• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.161-176
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• 2018

Fungal ${\beta}$-glucan, known to have immunostimulatory and antitumor activities, can be recognized by host immune cells as one of the pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Although there are several reports on the diverse immunostimulatory activities of ${\beta}$-glucan, little is known about the intracellular signal transduction of ${\beta}$-glucan. Stimulation of RAW264.7 macrophage cells with ${\beta}$-glucan from Ganoderma lucidum induced the expressions of dectin-1, toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), TLR4, and TLR6 at the transcription stage. Treatment with ${\beta}$-glucan also induced inflammatory mediators such as macrophage inflammatory proteins (MIP)-$1{\alpha}$, MIP-$1{\beta}$, MIP-$1{\gamma}$, interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$. Treatment of the cells with polymyxin B, an inhibitor of lipopolysaccharides (LPS), blocked the induction of inflammatory mediators in LPS- or ${\beta}$-glucan-stimulated systems. Pretreatment of the cells in our cell culture system with LY294002, a phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, or U0126, a mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) kinase (MEK)1/MEK2 inhibitor, led to a reduction in the induction of inflammatory mediators in a concentration-dependent manner. These results show that stimulation of the macrophage cells by ${\beta}$-glucan induced the expressions of both dectin-1 and TLRs. We also found that the PI3K/Akt and MEK pathways were involved in the induction of inflammatory mediators in macrophage cells during intracellular signal transduction of ${\beta}$-glucan.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.273-279
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• 2009

The accumulation of ${\beta}$-amyloid (A${\beta}$) aggregates is a characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Furthermore, these aggregates have neurotoxic effects on cells, and thus, molecules that inhibit A${\beta}$ aggregate formation could be valuable therapeutics for AD. It is well known that aggregation of A${\beta}$ depends on its hydrophobicity, and thus, in order to increase the hydrophilicity of A${\beta}$, we considered using citrate, an anionic surfactant with three carboxylic acid groups. We hypothesized that citrate could reduce hydrophobicity and increase hydrophilicity of A${\beta}_{1-40}$ molecules via hydrophilic/electrostatic interactions. We found that citrate significantly inhibited A${\beta}_{1-40}$ aggregation and significantly protected SH-SY5Y cell line against A${\beta}_{1-40}$ aggregates-induced neurotoxicity. In details, we examined the effects of citrate on A${\beta}_{1-40}$ aggregation and on A${\beta}_{1-40}$ aggregates-induced cytotoxicity, cell viability, and apoptosis. Th-T assays showed that citrate significantly inhibited A${\beta}_{1-40}$ aggregation in a concentration-dependent manner (Th-T intensity: from 91.3% in 0.01 mM citrate to 82.1% in 1.0 mM citrate vs. 100.0% in A${\beta}_{1-40}$ alone). In cytotoxicity and viability assays, citrate reduced the toxicity of A${\beta}_{1-40}$ in a concentration-dependent manner, in which the cytotoxicity decreased from 107.5 to 102.3% as compared with A${\beta}_{1-40}$ aggregates alone treated cells (127.3%) and the cell viability increased from 84.6 to 93.8% as compared with the A${\beta}_{1-40}$ aggregates alone treated cells (65.3%). Furthermore, Hoechst 33342 staining showed that citrate (1.0 mM) suppressed A${\beta}_{1-40}$ aggregates-induced apoptosis in the cells. This study suggests that citrate can inhibit A${\beta}_{1-40}$ aggregation and protect neurons from the apoptotic effects of A${\beta}_{1-40}$ aggregates. Accordingly, our findings suggest that citrate administration should be viewed as a novel neuroprotective strategy for AD.

• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.264-269
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• 2013

Pattern recognition receptors are known to participate in the activation of Prophenoloxidase system. In this study, a 1,3-${\beta}$-D-glucan recognition protein was detected for the first time in Antheraea pernyi larvae (Ap-${\beta}GRP$). Ap-${\beta}GRP$ was purified to 99.9% homogeneity from the hemolymph using traditional chromatographic methods. Ap-${\beta}GRP$ specifically bind 1,3-${\beta}$-D-glucan and yeast, but not E. coli or M. luteus. The 1,3-${\beta}$-D-glucan dependent phenoloxidase (PO) activity of the hemolymph inhibited by anti-Ap-${\beta}GRP$ antibody could be recovered by addition of purified Ap-${\beta}GRP$. These results demonstrate that Ap-${\beta}GRP$ acts as a biosensor of 1,3-${\beta}$-Dglucan to trigger the Prophenoloxidase system. A trace mount of 1,3-${\beta}$-D-glucan or Ap-${\beta}GRP$ alone was unable to trigger the proPO system, but they both did. Ap-${\beta}GRP$ was specifically degraded following the activation of proPO with 1,3-${\beta}$-Dglucan. These results indicate the variation in the amount of Ap-${\beta}GRP$ after specific immune challenge in A. pernyi hemolymph is an important regulation mechanism to immune response.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.341-346
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• 1997

In order to express recombinant porcine TGF-${\beta}1$ protein in a baculovirus expression system the entire TGF-${\beta}1$gene containing extra amino acids at the N terminus was cloned into pFBa and pFBb of the Bac-To-$Bac^{TM}$ baculovirus expression system. One of the clones contained 106 extra amino acids and was designated pFBa-106 TGF-${\beta}1$, and the other had 28 extra amino acids and was designated pFBb-28 TGF-${\beta}1$. The orientation of the gene was identified with restriction enzyme mapping and PCR with internal TGF-${\beta}1$ primers. Sf-9 cells were infected at a m.o.i. of 10 by the recombinant viruses generated from the two expected sizes of 55 kD and 46.4kD. these precursor forms of TGF-${\beta}1$ with a polyclonal antibody against human TGF-${\beta}1$. No mature form of TGF-${\beta}1$ protein was detected on SDS gels and an immunoblot indicated that TGF-${\beta}1$ precursor is not properlu processed in insect cells.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.30-35
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• 2000

The method used to remove cholesterol from egg by using $beta$-cyclodextrin was relatively stable and efficient. The aim of this study was to cost down by recycling $\beta$-cyclodextrin used to remove cholesterol from egg yolk because $\beta$-cyclodextrin was expensive. The solvents used to separate $\beta$-cyclodextrin from $\beta$-cyclodextrin complex containing egg yolk cholesterol were butanol, chloroform, ether, hexane, methanol, 2-propanol and their mixture. The ratio of solvent and complex varied from 2 : 1 to 10 : 1. The condition of mixing time and temperature varied from 30 to 60$^{\circ}C$ and from 10 minutes to 3 hours to remove cholesterol from $\beta$-cyclodextrin complex. When the ratio of choloroform and methanol was 1 : 1, the removal efficiency of cholesterol was 98.8%. The efficiency of cholesterol removal was improved when the ratio of solvent : complex increased to 4 : 1. When mixing time and temperature was up to for 1hr, at 50$^{\circ}C$ respectively, the efficiency of cholesterol removal improved to 99%. It concluded that the efficiency of cholesterol removal of 50% renewed one contained $\beta$-cyclodextrin were 81.1% while the cholesterol removal efficiency of 100% renewed $\beta$-cyclodextrin was 24% if cholesterol removal efficiency of new $\beta$-cyclodextrin were 100%.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.906-912
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• 2016

${\beta}$-Glucan is a natural compound contained in cell walls of yeast or fungi, and cereal's fiber. It is also known to boost the immune system in human. Aureobasidium is a producer of water-soluble ${\beta}$-1,3/1,6-glucan. In this study, natural killer (NK) cell and macrophage activity were tested to investigate the effects of ${\beta}$-1,3/1,6-glucan isolated from A. pullulans on immune activity. Activation of NK cell was increased about 63-39% by the treatment of $10-200{\mu}g/mL$ ${\beta}$-1,3/1,6-glucan than control. Besides, only $10{\mu}g/mL$ of ${\beta}$-1,3/1,6-glucan was enough to boost activation of NK cell. Phagocytosis of macrophage was increased to 15~21% by the treatment of $10{\sim}200{\mu}g/mL$ of ${\beta}$-1,3/1,6-glucan than zymosan-treatment. In LP-BM5 proliferating inhibition test, relative mRNA level of LP-BM5 virus was decreased in ${\beta}$-1,3/1,6-glucan-treated cell about 36~74% than control. The decline of LP-BM5 mRNA level appeared to depend on the concentration of ${\beta}$-1,3/1,6-glucan. These results suggest that pure ${\beta}$-1,3/1,6-glucan from A. pullulans might be contributing to enhancement of immune activity through the activation of NK cell and phagocytosis of macrophage. Moreover, treatment of the ${\beta}$-1,3/1,6-glucan could increase the resistance to virus infection such as LP-BM5 through the restraining of the multiplication.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.1-11
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• 2003

Objectives : The aim of this study was to characterize the effect of Injinchunggan-tang on $TGF-{\beta}1-induced$ hepatic fibrosis. Methods : mRNA and protein expression levels of $TGF-{\beta}1$ in Injinchunggan-tang-treated HepG2 cells were compared to untreated cells using quantitative RT-PCR and ELISA assay, respectively. mRNA expression levels of the TGF-1 pathway genes (TR-1, TR-II, Smad2, Smad3, Smad4, and PAI-1) and fibrosis-associated genes (CTGF, fibronectin, and collagen type 1) were evaluated by quantitative RT-PCR. The effect of Injinchunggan-tang on cell proliferation of T3891 human fibroblast was evaluated using [$^3H$]thymidine incorporation assay. Results : Expression of $TGF-{\beta}1$ mRNA and protein was inhibited by Injinchunggan-tang in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Whereas $TGF-{\beta}1-mediated$ induction of PAI-1 was suppressed by Injinchunggan-tang, expression of the $TGF-{\beta}1$ pathway genes such as TR-1, TR-II, Smad2, Smad3, and Smad4 was not affected by Injinchunggan-tang treatment. Injinchunggan-tang was found to inhibit $TGF-{\beta}1-induced$ cell proliferation of T3891 human fibroblast, and also abrogated $TGF-{\beta}1-mediated$ transcriptional up-regulation of CTGF, fibronectin, and collagen type I. Conclusions : This study strongly suggests that the liver cirrhosis-suppressive activity of Injinchunggan-tang may be derived at least in part from its inhibitory effect on $TGF-{\beta}1$ functions, such as blockade of $TGF-{\beta}1$ stimulation of fibroblast cell proliferation and fibrosis-related gene expression as well as expression of $TGF-{\beta}1$ itself.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.334-339
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• 2000

The present study was carried out to evaluate biologically active components of the rhizomes of Sparganium stoloniferum and to supply the preliminary data for the chemotaxonomy and the medicinal application. Extraction and systematic fractionation of the rhizomes by column chromatography led to the isolation of six compounds from ethylacetate and n-butanol soluble fractions. Elucidation of the chemical structures of these compounds by physicochemical and apectral analysis demonstrated that compound I,II ,III,IV,V and Ⅵ were $\beta$-sitosterol, $\beta$-sitosterol-3-$\beta$-D-glucuronopyranoside, 3- (4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-propenoic acid, sorbose, 1-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranosyl-(2S, 3R, 4E, 8Z)-2-[(2(R)-hydroxyeicosanoyl)amido]-4,8-octadecadiene-1,3-diol, and $\beta$-sitosterol-3-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Mathematical Society
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.867-879
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• 2012

For ${\beta}$ > 1, let $T_{\beta}$ : [0, 1] ${\rightarrow}$ [0, 1) be the ${\beta}$-transformation. We consider an invariant $T_{\beta}$-orbit closure contained in a closed interval with diameter 1/${\beta}$, then define a function ${\Xi}({\alpha},{\beta})$ by the supremum such $T_{\beta}$-orbit with frequency ${\alpha}$ in base ${\beta}$, i.e., the maximum value in $T_{\beta}$-orbit closure. This paper effectively determines the maximal domain of ${\Xi}$, and explicitly specifies all possible minimal intervals containing $T_{\beta}$-orbits.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.197-199
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• 1987

Two alkaloids were isolated from an ether-soluble alkaloidal fraction of Panax ginseng. They were identified as 1-carbobutoxy-$\beta$-carboline and 1-carbomethoxy-$\beta$-carboline.