• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.1009-1015
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• 2007

In this communication, we report the efficacy of $\beta$-carotene towards differentiation and apoptosis of leukemia cells. Dose ($20{\mu}M$) and time dependence (12 h) tests of $\beta$-carotene showed a higher magnitude of decrease (significance p < 0.05) in cell numbers and cell viability in HL-60 cells than U937 cells but not normal cell like Peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC). Microscopical observation of $\beta$-carotene treated cells showed a distinct pattern of morphological abnormalities with inclusion of apoptotic bodies in both leukemia cell lines. When cells were treated with $20{\mu}M$ of $\beta$-carotene, total genomic DNA showed a fragmentation pattern and this pattern was clear in HL-60 than U937 cells. Both the cell lines, on treatment with $\beta$-carotene, showed a clear shift in $G_1$ phase of the cell cycle. In addition the study also revealed anti-oxidant properties of $\beta$-carotene since there was reduction in relative fluorescent when treated than the control at lower concentration. Collectively this study shows the dual phenomenon of apoptosis and differentiation of leukemia cells on treatment with $\beta$-carotene.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.8
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• pp.589-596
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• 2019

${\beta}Pix$ is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for the Rho family small GTPases, Rac1 and Cdc42. It is known to regulate focal adhesion dynamics and cell migration. However, the in vivo role of ${\beta}Pix$ is currently not well understood. Here, we report the production and characterization of ${\beta}Pix$-KO mice. Loss of ${\beta}Pix$ results in embryonic lethality accompanied by abnormal developmental features, such as incomplete neural tube closure, impaired axial rotation, and failure of allantois-chorion fusion. We also generated ${\beta}Pix$-KO mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) to examine ${\beta}Pix$ function in mouse fibroblasts. ${\beta}Pix$-KO MEFs exhibit decreased Rac1 activity, and defects in cell spreading and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced ruffle formation and chemotaxis. The average size of focal adhesions is increased in ${\beta}Pix$-KO MEFs. Interestingly, ${\beta}Pix$-KO MEFs showed increased motility in random migration and rapid wound healing with elevated levels of MLC2 phosphorylation. Taken together, our data demonstrate that ${\beta}Pix$ plays essential roles in early embryonic development, cell spreading, and cell migration in fibroblasts.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.87-91
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• 2014

Amyloid beta ($A{\beta}$) peptide has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease and has been reported to induce apoptotic death in cell culture. Cysteine Proteases, a family of enzymes known as caspases, mediate cell death in many models of apoptosis. In the present study, we examined the caspase activity and cell death in $A{\beta}$-treated SHSY5Y cells, as an attempt to elucidate the relationship between the type of caspase and $A{\beta}$-induced cell death. $A{\beta}$ at 20 ${\mu}M$ induce activation of caspase-3, 8 and 9 activity, but not the caspase-1. Caspase-3, 8 and 9 were processed by Ab treatment, consistent with the activity assay. Inhibition of the caspase activities by the selective inhibitors, however, marginally affected the cell death induced by $A{\beta}$. Taken together, the results indicate that $A{\beta}$-induced cell death may be independent of caspase activity and rather, the enzymes might be activated as a result of the cell death.

• BMB Reports
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.194-199
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• 1997

Previous studies have shown that the HD3 human enterocytic differentiated colon carcinoma cell lines having low $PKC{\beta}$ activity did not respond to diacylglycerol and basic FGF by growth and by activation of pp57 MAP kinase, but undifferentiated cell lines exhibiting high $PKC{\beta}$ activity did. To confirm a role of $PKC{\beta}$ in colonocyte mitogenesis, derivatives of HD3 cell line that stably overexpress a full-length of cDNA encoding the ${\beta}_1$ isoform of human PKC were generated. The abundance and activity of $PKC{\beta}$ in two of the these cell lines, PKC3 and PKC8 were much higher than those in the C1 control cell line that carries the vector lacking the $PKC{\beta}_1\;cDNA$ insert. Following exposure to diacylglycerol or basic FGF, proliferation of PKC3 and PKC8 cells increased about 50%; but this effect was not seen with the control C1 cells. Also, in contrast to the control cells, the $PKC{\beta}_1-overproducing$ cells displayed activation of pp57 MAP kinase when treated with diacylglycerol and basic FGF as undifferentiated cell lines did. These results provide direct evidence that $PKC{\beta}_1$ which plays a key role in mitogenic responses of colon carcinoma cells to diacylglycerol and basic FGF is down-regulated in enterocytic differentiation of colon cells.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.437-447
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• 1999

Type I diabetes, also known as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) results from the destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic $\beta$ cells by a progressive $\beta$ cell-specific autoimmune process. The pathogenesis of autoimmune IDDM has been extensively studied for the past two decades using animal models such as the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse and the Bio-Breeding (BB) rat. However, the initial events that trigger the immune responses leading to the selective destruction of the $\beta$ cells are poorly understood. It is thought that $\beta$ cell auto-antigens are involved in the triggering of $\beta$ cell-specific autoimmunity. Among a dozen putative $\beta$ cell autoantigens, glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) has bee proposed as perhaps the strongest candidate in both humans and the NOD mouse. In the NOD mouse, GAD, as compared with other $\beta$ cell autoantigens, provokes the earliest T cell proliferative response. The suppression of GAD expression in the $\beta$ cells results in the prevention of autoimmune diabetes in NOD mice. In addition, the major populations of cells infiltrating the iselts during the early stage of insulitis in BB rats and NOD mice are macrophages and dendritic cells. The inactivation of macrophages in NOD mice results in the prevention of T cell mediated autoimmune diabetes. Macrophages are primary contributors to the creation of the immune environment conducive to the development and activation of $\beta$cell-specific Th1-type CD4+ T cells and CD8+ cytotoxic T cells that cause autoimmune diabetes in NOD mice. CD4+ and CD8+ T cells are both believed to be important for the destruction of $\beta$ cells. These cells, as final effectors, can kill the insulin-producing $\beta$ cells by the induction of apoptosis. In addition, CD8+ cytotoxic T cells release granzyme and cytolysin (perforin), which are also toxic to $\beta$ cells. In this way, macrophages, CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells act synergistically to kill the $\beta$ cells in conjunction with $\beta$ cell autoantigens and MHC class I and II antigens, resulting in the onset of autoimmune type I diabetes.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.164-168
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• 1999

TGF-$\beta$3 is among five TGF-$\beta$ isolorms and shows 80% sequence identity to TGF-$\beta$I, a prototype of TGF--$\beta$. It has been reported that TGF-$\beta$I, particularly in the presence of IL-2 or L-5, increases the pmduction of IgA and IgG2b isoiypes by LPS-actwated murine B cells. We examined the effect of TGF-P3 on Ig synlhesis by B cells from different lymphoid origins. IgA induction by TGP-$\beta$3 was mardnal in LPS-activated spleen B cell culture, while 1gA production was markedly enhanced in the culture shulated with TGF-$\beta$P3 and L-5. In addition, number of IgA secreting cells was increased by TGF-$\beta$P3. Under the same conditions, TGP-$\beta$3 alone was enough to increase IgG2b production but IgM and 1gGl. Sirmlar patiem of IgA and IgGZb enbancement by TGF-$\beta$3 and L-5 was observed in the cullures of mesenteric lymph node B cells. Thus, overall effect of TGF-$\beta$3 on Ig synthesis was quite similar to that of TGF-$\beta$I. Nonetheless, it remains to be underslood whether TGF-$\beta$3 is an important modulator in B cell differentiation since regulation of TGF-$\beta$3 expression is considered to differ from that of TGF-$\beta$I

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.153-160
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• 2012

Panax ginseng has long been used as a traditional herbal medicine. More recently, it has received attention for its anti-diabetic and anti-obesity effects in humans and in animal models of type 2 diabetes. In the present study, we tested the hypoglycemic effects of ginseng berry extract in beta-cell-deficient mice and investigated the mechanisms involved. Red (ripe) and green (unripe) berry extracts were prepared and administered orally (100 or 200 mg/kg body weight) to streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice daily for 10 wk. The body weight was measured daily, and the nonfasting blood glucose levels were measured after 5 and 10 wk after administration. Glucose tolerance tests were performed, and the serum insulin levels were measured. The proliferation of beta-cells was measured in vitro. The administration of red or green ginseng berry extract significantly reduced the blood glucose levels and improved the glucose tolerance in beta-cell deficient mice, with the higher doses resulting in better effects. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion was significantly increased in berry extract-treated mice compared with streptozotocin-induced diabetic control mice. Treatment with ginseng berry extract increased beta-cell proliferation in vitro. Both red berry and green berry extracts improved glycemic control in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice and increased insulin secretion, possibly due to increased beta-cell proliferation. These results suggest that ginseng berry extracts might have beneficial effects on beta-cell regeneration.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.689-696
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• 2018

Increasing evidence implicates changes in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ and oxidative stress as causative factors in amyloid beta ($A{\beta}$)-induced neuronal cell death. Cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G), a component of anthocyanin, has been reported to protect against glutamate-induced neuronal cell death by inhibiting $Ca^{2+}$ and $Zn^{2+}$ signaling. The present study aimed to determine whether C3G exerts a protective effect against $A{\beta}_{25-35}$-induced neuronal cell death in cultured rat hippocampal neurons from embryonic day 17 fetal Sprague-Dawley rats using MTT assay for cell survival, and caspase-3 assay and digital imaging methods for $Ca^{2+}$, $Zn^{2+}$, MMP and ROS. Treatment with $A{\beta}_{25-35}$ ($20{\mu}M$) for 48 h induced neuronal cell death in cultured rat pure hippocampal neurons. Treatment with C3G for 48 h significantly increased cell survival. Pretreatment with C3G for 30 min significantly inhibited $A{\beta}_{25-35}$-induced $[Zn^{2+}]_i$ increases as well as $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increases in the cultured rat hippocampal neurons. C3G also significantly inhibited $A{\beta}_{25-35}$-induced mitochondrial depolarization. C3G also blocked the $A{\beta}_{25-35}$-induced formation of ROS. In addition, C3G significantly inhibited the $A{\beta}_{25-35}$-induced activation of caspase-3. These results suggest that cyanidin-3-glucoside protects against amyloid ${\beta}$-induced neuronal cell death by reducing multiple apoptotic signals.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.140-148
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• 2000

Objectives : This experiment was conducted to investigate the suppressive effects of Dangguijakyak-san and Wuelbigachul-tang on the expression of ICAM-l and ${\beta}1-integrin$, which mediate cell-cell or cell-matrix interaction, and on the proliferation of mesangial cells. Methods : After in vitro culturing of human mesangial cells with the supernatant which was obtained from the monocytes separated from human blood with Con-A, hydrocortisone, Dangguijakyak-san and Wuelbigachul-tang respectively, we evaluated suppressive effects by measuring the mesangial cell surface enzyme immunoassay or flow cytometry. Results : The results are summarized as follows: 1. Dangguijakyak-san and Wuelbigachul-tang induced marked suppressive effects on the mesangial cell proliferation in the 50% and 25% supernatant concentration stimulating experiments, but hydrocortisone had little effect in these experiments. 2. Dangguijakyak-san and Wuelbigachul-tang induced marked suppressive effects on ICAM-l and ${\beta}1-integrin$ expression, but were less effective than hydrocortisone was. Conclusions : Based on these results, Dangguijakyak-san and Wuelbigachul-tang were found to be effective in the suppression of mesangial cell proliferation and in ICAM-1 and ${\beta}1-integrin$ expression. Further in vitro investigations as conducted above, with the in vivo experiments reflected, may prove that Dangguijakyak-san and Wuelbigachul-tang contribute to the prevention of the glomerular disease.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.541-547
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• 1995

In order to investigate the usability of PALMIWON as antidiabetic immuno-modulating prescription for Insulin-dependent diabetes, we studies the effects of PALMIWON on immune cell and ${\beta}-cell$. U937 was used as the model of immune cell and RINm5F as the model of ${\beta}-cell$. The effects of PALMIWON was measured by cell viability in terms of MIT assay. As a result, PALMIWON and the compositional drugs showed the different effects m immune cell and ${\beta}-cell$. Cell viability of U937 was significantly decreased wheras that of RINm5F was no significantly difference between drug treated group and control, or significantly less reduction compared with U937. It implies that PALMIWON is useful as immunotherapeutic agents in the prevention and therapy of type 1 diabetes.