• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.23 no.6
• /
• pp.804-811
• /
• 2013

Melanopsin is an opsin-like photopigment found in the small proportion of photosensitive ganglion cells of the retina. It is involved in the regulation of the synchronization of the circadian cycle as well as in the control of pupillary light reflex. The purpose of the present study is to investigate whether melanopsin is also expressed in the other areas of the central visual system outside the retina. We have studied the distribution and morphology of neurons containing melanopsin in the mouse visual cortex with antibody immunocytochemistry. Melanopsin immunoreactivity was mostly present in neuronal soma, but not in nuclei. We found that melanopsin was present in a large subset of neurons within the adult mouse visual cortex with the highest density in layer II/III. In layer I of the visual cortex, melanopsin-immunoreactive (IR) neurons were rarely encountered. In the mouse visual cortex, the majority of the melanopsin-IR neurons consisted of round/oval cells, but was varied in morphology. Vertical fusiform and pyramidal cells were also rarely labeled with the anti-melanopsin antibody. The labeled cells did not show any distinctive distributional pattern. Some melanopsin-IR neurons in mouse visual cortex co-localized with nitricoxide synthase, calbindin and parvalbumin. Our data indicate that melanopsin is located in specific neurons and surprisingly widespread in visual cortex. This finding raises the need of the functional study of melanopsin in central visual areas outside the retina.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.275-287
• /
• 2010

Deep caries may induce pulpitis and the pulpal tissue interacts with microbial invasion. The immune response to protect the pulpal tissue can be mediated by cellular signal molecules produced by the pulpal cells. The understanding of these processes is important to find future therapeutic method for the diseased pulp. The pulp tissue from sound teeth was set as control group (n=30) and the pulp tissue from decayed teeth was set as test group (n=30). Total RNA was extracted from the pulp of each group and it was used for cDNA microarray and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). The expression of TGF-${\beta}1$ was studied by immunohistochemistry. The results were as follows: 1. cDNA microarray analysis identified 520 genes with 6-fold or greater difference in expression level with 143 genes more abundant in health and 377 genes more abundant in disease. 2. The RT-PCR analysis was done for randomly selected 14 genes and the results supported the result of cDNA microarray assay. 3. TGF-${\beta}1$ was highly expressed in the carious pulp and it was found in odontoblast by immunohistochemistry. In conclusion, many cytokines were found to be significantly changed their expression in the diseased pulp(/M/>1.6).

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.71-83
• /
• 2001

Laminin, a kind of multidomain glycoproteins, is mainly localized in the basement membranes of various tissues. It is known that laminin plays an important part in mammalian lung morphogenesis. The authors have undertaken this study to investigate the changes in the distribution of laminin, and to find out cells which synthesize laminin during the organogenesis and differentiation of the lung. The fetal and neoantal rats (Sprague-Dawley strain) were used as experimental animals. The immunohisto-chemical methods were employed for detection of laminin within the developing lung tissue and the immunegold cytochemical methods were performed for detection of cells which synthesize laminin according to each stage of development. The results are as follows; 1. During fetal life, strong immunoreactivity for laminin is maintained in the basement membranes of the blood vessels and the bronchioles, the extracellular matrix of the mesenchyme, and basal lamina of the alveolar septum in the fetal rat lung. 2. After birth, laminin immunoreactivity at the alveolar septum is gradually reduced. 3. During fetal life, laminin is mainly detected within the cytoplasm of the mesenchymal cells, the endothelial cells of blood vessels and the fibroblasts in fetal rat lung. 4. According to the differentiation of type I and type II pneumocyte after birth, laminin is detected within cytoplasm of the type I pneumocytes, type II pneumocytes and fibroblasts. It is consequently suggested that laminin is largely expressed in the developing lung and laminin may be also synthesized by the type II pneumonocytes at early newborn stages.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.51 no.5
• /
• pp.492-499
• /
• 2008

Purpose : Helicobacter pylori infection is one of the most common gastrointestinal infections worldwide; it almost invariably causes chronic gastritis. Pediatric studies may provide important insights into the mucosal immune response of H. pylori-infection, as children are not submitted to environmental factors such as alcohol, tobacco and anti-inflammatory medication. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mucosal immune response against H. pylori in clinically well-defined groups: H. pylori-positive (divided into peptic ulcer disease and gastritis) and H. pylori-negative control. Methods : Antral biopsies were obtained from 45 children undergoing an upper GI endoscopy for dyspeptic symptoms. T cells (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+) and B cells (CD20+) were analyzed by quantitative immunohistochemistry. The correlation of lymphocyte subsets of gastric mucosa with histology was evaluated. Results : T cells (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+) and B cells (CD20+) were significantly increased in the lamina propria of H. pylori-positive group (P<0.01). CD8+ T cells were significantly increased in the lamina propria of the H. pylori-positive peptic ulcer disease (P<0.01). Within the epithelium, only CD4+ T cells were significantly increased in the H. pylori-positive group (P<0.01). Gastric histological parameters had a closer correlation with lymphocytes in the lamina propria than intraepithelial lymphocytes. Conclusion : This study suggests that both T cells and B cells in the lamina propria play important roles in the local immune response of H. pylori-infected children. Furthermore, it remains to be elucidated whether CD8+ T cells in the lamina propria may contribute to peptic ulcer formation in H. pylori-infected children.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.57 no.4
• /
• pp.345-350
• /
• 2004

Background : To evaluate the frequency and clinical significance of lymph node micrometastasis in patients of non-small-cell lung cancer pathologically staged to be T1-2,N0. Method : From consecutive 29 patients of non-small-cell lung cancer who received curative operation and routine systemic nodal dissection, we immunohistochemically examined 806 lymph nodes from mediastinal, hilar and peribronchial lesion. All slides were stained with hematoxylin and eosin staining for one section and with cytokeratin AE1/AE3 antibody for another consecutive section of same lymph node to find out micrometastasis. Results : In 806 lymph nodes examined, no tumor cell was seen on hematoxylin and eosin staining and micrometastic foci were shown to be on 0.37%(3) of 806 lymph nodes, in which were upper paratracheal, interlobar and peribronchial lymph node. These three positive stains constitute 10.3%(3) of the 29 patients with non-small-cell lung cancer. Nine patients died from disease progression(4), postoperative complication(3) and concomitant diseases(2). The four patients with disease progression did not show evidence of micrometastasis on their lymph node examination. Conclusion : The frequency of lymph node micrometastasis was in 0.37% of 806 lymph nodes examined. The study results might suggested that routine analysis of micrometastasis on the lymph node didn't give any clinical implication on patients with non-small-cell lung cancer.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.285-294
• /
• 2004

We investigated the morphology, distribution and synaptic connectivity of cholinergic neurons in the mouse retina by immunocytochemistry, using antisera against choline acetyltransferase (ChAT). ChAT-immunoreactive amacrine cells fall into two groups according to the localization of their somas in the retina: one is situated in the inner nuclear layer (INL), near the border of the inner plexiform layer (IPL), and the other is displaced in the ganglion cell layer (GCL). The dendrites of amacrine cells from the INL ramify in sublamina a and that of the displaced amacrine cells ramify in sublamina b of the IPL. Double labeling with an antisera against ChAT and r-aminobutyric acid (GABA) demonstrated that these labeled cells formed a subpopulation of GABAergic amacrine cells. The synaptic connectivity of ChAT-immunoreactive amacrine cells was identified in the IPL by electron microscopy. The most frequent synaptic input of ChAT-labeled amacrine cells was from bipolar cells in both sublaminae a and b of the IPL, followed by labeled amacrine cells and unlabeled amacrine cells. Their primary output targets were onto ganglion cells in both sublaminae a and b and output onto ganglion cells was more frequently observed in sublamina b of the IPL. Our results suggest that cholinergic amacrine cells in the mouse retina are very similar to their counter parts in other mammals, and they can attribute a major role in the pathway feeding into directionally selective ganglion cells.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.118-125
• /
• 2005

Purpose: The expression of apoptosis-related genes, such as survivin, bcl-2, and bax has been examined in the human osteosarcoma and then evaluated the correlation with clinical data of patients. Materials and Methods: Fifty human osteosarcoma specimens were established from incisional biopsy and examination of survivin, bcl-2, and bax by immunohistochemical study was performed. We investigated the correlation of survivin, bcl-2, bax and their two or three combined expressions with clinical data including the response of chemotherapy, local recurrence, distance metastasis, and oncologic outcome. Results: Survivin was showed in 26 cases (52%), bcl-2 in 23 cases (46%), and bax in 21 cases (42%) osteosarcoma. And coexpression of survivin and bcl-2 was showed in 19 cases (38%), survivin and bax in 13 cases (26%), bcl-2 and bax in 8 cases (16%), and all three expression was showed in 8 cases (16%). There was no correlation between their apoptosis related gene and histologic difference, the presence of local recurrence and distant metastasis. Whereas neoadjuvant chemotherapy response correlated with bcl-2 expression (P=0.04), and survivin and bcl-2 coexpression (P=0.044) with poor chemoresponse. The rate of died of disease was correlated with bcl-2 (P=0.001), survivin and bcl-2 coexpression (P=0.027) with bad outcome. Survival curves of bcl-2 (P=0.0075), survivin and bcl-2 (P=0.0012) was showed negative correlation in the Kaplan-Meier method. Conclusion: The apoptosis related gene expression was relatively high in osteosarcoma, bcl-2 expression was correlated with poor chemotherapy response and poor survival rate, but survivin was correlated with this oncologic outcome only in the bcl-2 coexpression. The examination of immunohistochemical stain of apoptosis related gene in osteosarcoma could be helpful in the judgment of osteosarcoma prognosis.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.56-63
• /
• 2013

Objectives : Effects of repetitive electroacupuncture(EA) on the pain behavior and activation of spinal glial cells were examined in the rat model of neuropathic pain. Methods : Twenty one adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into 3 groups(control group, SP6 group, ST36+GB34 group). Neuropathic pain was induced by tight ligation of L5 spinal nerve. Mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity of hind paw were tested. Immunohistochemistry was performed in spinal cord L5/6 of all groups. EA was treated once in a day from the $5^{th}$ day after surgery. Results : EA treatments applied to ST36 and GB34 reduced significantly both of mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity after 3 times of treatment throughout the experiments. In the SP6 group, the analgesic effect was also shown after 7 times of treatment. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated inhibition of microglia and astrocyte activation in the spinal cord L5/6 dorsal horn in the ST36+GB34 group. Conclusions : The present results suggest that repetitive EA exert strong analgesic effect on neuropathic pain. These analgesic effects in neuropathic pain are associated with suppressing the activation of microglia and astrocyte.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.19 no.8
• /
• pp.1067-1072
• /
• 2009

Stromal derived factor-1 (SDF-1 or CXCL12), one of the CXC chemokines, is widely expressed in many tissues, including the thymus. The thymus can regenerate to its normal mass within 14 days after acute involution induced by cyclophosphamide (CY) in adult rats. Despite the established role of SDF-1 signaling in the development of T and B lymphocytes in the thymus, it has not yet been associated with the regeneration of the adult thymus. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether SDF-1, which is expressed in thymic stromal cells, is modulated during thymic regeneration in adult rats. Here, we showed that SDF-1 mRNAs were expressed in high levels in the thymocyte and thymic stromal cells at day 7 of the CY model. SDF-1 protein was shown to be present at the cortex-medulla junction, paraseptum and within the thymic medulla. Double-immunofluorescence for SDF-1 and ED-1 showed that strong SDF-1 expression was detected in the macrophages of the medulla region displaying immunoreactivity for ED-1 during thymus regeneration. Taken together, our results demonstrated that SDF-1 expression increased in regenerating thymic macrophages, suggesting the roles of SDF-1 as a chemo-attractant for damaged cells produced in the process of thymic regeneration after acute involution induced by CY.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
• /
• 1994.04a
• /
• pp.191-191
• /
• 1994

본 연구는 D-galactosamine을 이용한 중기발암성 모델에서 세포성면역중의 하나인 natural killer (NK) 세포활성과 c-myc 종양단백의 발현을 알아보기 위하여 실시하였다. 수컷 6주령의 SPF SD랫드 50마리를 3개군으로 각 군당 20마리씩 나누어 배치하였다. 실험 0일에 제 1,2 군에서 DEN을 복강내로 체중 kg당 200mg 1회 투여하여 발암유발을 하였으며 대조군인 제 3군에는 saline을 투여하였다. 제 2주에 제 1군에는 강력한 발암촉진물질인 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF)을 사료에 0.01% 투여하였으며, 제 2군은 미약한 발암촉진물질인 phenobarbital (PB)을 0.05%로 음수에 6주간 투여하였다 제 8, 15, 36주에 경시적으로 부검하였다. 제 8주에 부검시 GST-P$^{+}$ 병변이 잘 유도되어 전암병변의 유도가 잘 되었음을 확인하였다. 제 15주에 부검시 AAF를 투여한 군에서 glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-p)에 대한 면역조직화학적 염색에서 AAF와 PB를 투여한 제 1군 및 제 2군의 간장에서는 주위조직과 한계가 명료한 GST-P$^{+}$ 증식성 결절과 병소를 관찰할 수 있었으나 기초 사료만을 투여한 제 3군은 어떠한 GST-P$^{+}$ 증식성 결절 및 병소를 관찰할 수 없었다. 랫드에서 natural killer세포는 사람이나 마우스에서 주로 자연살생능 (natural killing activity)을 보이는 LGL(lure granular lymphocyte)의 형태를 띄고 있었으며 LGL 이라고 부르는 것처럼 특징적으로 세포질 대 핵의 비율이 높고 azurophilic 과립을 세포질내에 함유하고 있으며 일반적으로 신장 형태의 핵을 가지고 있었다. 또한 세포의 크기는 small lymphocyte와 대식세포 (macrophage)의 중간 크기였다. 15주와 시험종료시 정상대조군인 제 3군의 랫드로 부터 분리한 NK 세포활성도 (% cytotoxicity)에 비하여 발암물질 투여군의 NK 활성도는 PB 투여군들의 NK활성도 보다 약간 낮았다. 랫드에서 c-myc 종양단백은 65KD 와 671KD 에서 band가 형성된 것이 관찰되었다. 시험 개시후 15주에 부검한 랫드의 간에서 c-myc 종양단백의 발현은 모든 처리군들이 대조군에 비하여 높게 발현되는. 것이 관찰되었으나 시험개시후 26주에 부검한 랫드의 간에서 c-myc 종양단백의 발현은 대조군에 비하여 차이가 거의 없었다. 따라서 랫드에서 화학적으로 유도한 간암발생 과정에서 NK 세포활성이 현저하게 억제되는 것으로 생각되며, c-myc 종양단백의 발현은 시험개시후 15주에 그 발현이 확실한 것으로 사료되어 진다.