• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.511-516
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• 2015

In the present study, we investigated changes in the nutritional components of pre- and post-germinated barley seeds and also investigated their immune-enhancing effects such as production of nitric oxide (NO), interleukin (IL)-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ on the RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line. Protein and total sugar contents increased slightly with increase in germination time. The major neutral sugars of germinated balrey seeds were arabinose, glucose, and xylose. Glucose content decreased during germination, whereas arabinose and xylose contents increased during germination. Amino acid contents of barley germinated for 24 and 48 hours increased 1.03-fold and 1.24-fold, respectively, compared to that of pre-germinated barley. Moreover, RAW 264.7 macrophages stimulated with barley germinated for 24 and 48 hours showed higher production of NO, IL-6, and TNF-${\alpha}$ compared to that observed in pre-germinated barley. The results of the present study indicate that germinated barley may have immune-enhancing effects derived from its ability to activate RAW 264.7 macrophages, which play a major role in innate immunity.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.23-33
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• 2011

Objectives : The present study investigated effects of Artemisia Capillaris Thunberg ethanol extract(EtOH ext). on lowering lipid, anti-oxidation and concentration of plasma inflammatory mediators using rat fed on high oxidized fat. Methods : We divided fat sprague-dawley rats fed on high oxidized into 4 groups. They were normal group, feed with 100 mg/kg Artemisia Capillaris Thunberg group, feed with 200 mg/kg Artemisia Capillaris Thunberg group and feed with 300 mg/kg Artemisia capilaris Thunberg group. They were administered for 4 weeks. We measured concentration of plasma free fatty acid(FFA), plasma triglyceride, plasma total cholesterol, and plasma low density lipoprotein-cholesterol(LDL-cholesterol), plasma high density lipoprotein-cholesterol(HDL-cholesterol), concentration of liver total cholesterol and liver triglyceride (TG), concentration of plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substance(TBARS) and liver thiobarbituric acid reactive substance(TBARS), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity and catalase(CAT) activity, plasma nitric oxide(NO), ceruloplasmin and ${\alpha}-glycoprotein$. Results : 1. The Artemisia Capillaris Thunberg EtOH ext. groups showed low concentration of plasma FFA, plasma triglyceride, plasma total cholesterol and plasma LDL-cholesterol compared to control group. However, concentration of plasma HDL-cholesterol was increased in the Artemisia Capillaris Thunberg EtOH ext. groups. 2. Concentration of liver total cholesterol and liver TG showed a significantly decrement in all Artemisia Capillaris Thunberg EtOH ext. groups than that of control group. 3. The Artemisia Capillaris Thunberg EtOH ext. groups showed lower values in concentration of plasma TBARS and liver TBARS than that of control group. The values of GSH-Px activity, SOD activity and CAT activity were increased in the Artemisia Capillaris Thunberg EtOH ext. groups. 4. The values of plasma NO, ceruloplasmin and ${\alpha}-glycoprotein$ were decreased in Artemisia Capillaris Thunberg EtOH ext. groups. Conclusions : Based on the results in this study, the Artemisia Capillaris Thunberg EtOH ext. showed a positive effect in lowering lipid, anti-oxidation and decrement of plasma inflammatory mediators.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.235-244
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• 2007

By comparing the proteins from the workers exposed to styrene with the ones from controls, it may be possible to identify proteins that play a role in the occurrence and progress of occupational disease and thus to study the molecular mechanisms of occupational disease. In order to find the biomarkers for assessing the styrene effects early, before clinical symptoms develop and to understand the mechanisms of adverse health effects, we surveyed 134 employees, among whom 52 workers(30 male and 22 female) were chronically exposed to styrene in 10 glass-reinforced plastic boat manufacturing factories in Korea and 82 controls had never been occupationally exposed to hazardous chemicals including styrene. The age and drinking habits and serum biochemistry such as total protein, BUN and serum creatinine in both groups were significantly different. Exposed workers were divided into three groups according to exposure levels of styrene(G1, below 1/2 TLV; G2, 1/2 TLV to TLV; G3, above TLV). The mean concentration of airborne styrene in G1 group was $10.93{\pm}11.33ppm$, and those of urinary mandelic acid(MA) and phenylglyoxylic acid(PGA) were $0.17{\pm}0.21$ and $0.13{\pm}0.11g/g$ creatinine, respectively. The mean concentration of airborne styrene in G2 and G3 groups were $47.54{\pm}22.43$ and $65.33{\pm}33.47ppm$, respectively, and levels of urinary metabolites such as MA and PGA increased considerably as expected with the increase in exposure level of styrene. The airborne styrene concentration were significantly correlated to the urinary concentration of MA(r=0.784, p=0.000) and PGA(r=0.626, p<0.001). In the 2D electrophoresis, the concentration of five proteins including complement C3 precursor, alpha-1-antitrypsin(AAT), vitamin D binding protein precursor(DBP), alpha-1-B-glycoprotein(A1BG) and inter alpha trypsin inhibitor(ITI) heavy chain-related protein were significantly altered in workers exposed to styrene compared with controls. While expression of complement C3 precursor and AAT increased by exposure to styrene, expression of DBP, A1BG and ITI heavy chain-related protein decreased. These results suggest that the exposure of styrene might affects levels of plasma proteinase, carriers of endogenous substances and immune system. In particular, increasing of AAT with the increase in exposure level of styrene can explain the tissue damage and inflammation by the imbalance of proteinase/antiproteinase and decrease of DBP, A1BG and ITI heavy chain-related protein in workers exposed to styrene is associated with dysfunction and/or declination in immune system and signal transduction

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.141-160
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• 2006

The obtained results are summarized as follows 1. New findings are reporting year by year as for the study related to Anti-inflammatory mechanism of Bee Venom therapy. 2. The Anti-inflammatory effect of Bee Venom therapy is achieved through counterirritation, stimulations to adrenal cortex, immuno-regulation, antioxidation, removal of free radicals, modulation of AGP gene induction. 3. The chief components of Bee Venom related to Anti-inflammatory effect are Melittin, MCD peptide, Apamin, Adolapin etc. 4. Melittin binds to secretory phospholipase A2 and inhibits its enzymatic activity. 5. Melittin blocks neutophil O2-production. 6. MCD peptide(Peptide 401) stimulates the mast cell secrets histamine, Anti-inflammatory effect caused by this is 'conterirritation'. 7. Melittin & Apamin have an anti-inflammatory effect by inducing cortisone secretion. 8. MCD peptide & Apamin increase immunologic fuction by stimulating hypophysis & adrenal cortex and have an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting synthesis of prostaglandin from arachidonic acid. 9. Adolapin have an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting COX. 10. Bee Venom have an anti-inflammatory effect by suppressing AGP($\alpha$-acid glycoprotein). 11. Bee Venom have an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting NO, iNOS, PLA2, COX-2, TNF-$\alpha$, IL-1, NF-${\kappa}B$, MAP kinase.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2010

Equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) is a heavily glycosylated glycoprotein composed of non-covalently linked $\alpha$- and $\beta$-subunits. To study the function and signal transduction of tethered recombinant-eCG (rec-eCG), a single chain eCG molecule was constructed, and the rec-eCG protein was prepared. In this study, we constructed 5 mutants (${\Delta}1$, ${\Delta}2$, ${\Delta}3$, ${\Delta}4$, and ${\Delta}5$) of rec-eCG using data about known glycoprotein hormones to analyze the role of specific follicle stimulating homone (FSH)-like activity. Three amino acids of certain specific sites were replaced with alanine. The expression vectors were transfected into CHO cells and subjected to G418 selection for 2~3 weeks. The media were collected and the quantity of secreted tethered rec-eCGs was quantified by ELISA. The LH- and FSH-like activities were assayed in terms of cAMP production by rat LH/CG and rat FSH receptors. Then, the metabolic clearance rate analyzed by the injection of rec-eCG (5 IU) into the tail vein was analyzed. The mutant eCGs (${\Delta}l$, ${\Delta}4$, and ${\Delta}5$) were transcripted, but not translated into proteins. Rec-eCG A2 was secreted in much lower amounts than the wild type. Only the rec-eCG ${\Delta}3$ ($\beta$-subunit: $Gln^{94}-Ile^{95}-Lys^{96}{\rightarrow}Ala^{94}-Ala^{95}-Ala^{96}$) was efficiently secreted. Although activity is low, its LH-like activity was similar to that of tethered $eCG{\beta\alpha}$. However, the FSH-like activity of rec-$eCG{\beta\alpha\Delta}3$ was completely flat. The result of the analysis of the metabolic clearance rate shoed the persistence of the mutant in the blood until 4 hours after the injection. After then, it almost disappeared at 8 hours. Taken together, these data suggest that 94~96 amino acid sequences in eCG $\beta$-subunit appear to be of utmost importance for signal transduction of the FSH receptor.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.783-788
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• 2002

Bovine yolk sac at day 24 of pregnancy, and placental membranes (chorion and allantois) from days 70 and 100 of pregnancy were isolated and cultured in a modified minimum essential medium in the presence of $[^{35}S]$methionine. Proteins synthesized and secreted by isolated bovine yolk sac, chorion and allantois were analyzed by fluorography of two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Serum-like proteins,transferrin, ${\alpha}$-fetoprotein, ${\alpha}$1-antitrypsin and ${\alpha}$1-acid glycoprotein,were the major protein products of yolk sac. A 21 kDa protein produced by yolk sac was identified immunochemically as retinol-binding protein (RBP). Chorion and allantios from days 70 and 100 of pregnancy were active in protein synthesis and secretion. Both chorion and allantois did not secret serum-like proteins but secreted a number of neutral-to-acidic proteins including RBP. Secretory proteins produced by the yolk sac, chorion and allantois may play important roles in the embryonic development and the successful outcome of pregnancy. Antiserum against bovine placental RBP was employed to the immunocytochemistry by immunoperoxidase method. Immunoreactive RBP was localized in epithelial cells and island-like cell clones of yolk sac. Immunostaining for RBP was detected in simple columnar epithelium of chorion and in simple squamous epithelium of allantois. In the present study, proteins synthesized and secreted by yolk sac at day 24 of pregnancy, chorion and allantois from days 70 and 100 of pregnancy were characterized In addition, RBP was localized in yolk sac, chorion and allantois by immunoperoxidase method. The immunoperoxidase method has been proven to be a very effective technique to identify the cellular source of protein synthesis in extraembryonic membranes.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.134-142
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• 2005

Liver cancer is a leading cause of tumor-related mortality, Diethylnitrosamine (DEN) is one of the most extensively studied hepatic carcinogens to date. In this study, the mRNA expression profile in DEN-induced liver tumors in mice was analyzed using DNA microarrays. We report increased expression of genes that participate in hypoxia response, including metallothionein 1 (Mt1), metallothionein 2 (Mt2), fatty acid synthase (Fasn), transferrin (Trf), adipose differentiation-related Protein (AdfP) and ceruloplasmin (CP), as well as those involved in predisposition and development of cancers, such as cytochrome P450 2A5 (Cyp2a5), alpha 2-HS-glycoprotein (Ahsg) and Jun-B oncogene (Junb). The hepatic iron regulatory peptide, hepcidin (Hampl), was downregulated in DEN-stimulated liver tumors. Expression of tumor suppressor genes, such as tripartite motif protein 13 (Trim13), was decreased under these conditions. The data collectively indicate that DEN-induced tumor development can be exploited as a possible model for liver cancer, since this process involves various genes with important functions in hepatic carcinogenesis.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.1035-1043
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• 2014

To investigate the effect of dietary Acanthopanax senticosus polysaccharide (ASPS) on growth performance, immunity, blood parameters and mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in immunologically challenged piglets, an experiment employing $2{\times}2$ factorial arrangement concerning dietary ASPS treatment (0 or 800 mg/kg) and immunological challenge (lipopolysaccharide [LPS] or saline injection) was conducted with 64 crossbred piglets (weaned at 28 d of age, average initial body weight of $7.25{\pm}0.21kg$) assigned to two dietary ASPS treatments with 8 replicates of 4 pigs each. Half of the piglets of per dietary treatment were injected with LPS or saline on d 14. Blood samples were obtained at 3 h after immunological injection on d 14 and piglets were slaughtered to obtain spleen samples on d 21. Dietary ASPS did not affect average daily gain (ADG) (p = 0.634), average daily feed intake (ADFI) (p = 0.655), and gain:feed (p = 0.814) prior to LPS challenge. After LPS challenge, for LPS-challenged pigs those fed ASPS had higher ADG and ADFI than the non-supplemented group (p<0.05), and an interaction between $LPS{\times}ASPS$ was observed on the two indices (p<0.05). Dietary ASPS improved lymphocyte proliferation among saline-injected and LPS-injected pigs (p<0.05). Interaction between $LPS{\times}ASPS$ was also revealed on lymphocyte proliferation (p<0.05). Circulatory concentration of IgG was influenced neither by ASPS (p = 0.803) or LPS (p = 0.692), nor their interaction (p = 0.289). Plasma concentration and spleen mRNA expression of interleukin-1beta (IL-$1{\beta}$), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ were induced to increase (p<0.05) by LPS challenge, in contrast, these indices were decreased by dietary ASPS (p<0.05), and interactions were found on these cytokines (p<0.05). For LPS-challenged pigs, dietary ASPS also reduced the circulating concentration and spleen mRNA expression of IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6 as well as TNF-${\alpha}$ (p<0.05). The interaction between $LPS{\times}ASPS$ was also observed on the circulating concentration of insulin-like growth factor-I, ${\alpha}$-acid glycoprotein (${\alpha}$-AGP), nonesterified fatty acid, and glucose (p<0.05). The results of this study demonstrate that dietary ASPS can modulate the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines during immunological challenge, which might enable piglets to achieve better growth performance.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.49-73
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• 1991

To elucidate enzymatic properties of $\alpha$-galactosidases (EC3, 2, 1, 22) from germinated soybean and Aspergillus niger changes in the enzyme activities and oligosaccharide contents during germination of soybean were determined and $\alpha$-galactosidases from germinated soybean and wheat bran culture of Aspergillus niger were purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation, ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration. Their chemical and enzymatic properties were investigated and the results obtained were summarized as follows : 1. $\alpha$-Galactosidase activity of soybean was maximized when it was germinated at $25^{\circ}C$ for 120 hours. And raffinose and stachyose in soybean were decomposed completely after 96 hours and 120 hours of germination, respectively. 2. The highest level of $\alpha$-Galactosidase activity was obtained when Aspergillus niger was grown on wheat bran medium at $30^{\circ}C$ for 96 hours. 3. Soybean $\alpha$-galactosidase was purified by 6.6 fold by ammonium slufate fractionation, ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-Cellulose and Sephadex A-50., and gel filtration on Sephadex G-150. Its specific activity was 825 units/mg protein and the yield was 2.5% of the total activity of crude extracts. 4. Aspergillus niger $\alpha$-galactosidase was purified by 23.7 fold. Its specific activity was 1,229 units/mg protein and the yield was 14% of the total activity of wheat bran culture. 5. The purified $\alpha$-galactosidases of soybean and Aspergillus niger were found to be homogeneous by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by HPLC. 6. Chemical properties of the purified $\alpha$-galactosidases were : 1) The soybean $\alpha$-galactosidase was monomeric and its molecular weight was estimated to be 30,000 by SDS-PAGE whereas the Aspergillus niger $\alpha$-galactosidase was a tetrameric glycoprotein which consisted of identical subunits with molecular weight of 28,000 each.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.243-248
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• 1999

Sialic acids are key determinants for biological processes, such as cell-cell interaction and differentiation. Sialyltransferases contribute to the diversity in carbohydrate structure through their attachment of sialic acid in various terminal positions on glycolipid and glycoprotein (N-linked and O-linked) carbohydrate groups. Gal$\beta$ 1,3(4)GlcNAc $\alpha$2,3-sialyltransferase (ST3Gal III) is involved in the biosynthesis of $sLe^{X}$ and sLe^{a}$ known as selection ligands and tumor-associated carbohydrate structures. The appearance and differential distribution of ST3Gal III mRNA during mice embryogenesis [embryonic (E) days; E9, E11, E13, E15] were investigated by in situ hybridization with digoxigenin-labeled RNA probes coupled with alkaline phosphatase detection. On E9, all tissues were positive for ST3Gal III mRNA expression whereas ST3Gal III mRNA on E11 was not detected throughout all tissues. On E13, ST3GAl III mRNA was expressed in different manner in various tissues. In this stage, ST3Gal III mRNA was positive only in the liver, pancreas and bladder. On E15, specific signal for ST3GAl III was detected in the liver, lung and forebrain. These results indicate that ST3Gal III is differently expressed at developmental stages of mice embryo, and this may be importantly related with regulation of organogenesis in mice.