HemoHIM. Therefore, MH-30 can be a good candidate to reduce radiation injuries in hematopoietic and self-renewal tissues incurred by radiation accidents or cancer radiation therapy.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.281-286
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• 2022

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a major health burden, and though various treatments through much research are available, difficulties in early diagnosis and drug resistance to chemotherapy-based treatments render several ineffective. Cancer stem cell model has been used to explain formation of heterogeneous cell population within tumor mass, which is one of the underlying causes of high recurrence rate and acquired chemoresistance, highlighting the importance of CSC identification and understanding the molecular mechanisms of CSC drivers. Extracellular CSC-markers such as CD133, CD90 and EpCAM have been used successfully in CSC isolation, but studies have indicated that increasingly complex combinations are required for accurate identification. Pseudogene-derived long non-coding RNAs are useful candidates as intracellular CSC markers - factors that regulate pluripotency and self-renewal - given their cancer-specific expression and versatile regulation across several levels. Here, we present the use of microarray data to identify stemness-associated factors in liver cancer, and selection of sole pseudogene-derived lncRNA ZNF204P for experimental validation. ZNF204P knockdown impairs cell proliferation and migration/invasion. As the cytosolic ZNF204P shares miRNA binding sites with OCT4 and SOX2, well-known drivers of pluripotency and self-renewal, we propose that ZNF204P promotes tumorigenesis through the miRNA-145-5p/OCT4, SOX2 axis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.805-813
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• 2005

In our previous study, a novel herb mixture (HIM-I) of Angelim gigas radix, Cnidium officinale rhizoma, and Paeonia japonica radix was developed to protect the intestinal and immune systems and promote its recovery against radiation damage. In this study, a new herbal preparation (HemoHIM) with the high immune modulating activity was developed from HIM-I. HIM-I was fractionated into ethanol fraction (HIM-I-E) and polysaccharide fraction (HIM-I-P). And HemoHIM was prepared by adding HIM-I-P to HIM-I. The protective activities against $\gamma$ -irradiation were compared among HemoHIM, HIM-I and the fractions. HemoHIM and HIM-I significantly decreased the radiation-induced DNA damage in vitro, and scavenged hydroxyl radicals in a dose-dependent manner. HemoHIM showed similar activity to HIM-I. In vitro proliferation assay with mouse lymphocytes and bone marrow cells showed that HIM-I-P was remarkably higher than HIM-I and HIM-I-E in cell proliferating activity. HemoHIM showed higher activity than HIM-I and this might be associated with the higher polysaccharide content. The in vivo protective effects of HemoHIM and HIM-I were investigated in $\gamma$-irradiated mice. HemoHIM increased the surviving intestinal crypts to a similar extent compared with HIM-I. In contrast, HemoHIM appeared to be more effective than HIM-I in endogenous spleen colony formation assay. The recovery of white blood cells and lymphocytes in irradiated mice were significantly enhanced by the administration of HemoHIM. Also HemoHIM administration prolonged the survival of irradiated mice. These results showed that the novel herbal preparation, HemoHIM, effectively protected the self-renewal tissues and immune system, and promoted the survival of irradiated mice. Moreover, in comparison with HIM-I, HemoHIM maintained similar activity in the reduction of oxidative damage of self-renewal tissue but exhibited the higher activity in protection and proliferation of immune and hematopoietic cells. These results suggested that HemoHIM might be more effective than HIM-I in immune modulation as well as radioprotection.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.83-92
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• 2018

The biological significance and deregulation of the Hippo pathway during organ growth and tumorigenesis have received a surge of interest in the past decade. The Hippo pathway core kinases, MST1/2 and LATS1/2, are tumor suppressors that inhibit the oncogenic nuclear function of YAP/TAZ and TEAD. In addition to earlier studies that highlight the role of Hippo pathway in organ size control, cell proliferation, and tumor development, recent evidence demonstrates its critical role in cancer stem cell biology, including EMT, drug resistance, and self-renewal. Here we provide a brief overview of the regulatory mechanisms of the Hippo pathway, its role in cancer stem cell biology, and promising therapeutic interventions.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.65 no.1
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• pp.16-31
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• 2023

Cultured meat is a potential sustainable food generated by the in vitro myogenesis of muscle satellite (stem) cells (MSCs). The self-renewal and differentiation properties of MSCs are of primary interest for cultured meat production. MSC proliferation and differentiation are influenced by a variety of growth factors such as insulin-like growth factors (IGF-1 and IGF-2), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), fibroblast growth factors (FGF-2 and FGF-21), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and by hormones like insulin, testosterone, glucocorticoids, and thyroid hormones. In this review, we investigated the roles of growth factors and hormones during cultured meat production because these factors provide signals for MSC growth and structural stability. The aim of this article is to provide the important idea about different growth factors such as FGF (enhance the cell proliferation and differentiation), IGF-1 (increase the number of myoblasts), PDGF (myoblast proliferation), TGF-β1 (muscle repair) and hormones such as insulin (cell survival and growth), testosterone (muscle fiber size), dexamethasone (myoblast proliferation and differentiation), and thyroid hormones (amount and diameter of muscle fibers and determine the usual pattern of fiber distributions) as media components during myogenesis for cultured meat production.