• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.105-111
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• 2016

${\beta}-carotene$ is present in carrots, pumpkins, and sweet potatoes. It suppresses many types of cancers by regulating cellular proliferation and apoptosis through a variety of mechanisms. However, the effects of ${\beta}-carotene$ on oral cancer cells have not been clearly established. The main goal of this study was to investigate the effects of ${\beta}-carotene$ on cell growth and apoptosis in oral cancer cells. Our results demonstrate that treatment with ${\beta}-carotene$ induced inhibition of cell growth, and that the effect was dependent on ${\beta}-carotene$ treatment time and concentration in KB cells. Furthermore, treatment with ${\beta}-carotene$ induced nuclear condensation and fragmentation in KB cells. ${\beta}-carotene$ promoted proteolytic cleavage of procaspase-3, -7, -8 and -9 with associated increases in the concentration of cleaved caspase-3, -7, -8 and -9. In addition, the level of cleaved PARP was increased by ${\beta}-carotene$ treatment in KB cells. These results suggest that ${\beta}-carotene$ can suppress cell growth and induce apoptosis in KB human oral cancer cells, and that it may have potential usefulness in anti-cancer drug discovery efforts.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.59-67
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• 1999

To investigate the role of interleukin-l$\beta$ (IL-1$\beta$) in the embryonic development, in vivo and in vitro expression patterns of IL-1$\beta$ gene in the preimplantation mouse embryos were examined by RT-PCR, and the effects of explanted mouse ovi-duct and uterine epithelial cells on the expression of IL-1$\beta$ gene in the pleimplantation mouse embryos were examined by co-culture. IL-1$\beta$ mRNA was detected in the embryos from 4-cell stage to blastocyst stage in vivo and from morula stage to hatching blastocyst stage in vitro. This transcript was not detected from the GV stage to late 2-cell stage in vivo, and not at the 4-cell and 8-cell stages in vitro. For the co-culture of late 2-cell embryos with the explanted mouse oviduct and uterine epithelial cells, oviducts and uterine epithelial cells were isolated at 48 hour alter the hCG injection. The explanted oviduct and uterine epithelial cells in co-culture groups facilitated the IL-1$\beta$ gene expression of the mouse embryos in comparison with the control. Taken together these results suggest that the presence of IL-1$\beta$ plays an important role in preimplantation embryonic development. In addition, the up-regulation of IL-1$\beta$ gene expression by the explanted oviduct and uterine epithelial cells demonstrates that embryonic expression of IL-l$\beta$ gene may be regulated by the interaction with oviductal and uterine factor (s).

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.167-172
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• 2004

The kinesin proteins (KIFs) make up a large superfamily of molecular motors that transport cargo such as vesicles, protein complexes, and organelles. KIF5 is a heterotetrameric motor that conveys vesicles and plays an important role in neuronal function. Here, we used the yeast two-hybrid system to identify the neuronal protein(s) that interacts with the tail region of KIF5 and found a specific interaction with ${\beta}III$ spectrin. The amino acid residues between 1394 and 1774 of ${\beta}III$ spectrin were required for the interaction with KIF5C. ${\beta}III$ spectrin also bound to the tail region of neuronal KIF5A and ubiquitous KIF5B but not to other kinesin family members in the yeast two-hybrid assay. In addition, these proteins showed specific interactions, confirmed by GST pull-down assay and co-immunoprecipitation. ${\beta}III$ spectrin interacted with GST-KIF5 fusion proteins, but not with GST alone. An antibody to ${\beta}III$ spectrin specifically co-immunoprecipitated KIF5s associated with ${\beta}III$ spectrin from mouse brain extracts. These results suggest that KTF5 motor proteins transport vesicles or organelles that are coated with ${\beta}III$ spectrin.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.185-189
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• 2010

The present study demonstrates the effect of fibrates, agonists of $PPAR{\alpha}$ on cytokines-induced proliferation in primary cultured astrocytes. Alone or combination treatment with cytokines, such as IL-$1{\beta}$ (10 ng/ml), $IFNP{\gamma}$ (10 ng/ml), and TNF-$\alpha$ (10 ng/ml) cause a significant increase of cell proliferation in a time-dependent manner. Treatment of astrocytes with bezafibrate and fenofibrate (0, 5, and $10\;{\mu}M$) reduced the $IFNP{\gamma}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$-induced cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. To address the involvement of IL-6 on the $IFNP{\gamma}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$-induced cell proliferation, released IL-6 level was measured. $IFNP{\gamma}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ cause an increase of released IL-6 protein level in a time-dependent manner. Furthermore, pretreatment with IL-6 antibody (0, 0.1, 1, 2.5, and 5 ng/ml) dose-dependently inhibited the $IFNP{\gamma}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$-induced cell proliferation. However, bezafibrate and fenofibrate did not affect increased mRNA and protein levels of IL-6 in $IFNP{\gamma}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$-stimulated astrocytes. Taken together, these results clearly suggest that activation of $PPAR{\alpha}$ attenuates the $IFNP{\gamma}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$-induced cell proliferation through IL-6 independent pathway.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.63-78
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• 2007

Objective : This experiment was designed to investigate the effect of Thalictrum foetidum(TFD) on the Alzheimer's disease. Method : The effects of TFD on amyloid precursor proteins(APP), acetylcholinesterase(AChE), glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP) mRNA of PC-12 cell treated by amyloid ${\beta}$ $protein(A{\beta})$ and $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$ mRNA of THP-l cell treated by lipopolysaccharide(LPS), AChE activity of PC-12 cell lysate treated by $A{\beta}$ and behavior of the memory deficit mice induced by scopolamine, and glucose, AChE in serum of the memory deficit mice induced by scopolamine were investigated, respectively. Results : The results were summarized as follows ; 1. TFD suppressed APP, AChE, GFAP mRNA in PC-12 cell treated by $A{\beta}$. 2. TFD suppressed $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$ mRNA in THP-l cell treated by LPS 3.. TFD suppressed AChE activity in cell lysate of PC-12 cell treated by $A{\beta}$. 4. TFD increased glucose and decreased AChE significantly in the serum of the memory deficit mice induced by scopolamine. 5. TFD group showed significantly inhibitory effect on the scopolamine-induced impairment of learning and memory in the experiment of Morris water maze. Conclusion : According to the above results, it is suggested that TFD might be usefully applied for prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.507-512
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• 1992

A ${\beta}-1,3-glucanase$ of soybean (Glycine max) was isolated, and the effects of benzyladenine(BA) on celluar levels of the enzyme content and activity were studied. The effects of BA on callose content in cell wall and wall regeneration of protoplasts were also studied to show promoting effect of cytokinin in cell wall regeneration and to elucidate action mode of cytokinin. The polypeptide of 21 kD was identified as ${\beta}-1,3-glucanase$, and the cellular content and activity of this polypeptide were decreased by BA treatment. The callose content in cell wall of callus and the wall regeneration of protoplasts were increased by BA treatment. These results indicate that cytokinin promotes cell wall regeneration by inhibition of callose degradation via decreasing ${\beta}-1,3-glucanase$ level in cell.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.156-163
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• 2003

Background: $\beta$-1,3-glucans are well known to enhance the immune reactions, resulting in antitumor, antibacterial, antiviral, anticoagulatory and wound healing activities. $\beta$-1, 3-glucans have various activities depending on molecular weight, degree of branching, conformation, water-solubility and intermolecular association. However, the $\beta$-1,3-glucan linked backbone structure is essential and $\beta$-D-glucopyranosyl units are required for immuno-potentiating activities. Result: In this study, we tested the immunophamacological activities of soluble $\beta$-1,3-glucans and confirmed the following activities: (1) $IFN-{\gamma}$ production in PBMCs in the presence or the absence of PHA, LPS, or IL-18; (2) induction of various cytokines in the spleen and thymus; (3) adjuvant effect on the antibody production; (4) nitrogen oxide synthesis in macrophages; (5) the cytotoxic and antitumor effects on cell lines and ICR mice. Conclusion: These results strongly suggested that $\beta$-1,3-glucans possessed various immuno-pharmacological activities.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.192-197
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• 2010

Recent studies have indicated that $\beta$-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance are important factors in the development of type 2 diabetes. The present study investigated the effect of extracts from different parts of white, Taegeuk, and red ginseng root on insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in muscle cells and proliferation of $\beta$-cells. Extracts of the fine roots of Taegeuk ginseng significantly enhanced glucose uptake compared with the control. White ginseng lateral root extracts enhanced insulin-induced glucose uptake. Proliferation of $\beta$-cells was significantly increased by Taegeuk ginseng main and lateral root extracts and by red ginseng lateral and fine root extracts. In conclusion, different root parts of white, Taegeuk, and red ginseng differentially affect glucose uptake and pancreatic $\beta$-cell proliferation.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.56-56
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• 2003

Beta-catenin is very important in early development including involvement in cell adhesion, cell signaling, and developmental fate specification. Cell-cell interaction is an important process during mammalian embryonic development. In preimplantation embryos, embryonic compaction is the process of increased cellular flattening and adhesion of junctional complexes and results in a polarized distribution. Beta-catenin is associated with embryonic compaction in mammals. Here, we examined the relationship between beta-catenin expression and compaction in porcine embryos derived from in vitro fertilization. First of all, we investigated beta-catenin expression in each embryonic developmental stage and also focused on expression pattern according to full, partial and non-compaction at morula stage. We used the immunocyto-chemical method in this research. To confirm compaction affects on the embryonic development, we compared between compaction and developmental rates to the blastocyst. The result showed that compaction and non-compaction rates were 14.6% and 63.8% at 4 days after IVF, respectively The developmental rates to the blastocyst and their total cell number were 50.9% vs 36.4% and 41.4$\pm$11.5 vs 26.8$\pm$12.7 in compaction and non-compaction groups. Although no difference was detected in the ratio of ICM to total cells between two groups, total cell number of the blastocysts in compaction group was superior to that of the blastocysts in non-compaction group (P<0.05). Expression of beta-catenin appeared in the boundary of membrane surface between blastomeres in 2- and 4-cell stage, and observed irregular pattern from 8-cell to blastocyst stage. We also investigated beta-catenin expression pattern according to the degree of compaction in the 3 groups; full, partial (>50%) and non-compaction. The expression signal in fully compacted embryos was stronger than those of partial and non-compacted embryos. Especially, beta-catenin expression appeared various patterns in morula stage suggesting the aberrant distribution of beta-catenin is affected by compaction patterns. Our results suggest that abnormal beta-catenin expression was affected by embryo quality and further development in porcine embryos in vitro.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.173-183
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• 1995

This paper was carried out to investigate changes in chromatograms of polysacctatides and soluble pectins on Sephadex G-50 and non-cellulosic neutral sugars of polysaccharides isolated from cell wall of persimmon fruits treated with polygalacturonase and $\beta$-galactosidase in vitro. The chromatogram pattern of soluble pectins extracted from cell wall treated with $\beta$-galactosidase on Sephacryl S-500 column were similar to those of untreatment, but contents of soluble pectins treated with $\beta$-galactosidase were different from those of untreatment. The patterns of chromatograms In soluble pectins extracted from cell wall treated with polygalacturonase were more complex and lower molecular polymer than those of other cell wall-degrading enzyme treatments. Non-cellulosic neutral sugar of polysaccharides in fraction I of soluble material treated with polygalacturonase was rhamnose, those in fraction II were similar to those in fraction III and contents of arabinose, xylose and glucose were higher than contents of other non-cellulosic neutral sugars. Non-cellulosic neutral sugars of polysaccharides in fraction I in soluble material by $\beta$-galactosidase treatment were rhamnose, arabinose, galactose and mannose. Content of glucose of polysaccharides in fraction II was higher than that in fraction I . Non-cellulosic neutral sugars treated with mixed enzyme were rhamnose, fucose, arabinose, xylose, mannose, galactose and glucose. Compositions of non-cellulosic neutral sugars of polysaccharides in fraction I were similar to those in fraction II and III.