• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.1830-1836
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• 2003

Studies using natural resistance-associated macrophage protein (NRAMP) identification indicated that cattle could be selected for immunity. Several studies performed on intracellular organisms such as Mycobacterium, Salmonella, Brucella and Leishmania in human and mouse revealed that resistance against these bacteria was dependent on high activity of NRAMP1 in macrophages. However, hardly any researches have been done on Staphylococcus aureus in bovine mastitis, which is an intracellular organism and the main cause of bovine mastitis. The objectives of this study were to establish reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) methods, through which NRAMP1 mRNA expression could be compared and analyzed between mastitis-resistant and -susceptible cows. NRAMP1 gene and its expression were investigated using 20 cows (Holstein Friesian) in Korea. Cows were evenly split into two groups, with and without histories of clinical mastitis. Equivalent numbers of cows were randomly selected from each group. Monocytes were isolated from the bovine peripheral blood of each selected cows and activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). mRNA was separated from the monocytes and cDNA of NRAMP1 was synthesized and amplified using RT-PCR with amplification of $\beta$-actin as a control. The difference in NRAMP1 expressions of mastitis-resistant (n=10) and -susceptible (n=10) Holstein cows was analyzed. Results demonstrate that resistant cows produced more NRAMP1 mRNA than the susceptible ones, and ratios of NRAMP1:$\beta$-actin expression were higher in resistant cows with or without LPS activation. Therefore, this study could be applied to select bovine mastitis resistant cows before infection based on the expression of NRAMP1.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.262-268
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• 2014

Rutaecarpine is one of the major alkaloids present in the fruits of Evodia rutaecarpa. In this study, rutaecarpine was evaluated, both in vitro and in vivo, for its hepatoprotective properties against thioacetamide (TAA)-induced hepatic fibrosis. The results showed that rutaecarpine inhibited TAA-induced cytotoxicity, reduced the expression of the fibrogenic cytokine transforming growth factor ${\beta}1$ ($TGF-{\beta}1$), and induced the expression of bcl-2. To evaluate its in vivo effects, animal models with TAA-induced hepatic fibrosis were utilized. Levels of liver tissue injury-associated enzymes, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were monitored. $TGF-{\beta}1$ and the ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin (${\alpha}$-SMA) were measured as markers of the protective effects on hepatic fibrosis. The AST and ALT levels in blood were greatly enhanced by TAA and completely blunted by rutaecarpine. Rutaecarpine led to the down-regulation of $TGF-{\beta}$ and Bax mRNA expression, as well as the up-regulation of Bcl-2 and $Bcl-X_L$ mRNA levels. In conclusion, rutaecarpine inhibited TAA-induced hepatic fibrosis and apoptosis by inducing the expression of Bcl-2 while blocking $TGF-{\beta}1$ in our TAA-intoxicated model.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.335-341
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• 1999

Antidiabetic activity and mechanism of Supungsungihyan(SPSGH) were examined in db/db mice, which is a spontaneously hyperglycemic, hyperinsulinemic and obese animal model. SPSGH and acarbose were administered orally for 4 weeks. Fasting and non-fasting serum glucose, glycated hemoglobin and trig-lyceride of SPSGH treated group were all reduced when compared with those of db/db control group. At 12th week after birth, SPSGH increased an insulin secretion although statistic significance was not seen. Total activities of sucrose, maltase and lactase in SPSGH treated group were not significantly different from those in db/db control. On the other hand, sucrase and maltase activities in acarbose treated groups were increased. Effect of SPSGH on mRNA expression of glucose transporter(GLUT-4) was also examined by RT-PCR and in vitro transcription with co-amplification of rat $\beta$-actin gene as an internal standard. Muscular GLUT-4 mRNA expression in SPSGH treated group was increased significantly. These results may suggest that SPSGH lowered blood glucose ascribing to upregulation of muscular GLUT-4 mRNA expression.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.206-212
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• 2004

In an effort to develop the tools for monitoring the contamination of xenoestrogen in the aquatic environment of Korea, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis of vitellogenin (VTG) mRNA expression were optimized in Synechogobius hastus. Based on the partial VTG cDNA sequence VTG mRNA level in livers from male fishes was analyzed by RT-PCR. As an internal control beta actin mRNA was amplified. 3 ${\mu}g$ of total RNA was reverse transcribed in 20 $\mu$l reaction using murine leukemia virus 〔MuLV〕 reverse transcriptase. Subsequent PCR using the 1 ${\mu}g$ of cDNA resulted in linear increase in PCR product of VTG in female liver cDNA from 10 to 30 cycles of amplification. On the contrary, in male, PCR product first detected at 28 cycles of amplification and linearly increased during 38 cycles of amplification, suggesting that male S. hastus expresses minute amount of VTG mRNA which is $2^{-18}$ equivalent of female. In conclusion, the optimized protocol of VTG mRNA expression in the liver of male S. hastus will be promising the environmental monitoring the xenoestrogen contamination in the western coast and estuaries in Korea.

• Proceedings of the Korean Aquaculture Society Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.25-25
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• 2003

어류의 번식활동은 뇌-뇌하수체-생식소로 이어지는 내분비기관이 주로 담당하고 있으며, 그 중에서 뇌하수체에서 만들어지는 생식선자극호르몬 (GTH)은 생식소 발달에 매우 중요한 역할을 한다. 한편, GTH는 생식소에서 생성되는 스테로이드호르몬에 의해 유전자의 발현이 조절된다. 본 연구에서는 산천어 (Oncorhynchus masou)의 GTH 유전자발현에 미치는 estradiol-17$\beta$ (E2)의 영향을 생체내에서 먼저 조사하고, 유전자발현조절의 메카니즘을 구명하기 위하여 에스트로젠 수용체 (ER)의 cDNA를 cloning하였다. 또한 내분비교란물질로 알려져 있으며 에스트로젠 수용체와의 유사결합작용이 알려진 노닐페놀 (NP)의 영향도 아울러 조사하였다. 미성숙 산천어를 E2 및 NP (각각 5 mg/kg 및 10 mg/kg 체중)로 처리하면 72 시간째에 뇌하수체내의 $\beta$-actin mRNA에 비해 GTH (FSH$\beta$, LH$\beta$) mRNA가 상대적으로 증가하는 경향을 나타내었다. 뇌하수체에서 분리한 ER의 기본적인 구조는 DNA결합도메인 (Zf-C4), 호르몬결합도메인 (hormone_rec), 기타 전사활성화도메인으로 구성되어 있었으며 (그림 1), 기존에 보고된 에스트로젠 수용체중에서 무지개송어 및 대서양연어의 ER과 각각 98%, 96%의 높은 상동성이 관찰되었다. 향후, 준비된 ER을 재료로 하여 GTH 유전자발현의 호르몬의존성을 조사할 예정이다.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.535-542
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to examine the mRNA levels of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 in the cell lines of normal oral keratocyte and oral squamous cell carcinoma. Total RNA was extracted from these cell lines, observed under UV light, developed by radiographic films of PCR products via reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) amplication, and measured with densitometer. Each mRNA level of these cell lines divided by ${\beta}$-actin mRNA level was compared to that of normal control group. The results were as follows: 1. Higher mRNA expression of TNF-${\alpha}$ than IL-6 in the normal oral epithelial cell line. 2. In general, expression of mRNA of IL-6 appeared 3-4 times more in tumor cell lines than in control group. 3. mRNA expression of TNF-${\alpha}$ showed variable expression in tumor cell lines, unlike normal cell line. 4. There are no special connections between differentiation of oral cancer cell lines and mRNA expression of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6. From the above results, expression of mRNA of IL-6 in the cell lines of squamous cell carcinoma used in this study has higher than the normal oral epithelial cell line, but there are no relationship between the differentiation of oral cancer cell lines and the expression of mRNA of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.276-282
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• 2004

Marginal Zn deficiency is prevalent through the world and yet human zinc status has not been properly assessed due to the lack of a reliable diagnostic indicator. One potential possibility for zinc status assessment using Zn-binding protein, metallothionein (MT)-mRNA, has been proposed. The purpose of the present study was aimed to show whether measurement of mononuclear cell (MNC) MT mRNA, using a competitive-reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (competitive-RT-PCR) assay, could indicate zinc status in human subjects. In this study, MNC MT-mRNA expression was measured using a competitive-RT-PCR to compare before and after 14 days of zinc supplementation (50 mg Zn/das zinc gluconate). RT-PCR oligonucleotide primers which were designed to amplify both a 278 bp segment of the human MT-2A cDNA and a 198 bp mutant competitor cDNA template from MNCs, were prepared. MT-2A mRNA was normalized by reference to the housekeeping gene, $\beta$-actin, mRNA for which was also measured by competitive-RT-PCR. There was considerable inter-individual variation in MT-mRNA concentration and yet, the mean MT-2A mRNA level increased 4.7-fold after Zn supplementation, as compared to before Zn supplementation. This MT-2A mRNA level was shown as the same pattern and, even more sensitive assay, compared to the conventional plasma and red blood cells (RBCs) Zn assessment in which plasma and RBCs zinc levels increased 2.3- and 1.2-fold, respectively (p<0.05). We suggest that MT competitive-RT-PCR can be a useful assessment tool for evaluating human zinc status.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.145-154
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• 2003

Background : Production of cytokines by bronchial epithelial cells may contribute to the local accumulation of inflammatory cells in patients with bronchial asthma. In many recent studies, molecular biological methods have been used to investigate the role of cytokines in pathogenesis and new therapeutic targets of asthma. Objective : We aimed to identify the dose-dependent inhibitory effects of Lonicerae Flos and Paeoniae Radix on the mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-16, and GM-CSF involved in the asthma model. Materials and Methods : In the study BEAS-2B cell lines, human epithelial cells were used. These cells were stimulated with tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-\alpha$ for artificial inflammatory expression. ${\beta}-actin$ messenger RNA (mRNA) was used for internal standard. After 24 hours of Lonicerae Flos, Paeoniae Radix, total cellular RNAs were collected treating RNA zol directly on the living cells. Then the transcriptional activities of IL-6, 16, GM-CSF were measured by RT- PCR with electrophoresis. Results : In the Lonicerae Flos study, the mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-16 and GM-CSF was showed no inhibitory effect compared to the control group in all concentrations. In the Paeoniae Radix study, the mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-l6 and GM-CSF was showed no inhibitory effect compared to the control group in all concentrations. Conclusion : This study shows that Lonicerae Flus and Paeuniae Radix have no inhibitory effects on the mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-16 and GM-CSF in BEAS-2B cell lines, human epithelial cells. Advanced studies are required to investigate the other mechanisms of inhibitory effect by Lonicerae Flus and Paeoniae Radix in the asthma model.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.589-597
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• 1998

Effects of Mori Folium Ethanol Soluble Fraction (MFESF) on mRNA expression of glucose transporters, acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and leptin were examined in db/db mice. 500 and 1000mg/kg dose for MFESF (designated by SY 500 and SY 1000, respectively) and 5mg/kg dose for acarbose were administered for 6 weeks. Quantitations of glucose transporters (GLUT-2 and GLUT-4), ACC and leptin mRNA were performed by RT-PCR and in vitro transcription with co-amplification of rat ${\beta}$-actin gene as an internal standard. Muscular GLUT-4 mRNA expression in MFESF-treated groups were increased dose dependently. On the other hand, MFESF caused the GLLT-4 and leptin mRNA expressions in adipose tissue to decrease dose dependently, which means that triglyceride synthesis in adipocytes might be decreased and consequently signals adipocytes to inhibit the synthesis and release of leptin. Hepatic ACC mRNA expression in MFESF-treated groups was also decreased. and this may result in lowering of serum triiglyceride level. In contrast, liver GLUT-2 mRNA expressions in MFESF-treated and acarbose groups were increased. Higher rate of glucose uptake into hepatocytes is known to inhibit a phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK)-catalyzed reaction, which is a rate-limiting step in gluconeogenesis.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.11-23
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• 2002

Objectives: We aimed to identify the dose-dependent inhibitory effects of Maekmundongcheongpye-eum and Liriopis Tuber on the mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-16, GM-CSF involved in the asthma model. Methods: In the study BEAS-2B cell lines, human epithelial cells were used. These cells were stimulated with tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ for artificial inflammatory expression. ${\beta}-actin$ messenger RNA (mRNA) was used by internal standard. After 24 hours of Maekmundongcheongpye-eum, Liriopis Tuber-treatment, total cellular RNAs were collected, treating RNAzol directly on the alive cells. Then the transcriptional activities of IL-6, 16, GM-CSF were measured by RT-PCR with electrophoresis. Results: In the Maekmundongcheongpye-eum study, the mRNA expression of IL-6 showed 48% transcriptional inhibitory effect compared to the control group in the $100{\;}{\mu}l/ml$ category (P<0.001). In the IL-16, there was 53% and 57% transcriptional inhibitory effect compared to the control group in the $20{\;}{\mu}l/ml$ and $100{\;}{\mu}l/ml$ categories (P<0.001). In the GM-CSF, there was no inhibitory effect. In the Liriopis Tuber study, the mRNA expression of IL-6 showed 43% transcriptional inhibitory effect compared to the control group in the $100{\;}{\mu}l/ml$ category (p<0.005). In the IL-16, 34% and 26% of transcriptional inhibitory effect was shown compared to the control group in the $20{\;}{\mu}l/ml$ and $100{\;}{\mu}l/ml$ categories, respectively (P<0.05). In the GM-CSF, there was no inhibitory effect. Conclusions: This study shows that Maekmundongcheongpye-eum and Liriopis Tuber have dose-dependent inhibitory effects on the mRNA expression of IL-6 and IL-16 in BEAS-2B cell lines, human epithelial cells. Advanced studies are required to investigate the mechanisms of inhibition by herbal medicine in the asthma model.