• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.289-294
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• 2015

Fucoidan which is sulfated polysaccharide extracted from brown seaweed has a wide variety of internal biological activities. The objectives of this study were to examine the effect of fucoidan on nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated porcine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and to investigate whether this effect is involved in the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and the activation of activator portein-1 (AP-1). The levels of NO production and AP-1 activity in the culture supernatants from porcine PBMCs were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the levels of iNOS and AP-1 mRNA were determined by real time polymerase chain reaction. Fucoidan in LPS-naïve PBMCs has no effects on the production of NO and activity of AP-1. Expressions of iNOS and AP-1 mRNA in LPS-naïve PBMCs were also not affected by treatment of fucoidan. However, NO production, AP-1 activity and expressions of iNOS and AP-1 mRNA were dramatically increased in PBMCs stimulated with LPS. Enhancing effects of NO production and AP-1 activity in PBMCs induced by LPS were reduced by addition of fucoidan. Fucoidan also inhibited an increase in expressions of iNOS and AP-1 mRNA in LPS-stimulated PBMCs. These results suggested that fucoidan exerts anti-inflammatory effect by down-regulating production of NO via suppressing expression of iNOS and activity of AP-1 in LPS-stimulated porcine PBMCs.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.189-198
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• 2015

Background: Antiallergic effect of 20(S)-protopanaxatriol (PPT), an intestinal metabolite of ginseng saponins, was investigated in guinea pig lung mast cells and mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells activated by a specific antigen/antibody reaction. Methods: Increasing concentrations of PPT were pretreated 5 min prior to antigen stimulation, and various inflammatory mediator releases and their relevant cellular signaling events were measured in those cells. Results: PPT dose-dependently reduced the release of histamine and leukotrienes in both types of mast cells. Especially, in activated bone marrow-derived mast cells, PPT inhibited the expression of Syk protein, cytokine mRNA, cyclooxygenase-1/2, and phospholipase $A_2$ ($PLA_2$), as well as the activities of various protein kinase C isoforms, mitogen-activated protein kinases, $PLA_2$, and transcription factors (nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ and activator protein-1). Conclusion: PPT reduces the release of inflammatory mediators via inhibiting multiple cellular signaling pathways comprising the $Ca^{2+}$ influx, protein kinase C, and $PLA_2$, which are propagated by Syk activation upon allergic stimulation of mast cells.

• BMB Reports
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.387-391
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• 1995

In order to investigate whether phospholipase C (PLC) activity in oat celIs is regulated by Gprotein, we have characterized PLC in plasma membranes of oat tissues. To identify the purified plasma membrane, $K^+$-stimulated, $Mg^{2+}$-dependent ATPase activity was measured. The activity of ATPase was shown to be proportional to the concentration of membrane protein. To examine the PLC activity regulated by G-protein, we used the inside-out and outside-out plasma membrane mixture isolated from the oat cells. The plasma membrane mixture showed higher PLC activity than the one of the outside-out plasma membrane. This suggests that PLC activity is located at the cytoplasmic surface of plasma membrane. PLC activity in plasma membrane mixture was dependent on $Ca^{2+}$ with maximum activity at 100 ${\mu}m$ $Ca^{2+}$ and it was inhibited by 1 mM EGTA. Using Sep-pak $Accell^{TM}$ Plus QMA chromatography, we found that inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate ($IP_3$) was produced in the presence of 10 ${\mu}m$ $Ca^{2+}$. The PLC activity in the membrane was enhanced by an activator of G-protein ($GTP{\gamma}S$) and not by an inhibitor ($GDP{\beta}S$). This indicates that a G-protein is involved in the activation of PLC in the plasma membrane of oat cells.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.86-89
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• 2002

Blue light activates proton pump, and creates electrical gradient across the plasma membrane and drives $K^{+}$ uptake in stomatal guard cells. In this presentation, we provide evidence for regulatory mechanisms of the pump and the identification of blue light receptor. The pump is shown to be the plasma membrane H$^{+}$- ATPase and is activated through phosphorylation of the C-terminus. Phosphorylation occurred and 14-3-3 protein bound to the phosphorylation site. The binding of 14-3-3 protein was required for the H$^{+}$-ATPase activation. We also found that phot1 phot2 double mutant does not respond to blue light but other mutants respond to blue light by stomatal opening. However, all these mutants are capable of stomatal opening in the presence of fusicoccin, an activator of the H$^{+}$-ATPase. These results suggest that both photl and phot2 act as blue light receptors in guard cells.d cells.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2010

Inonotus obliquus is one of the immune-regulatory substances and is recognized to play the role in the metabolic process of inflammation, allergy and immuntiy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of water extracts of Inonotus obliquus (IOW) on the liver lymphocyte immune function in the Sprague-Dawley male rats treated with carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$) to induce liver damage. Rats were fed with each experimental diet and water for 4 weeks. We found that effects of IOW on interferon-gamma (IFN-$\gamma$), signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1), phospho-signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (pSTAT1) and GATA-binding protein 3 (GATA-3) were decrease in vivo. Interleukin-4 (IL-4), STAT6, pSTAT6 and T-box expressed in T-cells (T-bet) decreased significantly lower in $CCl_4$+IOW group than the $CCl_4$ group. Our data indicated that cytokine protein production were increased in $CCl_4$ group and $CCl_4$+IOW group. As a result of this study, we assume that IOW fed could regulate the immuno-modulating functions through regulate the cytokine production capacity activated by liver damage.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.211-219
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• 2024

Background: Recently, plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (PDENs) have been isolated, and active research was focusing on understanding their properties and functions. In this study, the characteristics and molecular properties of ginseng root-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (GrDENs) were examined in terms of skin protection. Methods: HPLC-MS protocols were used to analyze the ginsenoside contents in GrDENs. To investigate the beneficial effect of GrDENs on skin, HaCaT cells were pre-treated with GrDENs (0-2 × 10⁹ particles/mL), and followed by UVB irradiation or H₂O₂ exposure. In addition, the antioxidant activity of GrDENs was measured using a fluorescence microscope or flow cytometry. Finally, molecular mechanisms were examined with immunoblotting analysis. Results: GrDENs contained detectable levels of ginsenosides (Re, Rg1, Rb1, Rf, Rg2 (S), Gyp17, Rd, C-Mc1, C-O, and F2). In UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells, GrDENs protected cells from death and reduced ROS production. GrDENs downregulated the mRNA expression of proapoptotic genes, including BAX, caspase-1, -3, -6, -7, and -8 and the ratio of cleaved caspase-8, -9, and -3 in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, GrDENs reduced the mRNA levels of aging-related genes (MMP2 and 3), proinflammatory genes (COX-2 and IL-6), and cellular senescence biomarker p21, possibly by suppressing activator protein-1 signaling. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the protective effects of GrDENs against skin damage caused by UV and oxidative stress, providing new insights into beneficial uses of ginseng. In particular, our results suggest GrDENs as a potential active ingredient in cosmeceuticals to promote skin health.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.58-66
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• 2006

Purpose: Renal irradiation can lead to the development of radiation nephropathy, and this is characterized by the accumulation of extracellular matrix and final fibrosis. To determine the possible role of the glomerular epithelial cell, the radiation-induced changes in the expression of its genes associated with the extracellular matrix were analyzed. Materials and Methods: Rat glomerular epithelial cells (GEpC) were irradiated with a single dose of 0, 2, 5, 10 and 20 Gy with using 6 MV LINAC (Siemens, USA), and the samples were collected 6, 24, 48 and 72 hours post-irradiation, respectively. Northern blotting, western blotting and zymography were used to measure the expression level of fibronectin (Fn), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (Pai-1), matrix metalloproteinases-2, 9 (MMP-2, 9), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2), tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA). Results: Irradiation with a single dose of 10 Gy resulted in a significant increase in Fn mRNA since 24 hours post-irradiation, and a single dose of 5 and 10 Gy significantly increased the Fn immunoreactive protein measured 48 hours post-irradiation. An increase in Pai-1 mRNA and protein was also observed and especially, a single dose of 10 Gy significantly increased the mRNA measured 24 and 48 hours post-irradiation. The active MMP-2 measured 24 hours post-irradiation slightly increased in a dose dependent manner, but this increase did not reach statistical significance. The levels of MMP-9, TIMP-2, t-PA and u-PA appeared unaltered after irradiation. Conclusion: Irradiation of the glomerular epithelial cells altered the expression of genes associated with the extracellular matrix, implying that the glomerular epithelial cell may be involved in the development of radiation nephropathy.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.695-703
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• 2006

The dissolved oxygen level of any cell culture environment has a critical effect on cellular metabolism. Specifically, hypoxia condition decreases cell viability and recombinant protein productivity. In this work, to develop CHO cells producing recombinant protein with high productivity, mammalian expression vectors containing a human tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) gene with hypoxia response element (HRE) were constructed and stably transfected into CHO cells. CHO/2HRE-t-PA cells produced 2-folds higher recombinant t-PA production than CHO/t-PA cells in a $Ba^{2+}-alginate$ immobilized culture, and 16.8-folds in a repeated batch culture. In a non-aerated batch culture of suspension-adapted cells, t-PA productivity of CHO/2HRE/t-PA cells was 4.2-folds higher than that of CHO/t-PA cells. Our results indicate that HRE is a useful tool for the enhancement of protein productivity in mammalian cell cultures.

• BMB Reports
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.320-334
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• 2004

StMBF1 (Solanum tuberosum multiprotein bridging factor 1) is a plant member of the MBF1 family of transcriptional co-activators. In an attempt to understand the role of StMBF1, we analyzed its interaction with plant transcription factors of the homeodomain-leucine zipper (Hd-Zip) family, a group of proteins with a typical leucine zipper motif adjacent to a homeodomain. StMBF1 is able to interact in vitro with the Hd-Zip protein Hahb-4 both in the presence and absence of DNA. Upon binding, StMBF1 increases the DNA binding affinity of Hahb-4, and of another plant homeodomain containing protein from the GL2/Hd-Zip IV family, HAHR-1. The biological role of interactions is discussed in this paper.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.50-57
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• 2014

NF-${\kappa}B$ is a transcriptional factor which is involved in many biological processes including immunity, inflammation, and cell survival. Many investigators studied on the mechanism involved in activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ signalling pathway via ubiquitination and degradation of $I{\kappa}B$ regarding skin disease. Some specific molecules including Akt, MEK, p38 MAP Kinase, Stat3, et al. represent convergence points and key regulatory proteins in signaling pathways controlling cellular events such as growth and differentiation, energy homeostasis, and the response to stress and inflammation. Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation has many adverse effects on skin, including inflammation, alteration in the extracellular matrix, cellular senescence, apoptosis and skin cancer. Prunus mume, a naturally derived plant extract, has beneficial biological activities as blood fluidity improvement, anti-fatigue action, antioxidative and free radical scavenging activities, inhibiting the motility of Helicobacter pyolri. Previous reports on various beneficial function prompted us to investigate UVB-induced or other immunostimulated biological marker regarding P. mume extract. P. mume extract suppresses UVB-induced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in mouse skin epidermal JB6 P+ cells. The activation of activator protein-1 and nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ induced by UVB was dose-dependently inhibited by P. mume extract treatment. This results suggest that P. mume extracts might be used as a potential agents for protection of inflammation or UVB induced skin damage.