• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.67 no.2
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• pp.95-104
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• 2009

Background: The pathophysiologic mechanisms of early acute lung injury (ALI) differ according to the type of primary insult. It is important to differentiate between direct and indirect pathophysiologic pathways, and this may influence the approach to treatment strategies. NF-$\kappa$B decoy oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) is a useful tool for the blockade of the expression of NF-$\kappa$B-dependent proinflammatory mediators and has been reported to be effective in indirect ALI. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of NF-$\kappa$B decoy ODN in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced direct ALI model. Methods: Five-week-old specific pathogen-free male BALB/c mice were used for the experiment. In the preliminary studies, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$, interleukine (IL)-6 and NF-$\kappa$B activity peaked at 6 hours after LPS administration. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and ALI score were highest at 36 and 48 hours, respectively. Therefore, it was decided to measure each parameter at the time of its highest level. The study mice were randomly divided into three experimental groups: (1) control group which was administered 50 ${\mu}L$ of saline and treated with intratracheal administration of 200 ${\mu}L$ DW containing only hemagglutinating virus of Japan (HVJ) vector (n=24); (2) LPS group in which LPS-induced ALI mice were treated with intratracheal administration of 200 ${\mu}L$ DW containing only HVJ vector (n=24); (3) LPS+ODN group in which LPS-induced ALI mice were treated with intratracheal administration of 200 ${\mu}L$ DW containing 160 ${\mu}g$ of NF-$\kappa$B decoy ODN and HVJ vector (n=24). Each group was subdivided into four experimental subgroups: (1) tissue subgroup for histopathological examination for ALI at 48 hours (n=6); (2) 6-hour bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) subgroup for measurement of TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-6 in BAL fluid (BALF) (n=6); (3) 36-hour BAL subgroup for MPO activity assays in BALF (n=6); and (4) tissue homogenate subgroup for measurement of NF-$\kappa$B activity in lung tissue homogenates at 6 hours (n=6). Results: NF-$\kappa$B decoy ODN treatment significantly decreased NF-$\kappa$B activity in lung tissues. However, it failed to improve the parameters of LPS-induced direct ALI, including the concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ and interleukin-6 in BALF, myeloperoxidase activity in BALF and histopathologic changes measured by the ALI score. Conclusion: NF-$\kappa$B decoy ODN, which has been proven to be effective in indirect models, had no effect in the direct ALI model.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.18
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• pp.7849-7855
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• 2014

Purpose: To investigate the effect of deacetylase inhibitory trichostatin A (TSA) on anti HepG2 liver carcinoma cells and explore the underlying mechanisms. Materials and Methods: HepG2 cells exposed to different concentrations of TSA for 24, 48, or 72h were examined for cell growth inhibition using CCK8, changes in cell cycle distribution with flow cytometry, cell apoptosis with annexin V-FTIC/PI double staining, and cell morphology changes under an inverted microscope. Expression of ${\beta}$-catenin, HDAC1, HDAC3, H3K9, CyclinD1 and Bax proteins was tested by Western blotting. Gene expression for ${\beta}$-catenin, HDAC1and HDAC3 was tested by q-PCR. ${\beta}$-catenin and H3K9 proteins were also tested by immunofluorescence. Activity of Renilla luciferase (pTCF/LEF-luc) was assessed using the Luciferase Reporter Assay system reagent. The activity of total HDACs was detected with a HDACs colorimetric kit. Results: Exposure to TSA caused significant dose-and time-dependent inhibition of HepG2 cell proliferation (p<0.05) and resulted in increased cell percentages in G0/G1 and G2/M phases and decrease in the S phase. The apoptotic index in the control group was $6.22{\pm}0.25%$, which increased to $7.17{\pm}0.20%$ and $18.1{\pm}0.42%$ in the treatment group. Exposure to 250 and 500nmol/L TSA also caused cell morphology changes with numerous floating cells. Expression of ${\beta}$-catenin, H3K9and Bax proteins was significantly increased, expression levels of CyclinD1, HDAC1, HDAC3 were decreased. Expression of ${\beta}$-catenin at the genetic level was significantly increased, with no significant difference in HDAC1and HDAC3 genes. In the cytoplasm, expression of ${\beta}$-catenin fluorescence protein was not obvious changed and in the nucleus, small amounts of green fluorescence were observed. H3K9 fluorescence protein were increased. Expression levels of the transcription factor TCF werealso increased in HepG2 cells following induction by TSA, whikle the activity of total HDACs was decreased. Conclusions: TSA inhibits HDAC activity, promotes histone acetylation, and activates Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling to inhibit proliferation of HepG2 cell, arrest cell cycling and induce apoptosis.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.227-236
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• 2020

Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (P. ginseng) is known to exert a wide range of pharmacological effects both in vitro and in vivo. Although studies on ginsenoside, antioxidant activity, and anticancer effect of the cultivated wild Panax ginseng (CWP) have been conducted, there is little research on the effect of CWP extract on bone metabolism. In this study, we investigated the potential anti-osteoporotic properties of CWP on the growth and differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells. CWP significantly increased the viability and proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells. CWP activated intracellular alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in MC3T3-E1 cells. In addition, CWP increased the mineralized nodules in MC3T3-E1 cells. Furthermore, CWP increased the expression of genes such as Runx2, ALP, OPN and OCN associated with osteoblast growth and differentiation in a dose-dependent manner.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.153-175
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• 2016

Daecheong Reservoir has suffered eutrophication and water-blooms by blue-green algae from initial impoundment, and algae alert system (AAS) was introduced in 1997. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of rainfall and hydrological factors in increase or decrease variability of green-tide and prolonged AAS, studied and analyzed the current situation of AAS has been operating for 19 years (1997~2015) in Daecheong Reservoir. The total issued number of AAS was 46 times, the most frequent period in August and September were 22 times (752 days) and 16 times (431 days), respectively, it accounted for 82.6%. Many number and frequency during this period were significantly associated with rainfall, various discharge and water level. Rainfall and hydrological events are associated with the rainy season of monsoon-Changma and the typhoon, it was concentrated in June~September, total rainfall in this period accounted for 69.9% of the annual rainfall. An increase in inflows was dependent on the intensity, frequency and the amount of rainfall. Accounted for 68.4% of the total annual inflow, it was a time when the most rapidly changing hydrological variability in the reservoir. The total outflow was closely related to rainfall, and compared the distinctive characteristics of hydropower generation and watergate-spillway discharge. In addition, the upreservoir zone of Daecheong Reservoir could be vulnerable to green-tide by regulating discharge of the upstream dam. The issue of AAS was strongly related to the with and without of watergate-spillway discharge. The watergate-spillway discharge had a total of 25 times, it was maximum 17 days from July to September in the year. And the opening times and each duration of the watergate were 1~4 times and the range of 3~37 days, respectively. When the watergate opened, the issue of AAS was maintained to 13 years and the movement of water bodies and green-tide was great about five times than that of non-open, had a profound effect on prolonged AAS within reservoir. In Daecheong Reservoir, Chusori (CHU) area of the So-ok Stream was still showing serious symptoms green-tide levels in the summer, but Janggye (JAN) waters of the main reservoir was pointed out that more important. AAS will be operated by an absolutely consider the rainfall and hydrological effects around the watergate-spillway discharge. The measures of green-tide will be included in the limnological studies more suited to the characteristics of the watershed and reservoir of the our country. Finally, from now on, we will prepare the systematic management and guidelines for vulnerable zone water-blooms that are the source within the reservoir before the monsoon rather than waiting for the arrival of green-tide on the operating stations of AAS.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.445-456
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• 2002

The purpose of this study were to determine that dexamethasone(Dex) induces differentiation of periodontal ligament(PDL) cells to osteoblastic cells and to investigate expression of matrix Gla protein(MGP), which is one of bone matrix protein. The isolated human PDL cells and gingival fibroblasts were prepared and cultured. The fourth or sixth sub-passage cells were used in this experiments. control group, ascorbic acid and ${\beta}$-glycerophosphate treated group, ascorbic acid, ${\beta}$-glycerophosphate and l00nM Dex treated group, ascorbic acid, ${\beta}$-glycerophosphate, and 5 ${\mu}M$ Dex treated group were made for study. The results were as follows: Cellular morphological change of PDL cells according to time was investigated. At first, the cells exhibited confluent monolayer of spindle or polygonal appearance. The multilayer of cells were seen after 7 days of treatment. After 14 days, the cells lost polarity and were densely packed. The mineralized nodule formation was seen at 21 days in the only Dex treated PDL cell groups. In the gingival fibroblast groups and no Dex treated PDL cell groups, the mineralized nodule was not seen. The mineralized nodule formation of 5 ${\mu}M$ Dex treated group was higher than 100 nM Dex treated group. Alkaline phosphatase(ALP) activity was higher in the Dex treated PDL cell groups of 14 and 21 days than 0 and 7 days. MGP was expressed in the control and all experimental groups and the expression was constant at 0,7,14,21 day. The above results confirm that Dex is affected to differentiation of the PDL cells to osteoblastic or cementoblastic cells and has dose-dependent effect for mineralization. And, MGP is expressed in the PDL cells and is not affected to mineralization of PDL cells.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.17-23
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• 2010

Since the relatively stiff binder shows a higher tensile strength as well as higher rutting resistance, it is believed that the binder stiffness is an important factor for rutting and tensile strength of asphalt mixtures. The typical tensile property is measured by indirect tensile strength (ITS) test at $25^{\circ}C$ and the rutting resistance is most widely measured by wheel tracking (WT) test at $60^{\circ}C$. The deformation strength ($S_D$) is newly developed property to estimate rut resistance of asphalt concretes at $60^{\circ}C$. The ITS and $S_D$ are very simple to measure by static test techniques, but the WT is measured by repeated loading procedure which requires relatively longer time and more efforts. Since these three properties are highly dependent upon the binder stiffness, it may be possible to estimate one property from another. Therefore, this study investigate the possibility of estimating the rutting characteristics (measured by WT test) by ITS or $S_D$ test, and the ITS by $S_D$. Because of binder stiffness effect, in the WT estimation by ITS, a tendency was observed for the higher ITS mixture to have the lower rut depth, giving $R^2{\fallingdotseq}$0.6, on the average. The ITS estimation by $S_D$ showed $R^2{\fallingdotseq}$0.64, and the WT estimation by SD showed $R^2{\fallingdotseq}$0.84, which is highest correlation among the three. Therefore, it was concluded that there is relatively good possibility of estimating WT result by $S_D$, and even though $R^2$ is somewhat low, there is some correlation between WT and ITS.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.689-697
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• 2013

In the United States, about 40,000 new cases of oral cancer are diagnosed each year and nearly 7,800 patients died from it in 2012. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have been found to have anticancer effects in a variety of cancer cell lines and animal models, but their effect in oral cancer remains unclear. This study was designed to examine the effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, a kind of omega-3 fatty acid) on oral cancer cells and the molecular mechanism of its action. We found that exposure of squamous cell carcinoma-4 (SCC-4) and squamous cell carcinoma-9 (SCC-9) human oral cancer cells to DHA induced growth inhibition in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Meanwhile, in addition to the elevated levels of apoptotic markers, such as cleaved PARP, subG1 portion and TUNEL-positive nuclei, DHA led to autophagic vesicle formation and an increase in autophagic flux, indicating the involvement of both apoptosis and autophagy in the inhibitory effects of DHA on oral cancer cells. Further experiments revealed that the apoptosis and autophagy induced by DHA were linked to inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling by AKT inhibition and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation in SCC-9 cells. Together, our results suggest that DHA induces apoptosis- and autophagy-associated cell death through the AMPK/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in oral cancer cells. Thus, utilization of omega-3 fatty acids may represent a promising therapeutic approach for chemoprevention and treatment of human oral cancer.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1501-1508
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• 2013

This study investigated antioxidant activity and the lipid content of serum for the possible outcome of improving the activity of Ishige okamurae extracts in ovariectomized rats. The antioxidant effects of an Ishige okamurae water extract and an Ishige okamurae ethanol extract were measured by evaluating DPPH free radical scavenging activity and SOD-like activity. Fifty, seven-week old female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to five groups as follows: sham-operated rats (SHAM), ovariectomized rats (OVX-CON), ovariectomized rats that were treated with 17-beta-estradiol (200 ${\mu}g/kg/day$), and ovariectomized rats that were treated with Ishige okamurae extracts (50 mg/kg/day and 200 mg/kg/day, respectively). The diets were fed to the rats for seven weeks after ovariectomy. The antioxidant activities of the water and ethanol extracts of Ishige okamurae increased in a dose-dependent manner, and the ethanol extract was found to be higher than the water extract. Therefore, we examined the effect of an Ishige okamurae ethanol extract on total serum cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol levels, and anti-platelet aggregation. The total-cholesterol and triglyceride content of the serum increased in the OVX-CON group compared to the SHAM group, but supplementation with the Ishige okamurae ethanol extract caused these factors to decrease. Notably, the serum LDL-cholesterol concentration in the supplemented 200 mg/kg/day Ishige okamurae ethanol extract group was significantly more reduced than it was in the OVX-CON group. In addition, the platelet aggregation ability was lower in the groups treated with Ishige okamurae than it was in the OVX-CON group. According to these results, the effects of Ishige okamurae extract on serum lipid content in ovariectomized rats were illuminated.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 2018

The utility of Bacillus spp. organisms for reduction of dissolved hydrogen sulfide ($H_2S$) in white leg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) culture was tested with different combinations of Bacillus spp. microorganisms: combination A (B. subtilis + B. licheniformis); combination B (B. licheniformis + B. amyloliquefaciens); combination C (B. subtilis + B. licheniformis + B. amyloliquefaciens). Of these 3 combinations, C was effective in few hours after addition whereas B needed longer time to be effective. The $H_2S-reducing$ effect of combination C was dependent on the amount of microorganisms added to $H_2S-containing$ test solution. Exposure of white leg shrimp to $H_2S$ at 8 mg/L for 7 days led to survival of 80% and 1 mg/L for 14 days it was 82.5%. The survival rate was 97.5% when combination C was simultaneously added to shrimp tanks during $H_2S$ exposure at 1 mg/L for 14 days. It was demonstrated that combination C microorganisms (B. subtilis + B. licheniformis + B. amyloliquefaciens) can reduce dissolved $H_2S$ concentrations, and this effect can be utilized to protect white leg shrimp from $H_2S$ toxicity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1104-1110
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• 2019

Recently, there has been an increase in the elderly population of the world. Consequently, bone metabolic diseases such as osteoporosis are emerging as a social problem. Osteoclasts play a role in bone resorption, and osteoporosis is induced when bone resorption occurs excessively. Because currently used bone resorption inhibitors may cause side effects when used for a long period of time, it is necessary to develop a new material that effectively inhibits osteoclast differentiation. This study aimed to confirm the inhibitory effect of ethanol extract of Locusta migratoria on RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation and its mechanism. The toxicity and proliferation effects of LME on RAW264.7 osteoclasts were measured by an MTS assay. There was no cytotoxicity or proliferation when the osteoclasts were treated with up to $2,000{\mu}g/ml$ of LME. In order to confirm the effect of LME on the differentiation of osteoclasts, osteoclasts were treated with RANKL alone or with LME for 3 days. As a result of a TRAP (tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase) assay, the increasing osteoclast differentiation by RANKL decreased in a concentration-dependent manner with the treatment of LME. In addition, LME suppressed the expression of differentiation-related marker genes (TRAP, RANK, NFATc1, and CK) and proteins (NFATc1 and c-Src) that had been increased by RANKL. Also, LME influenced the $NF-{\kappa}B$, ERK and JNK signaling pathways, resulting in the inhibition of osteoclast differentiation. These results suggest that LME may be used as a novel functional material for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis by playing a role in inhibiting bone absorption.