• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.28 no.8
• /
• pp.992-998
• /
• 2018

Cancer cells grow in an environment composed of various components that supports tumor growth. Major cell types in the tumor microenvironment are fibroblast, endothelial cells and immune cells. All of these cells communicate with cancer cells. Among infiltrating immune cells as an abundant component of solid tumors, macrophages are a major component of the tumor microenvironment and orchestrates various aspects of immunity. The complex balance between pro-tumoral and anti-tumoral effects of immune cell infiltration can create a chronic inflammatory microenvironment essential for tumor growth and progression. Macrophages express different functional programs in response to microenvironmental signals, defined as M1 and M2 polarization. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) secret many cytokines, chemokines and proteases, which also promote tumor angiogenesis, growth, metastasis and immunosuppression. TAM have multifaceted roles in the development of many tumor types. TAM also interact with cancer stem cells. This interaction leads to tumorigenesis, metastasis, and drug resistance. TAM obtain various immunosuppressive functions to maintain the tumor microenvironment. TAM are characterized by their heterogeneity and plasticity, as they can be functionally reprogrammed to polarized phenotypes by exposure to cancer-related factors, stromal factors, infections, or even drug interventions. Because TAMs produce tumor-specific chemokines by the stimulation of stromal factors, chemokines might serve as biomarkers that reflect disease activity. The evidence has shown that cancer tissues with high infiltration of TAM are associated with poor patient prognosis and resistance to therapies. Targeting of TAM in tumors is considered a promising therapeutic strategy for anti-cancer treatment.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.203-207
• /
• 2015

The majority of food drying processes are based on the use of thermal energy. However, such methods may deteriorate the quality of the final product. Freeze-drying is one of the most useful processes for drying thermosensitive substances. Food that contains beneficial bacteria, for example, is susceptible to heat treatment, but during freeze-drying beneficial bacteria are preserved in these food items. The primary goals of this study were to develop yogurt snacks and to compare the viability of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in yogurt snacks under different freeze-drying temperatures. In addition, the survival of LAB during storage was investigated. Survival of LAB in freeze-dried yogurt snacks gradually decreased over 16 weeks of storage. LAB had a residual viability of 25.5% after 16 weeks of storage at room temperature. LAB survived better in freeze-dried plain yogurt snacks than in freeze-dried strawberry yogurt snacks during storage. Freeze-dried yogurt snacks contained 11.9% fat, 57.1% carbohydrate, and 18.7% protein. In conclusion, the viability of LAB in freeze-dried yogurt snacks depends on the temperature during freeze-drying: the higher the freeze-drying temperature, the lower the viability of LAB in yogurt snacks. The viability of LAB in yogurt snacks was also dependent on the moisture content and nutritional value.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• /
• v.35 no.6
• /
• pp.397-402
• /
• 2009

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of alendronate and pamidronate on proliferation and the alkaline phosphatase activity of human bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells and to relate the results with bisphosphonate related osteonecrosis of the jaw(BRONJ). With the consent of patients with no systemic disease and undergoing iliac bone graft, cancellous bone was collected to obtain human bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells through cell culture. 96 well plate were prepared with a concentration of $10^4$cell/ well. Alendronate and pamidronate were added to each well with the concentration of $10^{-6}M$, $10^{-8}M$ and $10^{-10}M$, respectively. Then proliferation capacity of each well was evaluated with the cell counting kit. 24 well plates were prepared with a concentration of $10^5$cell/ml/well and with the bone supplement, alendronate and pamidronate were added with the concentration of $10^{-6}M$, $10^{-8}M$ and $10^{-10}M$, respectively on each plate. The plates were cultured for either 24 or 72 hours. Then the cells were sonicated to measure the alkaline phosphatase activity and protein assay was done to standardize the data for analysis. As the concentration of alendronate or pamidronate added to the culture increased, the proliferation capacity of the cells decreased. However, no statistical significance was found between the group with $10^{-10}M$ of bisphophonate and the control group. Pamidronate was not capable of increasing the alkaline phosphatase activity in all trials. However, alkaline phosphatase activity increased with 24 hours of $10^{-8}M$ of alendronate treatment and with 48 hours of $10^{-10}M$ of alendronate treatment. Cell toxicity increased as the bisphosphonate concentration increased. This seems to be associated with the long half life of bisphosphonate, resulting in high concentration of bisphosphonate in the jaw and thus displaying delayed healing after surgical procedures. Alendronate has shown to increase the alkaline phophatase activity of human bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells. However, this data is insufficient to conclude that alendronate facilitates the differentiation of human bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells. Further studies on DNA level and animal studies are required to support these results.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.16 no.5
• /
• pp.466-473
• /
• 2001

A bacterium was isolated from soils in Suwon, Korea for the purpose of H$_2$S removal using a biofilter system. The isolate was gram-negative, rod-shaped, catalase-positive, motile, and the isolated bacterium showed a positve in utilizing energy sources including citrate, mannitol, sucrose, fructors, and trehalsoe. Based on its biochemical characteristics it was identified as Burkholderia(Pseudomonas) cepacia. The growth rate of the bacterium in thiosulfate medium with yeast extract was 0.15 hr$\^$-1/ and generation time was 4.6 hr. The cell productivity was 8.05 mg/L$.$h and the isolate grew logarithmically up to 12 hr. The maximum rate of sulfur oxidation was 0.18 g-S/L$.$h. The optimum pH and temperature for the growth of the bacterium were 7.0 and 30$\^{C}$, respectively. The pH range for the growth of B. cepacia was 5.0-8.0. The oxidation rate of thiosulfate was lowered by a substrate thiosulfate when the concentration was higher than 0.12 M. both growth rate and sulfur oxidation rate of Burkholderia(Pseudomonas) cepacia was enhanced about 1.5 times with the addition of 0.2% yeast extract. The removal of hydrogen sulfide was investigated by immobilized B. cepacia with Ca-alginate. The maximum rate removal for H$_2$S was 6.25 g$.$㎤ $.$h$\^$-1/ when 12 L/h of flow rate was supplied. From this study suggest the immobilized B. cepacia could have a potential for H$_2$S removal.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.33 no.9
• /
• pp.1445-1450
• /
• 2004

The plum (Prunus salicina L., cv. ‘Soldam’) fruits were harvested at different growth stages, and then extracted using 80% methanol, respectively. The methanol extracts of plum were investigated for their growth inhibition on 6 kinds of human cancer cells using MTT assay and for their activity to induce quinone reductase (QR) in murine Hepa1c1c7 cells. Among various methanol extracts of plum, the plum 1~4 (immature fruit), which thin out 10~25 days before final harvest, showed higher anticarcinogenic activity against 5 kinds of cancer cells than plum 5~9 (intermediate-mature and mature fruit). Especially, plum 1 and 2 were exhibited the strongest growth inhibiting activities to AGS, HepG2 and MDA cancer cells. Also the plum extracts induced the activity of QR, an anticarcinogenic marker enzyme, in Hepa1c1c7 cells while the induction of QR activities by adding plum extracts were shown to be a little difference depending on growth stages. These results suggested that methanol extracts of immature plum can be considered as an effective natural cancer chemoprevention materials.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.45 no.10
• /
• pp.1422-1429
• /
• 2016

Kombucha is a slightly sour beverage fermented by symbiotic micro-organisms, including bacteria and yeasts. In this study, we examined the biological activities of citrus Kombucha (CK) produced by addition of citrus extract to original Kombucha (K). After fermentation for 10 days, radical scavenging activity examined by ABTS and DPPH assays increased by approximately 20% compared to that of K. Moreover, content of total phenolic compounds significantly increased by 60% compared to that of K. Cell proliferation assays utilizing MTT showed that CK treatment significantly inhibited growth of bladder cancer cells, T-24 and 5637, in a dose-dependent manner with $IC_{50}$ values of 4 and 7 mg/mL, respectively. Annexin V staining showed that CK treatment led to apoptosis of cells in a dose-dependent manner. T-24 cells were more sensitive to CK treatment than 5637 cells, as 8 mg/mL of CK resulted in 97% apoptosis of T-24 cells. Western blotting showed that CK treatment led to up-regulation of apoptotic proteins, including caspases-3, -8, -9, and PARP, in bladder cells not in K-treated cells. Taken together, these results demonstrate that CK may be developed as a functional beverage.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.77-82
• /
• 2011

This study was conducted to provide information for improving the quality characteristics of Buckwheat Soksungjang (BWS). We determined aminotype nitrogen content, total microbial flora counts, the population of Bacillus cereus, presence of volatile compounds, fibrinolytic activity, antioxidant activity, ACE inhibition rate, and a sensory evaluation. The aminotype nitrogen increased gradually during fermentation. We found a decreasing population of B. cereus during fermentation, thus, the edible period for BWS was more than 30 days after fermentation. Acetaldehyde, butanol, and pyrazine were detected as volatile compounds after fermentation. The fibrinolytic activities of a 10% BWS water extract were high at 120.8 units compared to the control (71.6 units). In a sensory evaluation, Soksungjang with 60% added BW showed a significantly higher score (p < 0.001) for color, taste, smell, texture, and overall. The results suggest that a new type of shortened fermented soybean paste had good safety, bioactivities, and sensory characteristics within 4 weeks.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.24 no.11
• /
• pp.1244-1251
• /
• 2014

Platycodon grandiflorum (PG) has been known to possess many biological effects, including anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy activity and anti-obesity and hyperlipidemia effects. However, little research has been conducted regarding its anticancer effects, with the exception of its ability to stimulate apoptosis in skin cells. There has also been no study regarding PG-induced autophagy. The modulation of autophagy is recognized as one of the hallmarks of cancer cells. Depending on the type of cancer and the context, autophagy can suppress or help cancer cells to overcome metabolic stress and the cytotoxicity of chemotherapy. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate whether or not extracts from PG-induced cell death were connected with autophagy and apoptosis in HCT-116 human colon cancer cells. PG stimulation decreased cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner and induced apoptosis, which was partially dependent on the activation of caspases. PG treatment also resulted in the formation of autophagic vacuoles simultaneously with regulation of autophagy-related genes. Interestingly, a PG-mediated apoptotic effect was further triggered by pretreatment with the autophagy inhibitors 3-methyladenin and bafilomycin A1. However, cell viability recovered quite well with bafilomycin A1 treatment. These findings show that PG treatment promotes both autophagy and apoptosis and that PG-induced autophagic response might play a role in the autophagic cell death of HCT-116 cells.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.28 no.6
• /
• pp.733-737
• /
• 2018

Cucurbitacin-I, a natural triterpenoid derived from Cucurbitaceae family plants, exhibits a number of potentially useful pharmacological and biological activities. Indeed, the previous study demonstrated that cucurbitacin-I reduced the proliferation of colon cancer cells by enhancing apoptosis and causing cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase. CD44, a type I transmembrane protein with the function of adhering to cells, mediates between the extracellular matrix and other cells through hyaluronic acid. Recent studies have demonstrated that an overexpression of the CD44 membrane receptor results in tumor initiation and growth, specific behaviors of cancer stem cells, the development of drug resistance, and metastasis. The aim was to examine the effect of cucurbitacin-I on CD44 expression human ovarian cancer cells because the effect of cucurbitacin-I on CD44 expression has not been reported. The expressions of CD44 mRNA and protein were detected using a quantitative real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and a Western blot analysis, respectively. Treatment with cucurbitacin-I inhibited the expression of CD44 mRNA and protein. A subsequent analysis revealed that cucurbitacin-I blocked the phosphorylation of activator protein-1 (AP-1) and nuclear factor kappa-B ($NF-{\kappa}B$), which are key regulators of CD44 expression. Taken together, the data demonstrate that cucurbitacin-I regulates the AP-1 and $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling pathways, leading to decreased CD44 expression.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.47 no.3
• /
• pp.218-224
• /
• 2011

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) OA18 was isolated from yogurt prepared by using Kefir Grain as a starter. The OA18 strain was a Gram-positive, cocci-type bacterium, and able to grow anaerobically with $CO_2$ production. The OA18 strain grew well on MRS broth supplemented with 50 mM arginine at $30-37^{\circ}C$ and pH of 7.0-9.0. The optimum temperature and pH for growth are $37^{\circ}C$ and pH 7.0. The isolate fermented ribose, D-glucose, cellobiose, D-trehalose, but not L-xylose, D-melibiose, and inositol. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of the isolate showed 99.8% homology with the Enterococcus faecalis 16S rRNA gene (Access no. AB012212). Based on the biochemical characteristics and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis data, it was identified and named as E. faecalis OA18. The E. faecalis OA18 strain showed a high ornithine-producing capacity in the presence of arginine and also showed an antimicrobial activity against Streptomyces strains such as Streptomyces coelicolor subsp. Flavus, S. coeruleorubidus, S. coeruleoaurantiacus, S. coelicolor, S. coeruleoprunus. The cell growth of E. faecalis OA18 strain was maintained in MRS broth with a NaCl concentration of 0-7%.