• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.51-55
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• 2022

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) enzymes are responsible for the degradation and formation of the extracellular matrix (ECM), and overproduction of MMPs is observed in several diseases, such as cancer and asthma, that progress with metastatic characteristics. Natural products, especially phytochemicals, have been an important source of MMP inhibitors with reduced side effects. Although the majority of phytochemicals inhibit the enzymatic activity of MMPs, some suppress MMP production. In this context, the current study evaluated the potential of Corydalis heterocarpa, a halophyte with reported bioactivities, to inhibit MMP expression in PMA-stimulated HT-1080 cells. A crude C. heterocarpa extract was shown to decrease the mRNA and protein expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 while increasing the endogenous MMP inhibitors TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 which regulate MMP expression in healthy tissues. In addition, our results show that the inhibitory effects of C. heterocarpa might occur through suppression of the phosphorylation of MAPK signaling, the upstream activator of MMP overexpression. In conclusion, C. heterocarpa is a potential source of antimetastatic compounds that might serve as lead molecules to develop novel MMP inhibitors.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.1466-1475
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• 2021

Compound K (20-O-β-(_D-glucopyranosyl)-20(S)-protopanaxadiol) is an active ingredient of ginsenosides. Compound K has been known to produce from biotransformation by β-glucosidase action of human intestinal microbes after oral admistration of ginseng. We have investigated the cytotoxicity of compound K obtained from bio-converted ginseng extract. As a result, compound K showed no significant cytotoxicity in the concentration of 0.001 to 1 ㎍/mL and inhibited the production of TNF-α, MCP-1, IL-6 and NO in RAW 264.7 cells induced by LPS inflamation. In the same concentration, HaCaT cells induced by inflammation with TNF-α and IFN-γ decreased IL-8 production due to compound K treatment. In the brine shrimp lethality assay, the LC₅₀ of compound K was 0.37 mg/mL indicating some toxicity, but the bioconverted product containing 35% compound K showed relatively low toxicity with an LC₅₀ of 0.87 mg/mL. These results suggest that the compound K enriched extract is a potential functional material for acne relief cosmetic products.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.123-136
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• 2014

In this paper, we study to classify molecular imaging and applications to predict future. Molecular imaging in vivo at the cellular level and the molecular level changes taking place to be imaged, that is molecular cell biology and imaging technology combined with the development of the new field. Molecular imaging is used fluorescence, bioluminescence, SPECT, PET, MRI, Ultrasound and other imaging technologies. That is applied to monitoring of gene therapy, cell tracking and monitoring of cell therapy, antibody imaging, drug development, molecular interaction picture, the near-infrared fluorescence imaging of cancer using fluorescence, bacteria using tumor-targeting imaging, therapeutic early assessment, prediction and therapy. The future of molecular imaging would be developed through fused interdisciplinary research and mutual cooperation, which molecular cell biology, genetics, chemistry, physics, computer science, biomedical engineering, nuclear medicine, radiology, clinical medicine, etc. The advent of molecular imaging will be possible to early diagnosis and personalized treatment of disease in the future.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.60-68
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• 2019

Limonium tetragonum, an edible halophyte that grows on salt marshes in Korea, is thought to possess various health benefits (e.g., antioxidant, antitumor, and hepatoprotective). In the present study, different solvent partitioned subfractions, water ($H_2O$), buthanol (n-BuOH), 85% aqueous methanol (85% aq. MeOH), and hexane (n-hexane), from crude extract of L. tetragonum were tested for their ability to prevent adipogenesis in differentiating 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. The treatment of differentiating 3T3-L1 preadipocytes with L. tetragonum subfractions (LTFs) resulted in suppressed adipogenesis and reduced expression of adipogenesis-related transcription factors such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ($PPAR{\gamma}$), CCAATT/enhancer-binding protein alpha ($C/EBP{\alpha}$), and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c) at both mRNA and protein levels. In addition, the LTF treatment notably decreased the levels of phosphorylated p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in association with $PPAR{\gamma}$-linked adipogenesis. Among all the tested LTFs, $H_2O$ and n-hexane were the most effective in lowering lipid accumulation and regulating the adipocyte differentiation via $PPAR{\gamma}$ pathway. Taken together, the results indicated that the $H_2O$ and n-hexane LTFs contain bioactive compounds that may exhibit significant antiadipogenesis activity by downregulation of the $PPAR{\gamma}$ pathway and inactivation of the MAPK signal pathway in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes.

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.117-128
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• 2021

The skeletal muscle development of Hanwoo steer has been processed in the prenatal and postnatal periods. Bovine satellite cell located in perimysium of muscle tissues has differentially distributed in peripheral tissues. The study of postnatal development of satellite cells can help understand the genetic and functional regulation of meat characteristics. Factors affecting muscle size increase are related to the accumulation of DNA or synthesis of RNA proteins. In this study, we observed muscle development and differentiation after culturing bovine satellite cells derived from longissimus dorsi and semimembranosus regions of Hanwoo muscle tissue. In addition, RNA sequencing data were analyzed for differentially expressed genes (DEG) involved in intracellular muscle development and growth. The DEG of the two muscle tissues were compared according to 1day, 2day, 4day, and 7day. The overall gene expression level was confirmed by the heat map. Gene Ontology (GO) classification method was used to compare the expression level of gene groups affecting LD and SM development. The histology of GO was consistent with the time-cause change of LD and SM cell morphology. SM showed more active skeletal muscle development than LD. Even within the same time, SM expressed more genes than LD, thus synthesizing more muscle fibers

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.12
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• pp.979-988
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• 2022

Halophytes have been reported to possess a variety of physiological activities, such as anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, anti-diabetes, anti-inflammatory, and anti-obesity. Studies on the roots of the halophyte Rosa rugosa, in particular, have shown a variety of physiological activities and are known to be effective for nursing diabetic complications in traditional Korean medicine. In this study, the effect of R. rugosa on adipogenesis was investigated in 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes treated with crude extract and solvent fractions (H₂O, n-BuOH, 85% aq. MeOH, and n-Hex) obtained from R. rugosa roots. Treatment with extract and the solvent fractions inhibited the formation of intracellular lipid droplets in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes compared to the untreated group. In particular, n-BuOH and 85% aq. MeOH fractions effectively decreased the expression of adipogenic transcription factors: peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ (PPARγ), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα), and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP1c) in both mRNA and protein levels. In conclusion, these results suggest that R. rugosa contains anti-adipogenic molecules that can be utilized as a nutraceutical against obesity. Further refining of n-BuOH and 85% aq. MeOH fractions and analysis of their action mechanisms could yield potential therapeutic agents with anti-adipogenic effects.

• Electronics and Telecommunications Trends
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.97-105
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• 2014

본고에서는 시냅스의 생물학적 기능과 이를 모방하는 멤리스터, 멤리스터와 CMOS(Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) 트랜지스터의 하이브리드, 그리고 멤리스터 기반의 집적회로 구현에 관한 최신 연구개발 동향을 다루었다. 기억과 스위칭을 동시에 수행할 수 있는 시냅스 모방 멤리스터는 Moore의 법칙에 따른 집적도 한계의 도래시점을 지연시킬 수 있으며, 디지털 컴퓨팅의 한계를 극복하여 학습능력을 가지는 지능형 실시간 병렬처리 시스템을 구현할 수 있는 잠재력을 가지고 있다. 또한 멤리스터는 신경세포의 기능을 재해석하는 계기가 되어 뇌과학 발전에도 크게 기여할 것으로 예상된다. 저전력으로 구동하는 지능형 프로세서의 조기 등장을 위해서는 뇌 과학, 나노소재 및 소자기술, 집적회로 설계 및 공정기술, 뉴로컴퓨팅(neuro-computing) 등 다양한 분야의 융합전략이 요구된다.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.36-44
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• 2016

This article serves as a guideline to the policy on Korea brain science program. Given limited resources within Korea, setting priorities in brain science topics is important in science policy. In this study, we determined the priorities of important brain science topics based on the frontier properties, innovativeness, and prospective outcome. Firstly, the significant topics were chosen after the interview with the top nationwide brain scientists, which were neuroglia, brain precision medicine, neuromorphic engineering, neuroepigenetics, and brain oscillation. Secondly, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) survey were conducted to prioritize and assign the important weight for not only the criteria but also the research topics in pair choice evaluation. In regards to the importance among the criteria, prospects of the topic was determined to be the top criterion to ranked criterion to consider in the government investment. The priority of the research topics was determined by the order for the project to be considered in national science policy in a comparative way.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.69-77
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• 2023

Objectives: Atriplex gmelinii C. A. Meyer is a halophyte belonging to the Chenopodiaceae family, and its young leaves and stems are used as fodder for livestock. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of A. gmelinii extract and its solvent fractions on lipid accumulation during adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Methods: The samples of A. gmelinii were separately extracted using methylene chloride and methanol. Subsequently, they were combined to formulate the initial extract, which was then partitioned based on polarity to prepare solvent fractions. Oil Red O staining was employed to measure lipid accumulation during the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. To verify cytotoxicity in 3T3-L1 cells, MTT assays were conducted. The expression levels of transcription factors in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were measured through Western blotting analysis. Results: At 50 ㎍/mL, treatment of A. gmelinii extract and its solvent fractions during the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes significantly diminished lipid accumulation with no noteworthy cytotoxicity on cell viability. Additionally, when investigating the biochemical pathways that underlie the prevention of lipid accumulation using solvent fractions, it was found that the n-BuOH and n-hexane fractions significantly decreased the expression of key transcription factors involved in the generation of fat, such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα), and sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP1c). Conclusions: These findings indicate that A. gmelinii can effectively reduce the accumulation of fat in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, making it a potentially valuable material for mitigating and preventing obesity.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.161-169
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• 2018

This study aimed to evaluate seaweed polysaccharide extracts as a cosmetic material. To assess anti-microbial efficacy, Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) was treated with seaweed polysaccharide extracts and zones of inhibition were measured. In addition, the anti-inflammatory effect was confirmed in RAW 264.7cells, and seaweed polysaccharide extracts was applied to the dorsal skin of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats to evaluate single-dose toxicity. As a results, seaweed polysaccharide extracts did not exhibit cytotoxicity at concentrations up to $1,000{\mu}g/mL$ in skin fibroblasts. Furthermore, when S. aureus was treated with 1% seaweed polysaccharide extracts, clear zones of $1.52{\pm}0.34cm$ formed, confirming sufficient anti-microbial activity. When RAW 264.7 cells were treated with seaweed polysaccharide extracts extract, nitric oxide (NO) production decreased in a concentration-dependent manner and the production of inflammation-related cytokines, such as interleukin 1 beta ($IL1{\beta}$), tumor necrosis factor alpha ($TNF{\alpha}$), and prostaglandin E2(PGE2), decreased. When seaweed polysaccharide extracts extract was applied at various concentrations to rats, symptoms did not change for more than 14 d, and there was no change in body or organ weights. In conclusion we found that seaweed polysaccharide extracts is not cytotoxic and has anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, it is suitable for use as a cosmetic material.