• BMB Reports
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.484-488
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• 2001

STATs are proteins with a dual function: signal transducers in the cytoplasm and transcriptional activators in the nucleus. Among the six known major STATs (STAT1-6), STAT3 has been implicated in the widest range of signaling pathways that regulate cell growth and differentiation. As a part of our on-going investigation on the pleiotropic functions of STAT proteins, we examined the role of STAT3 as a molecular adaptor that links diverse cell growth signaling pathways. We observed that STAT3 can be specifically activated by multiple cytokines, such as IL-3, in transformed fibroblasts and IL-4 or IFN-$\gamma$ in primary immune cells, respectively. The selective activation of STAT3 in H-ras-transformed NIH3T3 cells is associated with an increased expression of phosphoserioe STAT3 in these cells, compared to the parental cells. Notably phosphoresine-STAT3 interacts with oncogenic ras, shown by immunoprecipitation and Western blots. The results suggest the role of STAT3 in rasinduced cellular transformation as a molecular adaptor linking the Jak/STAT and Ras/MAPK pathways. In primary immune cells, IL-4 and IFN-$\gamma$ each induced (in addition to the characteristic STAT6 and STAT1 homodimers) the formation of STAT3-containing complexes that bind to GAS probes, which correspond to the $Fe{\varepsilon}$ Rll and $Fe{\gamma}$ RI promoter sequences, respectively. Since IL-4 and IFN-$\gamma$ are known to counter-regulate the expression of these genes, the ability of STAT3 to form heterodimeric complexes with STAT6 or STAT1 implies its role in the fine-tuned control of genes that are regulated by IL-4 and IFN-$\gamma$.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.65-71
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• 2003

The corneal epithelium is constantly being shed. The mechanism of corneal desquamation is not fully understood. Apoptosis, programmed cell death, may play a role. Apoptosis can be induced by a number of factors and different mechanisms. The study was performed to examine the apoptotic index induced in human corneal epithelial cells maintained in tissue culture by various apoptotic inducers. Various inducers, recombinant human cytokines($INF{\gamma}$, $TNF{\alpha}$, FASAb), actinomycin D. camptothecin, cycloheximide, dexamethasone and etoposide, were purchased from commercial suppliers. Inducers at manufacturer-recommended concentration were added to the corneal epithelial cells for 48 hours. Cell viability was measured using MTT assay. The cells were then assessed for the level of apoptosis. Morphologic changes and quantification of apoptotic cells were determined and counted under fluorescence microscope after inducers-treated human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells for 48 hours with Hoechst 33342 staining. Annexin V-FITC/PI staining and DePsipher assay. The expression of Fas protein was studied by immunocytochemistry. All inducers induced apoptosis in HCE cells in a dose dependent manner. Actinomycin D. camptothecin and etoposide induced apoptosis at lower than manufacturer-recommended concentration, while cytokines, cycloheximide and dexamethasone induced apoptosis at higher concentrations at the end of 48 hours. All inducers elicited typical apoptotic morphologic changes (chromatin condensation, nucleus fragmentations non-orange-red colored mitochondria) and expresses Fas protein highly. Apoptotic index of HCE cells by these inducers was different from the other cell lines. RNA synthesis inhibitor and topoisomerase inhibitors induced apoptosis at lower concentration than manufacturer-recommended concentration. Cytokines, cycloheximide and dexamethasone were able to produce apoptosis at 10 times higher concentrations. RNA synthesis inhibitor and topoisomerase inhibitors are more sensitive than intracellular receptor-activators in apoptotic induction of HCE cells.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.139-148
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• 2003

$LiPO_3$ glass scintillators were fabricated, and lanthanides(except Pm) oxides or chlorides were used as an activator. For the fabrication of $LiPO_3$ glasses, optimum heating conditions were obtained, and the photoluminescence of the glasses was measured by the monochromator. For the best transparency of the glass samples, optimum heating temperature and time are $950^{\circ}C$ and 90 min, respectively. It was found that Pr, Nd, Gd, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu do not work as activator; emission spectrums of samples with them were equal to those of samples without activators. In the case of samples with Europium, the peaks of emission spectrum of $Eu^{2+}$ and $Eu^{3+}$ were 420 nm and 620 nm respectively. And samples with $Ce^{3+}$ were about 380 nm, and $Tb^{3+}$ were about 550 nm. Glass scintillators with $Be^{3+}$, $Eu^{2+}$, and $Ce^{3+}$ were found to be more applicable to neutron detection. The result of neutron detection by Ra-Be sources showed that $Ce^{3+}$ was found to be the best activator of $LiPO_3$.

• BMB Reports
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.454-462
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• 2000

Interleukin-4(IL-4) is known to be a major cytokine regulating immunoglobulin E(IgE) response by the induction of IgE production and type II IgE receptor(IgER II: CD23) expression. Recently, however, the role of neuroendocrine factors has been implicated in modulating the IgE response. Among various neuroendocrine growth factors, we investigated the effects of the insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1) since IL-4 and IGF-1 share common intracellular signaling molecules, such as the insulin receptor substrate-1/2(IRS-1/2) to induce a specific cellular response. In the human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cultures, IGF-1 was capable of inducing a substantial level of IgE production in a dose-dependent manner. It also noticeably upregulated the IL-4-induced or IL-4 plus anti-CD40-induced IgE production. Similarly, the IGF-1-induced IgE production was enhanced by IL-4 or anti-CD40 in an additive manner, which became saturated at high concentrations of IGF-1. Although IGF-1 alone did not induce IgER II (CD23) expression, it augmented the IL-4-induced surface CD23 expression in a manner similar to the action of anti-CD40. These results imply that IGF-1 is likely to utilize common signaling pathways with IL-4 and anti-CD40 to induce IgE and IgER II expression. In support of this notion, we observed that IGF-1 enhanced the IL-4-induced signal transducers and activators of transcription 6(STAT6) activation and independently induced $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation. Both of these bind to the IgE(C) or IgER II (CD23) promoters. Together, our data suggest that IL-4 and IGF-1 work cooperatively to activate STAT6 and $NF-{\kappa}B$. This leads to the subsequent binding of these transcription factors to the $C{\varepsilon}$ and CD23 promoters to enhance the expression of IgE and IgER II. The observed differential ability of IGF-1 on the induction of IgE vs. IgER II is discussed based on the different structure of the two promoters.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.439-451
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• 1993

Protein kinase C isozymes in a human prostate adenocarcinoma PC-3 cell line were characterized. Immunoreactive bands and immunocytochemical stains were obsenred in PC-3 cells with antibodies raised against protein kinase C ${\alpha}$, ${\beta}$, ${\gamma}$, $\delta$, $\varepsilon$, and ζ types, respectively. Protein kinase C ${\alpha}$ corresponded to a immunoreactive band at a molecular weight of 80,000-dalton, whereas molecular weights of other immunoreactive isozvmes of protein kinase C were detected at 68,000-dalton. Protein kinHse C $\delta$ and ζ antibodies detected additional bands at 55,000-dalton and 80,000-dalton, respectively Immunocvtochemical study confirmed the results of the immunoblotting experiments qualitatively: all six protein kinase C isozymes were detected in the cytoplasm of PC-3 cells. Translocation of protein kinase C in PC-3 cells were also examined with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), bryostatin 2, diolein, and 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl glycerol (OAG). Differential reactions of protein kinase C isozvmes to these activators were obsenred. When PC-3 cells were treated with 10mM bryostatin 2, protein kinase C isozyme u was translocated into the nucleus, whereas s type was translocated into the plasma membrane and the nucleus. Protein kinase C ${\alpha}$ and ζ types were translocated into the nucleus following the treatment with 101M diolein, whereas protein kinase C ${\alpha}$, ${\beta}$, ${\gamma}$, and $\varepsilon$ types were translocated into the nucleus by the treatment with 10mM OAG. Protein kinase C ${\alpha}$ and $\varepsilon$ types were translocated into the nucleus in the presence of 100nM PMA. Protein kinase C $\delta$ type was translocated to the nuclear membrane by these activators, however, only PMA-induced translocation was inhibited by protein kinase C inhibitor, 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyll-2-methvlpiperazine dihvdrochloride (H7) . H7 inhibited translocation of protein kinase C ${\alpha}$ type induced by PMA, ${\beta}$ type by OAG and s type by PMA and OAG, whereas it did not affect translocations induced by bryostatin and diolein, respectively. These results suggest that there exist six isoformes of protein kinase C (${\alpha}$, ${\beta}$, ${\gamma}$, $\delta$, $\varepsilon$ and ζ types) in PC-3 cells and that each of these isozvmes distinctivelv reacts to bryostatin, diolein, OAG and PMA, in part due to an altered molecular size and conceivably discrete binding site(s).

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.190-197
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• 2020

This paper evaluates the mechanical properties and durability of cement matrix blended with mineral admixtures and ferronickel slag(FNS) powder which is an industrial b y-product during ferronickel smelting process. The hydration heat, pore structure, compressive strength, length change, rapid chloride penetration test(RCPT), and freezing and thawing resistance of ternary blended cement matrix were investigated and compared with ordinary portland cement matrix. The result showed that the compressive strength of ternary blended cement matrix using ferronickel slag powder and mineral mixture was low in strength compared to the reference concrete, but recovered to a certain extent by using alkali activator. Length change of cement mortar using FNS powder have shown less shrinkage occurs than the reference specimen. In addition, irrespective of using the alkali-activators, all ternary mix are indicative of the 'very low' range for chloride ion penetrability according to the ASTM C 1202, and the freeze-thaw resistance also showed excellent results.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.123-128
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• 2018

Effect of activators in flux on the printability and wettability of a solder paste was evaluated in this study. The activators in this study were dicarboxylic acids, which were oxalic acid (n = 0), malonic acid (n = 1), succinic acid (n = 2), glutaric acid (n = 3), adipic acid (n = 4), and pimelic acid (n = 5). When the solder pastes were observed with a SMT scope, solder with glutaric acid showed clean and shiny surface when it was melted. Slump ratio of the solder pastes was low when the carbon numbers of the dicarboxylic acid were 1-3. Spreadability was high when the carbon number was over 2. Zero cross time of wetting balance test was under 1 sec when the carbon number was over 3. When activator was oxalic acid or malonic acid, zero cross time was over 1 sec and maximum wetting force was low. Fluxes with the oxalic acid and malonic acid showed decomposition at the temperature close to melting point. Among the dicarboxylic acids, glutaric acid provided excellent slump, spreadability, and wettability.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.445-454
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• 2023

Hair graying is the result of a malfunction in the signaling pathways that control melanogenesis, and it is activated by UV light, melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH), stem cell factor (SCF), Wnt, and endothelin-1 (ET-1). To prevent hair graying, synthetic and natural compounds can be used to stimulate melanogenesis effectively under the control of tyrosinase, tyrosine hydroxylase, tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), TRP-2, and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF). This article describes a crucial strategy to resolve the problem of hair graying, as well as recent advances in the signaling pathway related to melanogenesis and hair graying. In particular, the article reviews potentially effective therapeutic agents that promote melanogenesis, such as antioxidants that modulate catalase, methionine sulfoxide reductase, and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) activators including resveratrol, fisetin, quercetin, and ginsenoside. It also discusses vitiligo inhibitors, such as corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors, and palmitic acid methyl ester, as well as activators of telomerase expression and activity, including estrogen, androgen, progesterone, and dihydrotestosterone. Furthermore, it explores compounds that can inhibit hair graying, such as latanoprost, erlotinib, imatinib, tamoxifen, and levodopa. In conclusion, this article focuses on recent research trends on compounds that promote melanin production related to hair graying.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2023.04a
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• pp.17-17
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• 2023

Chrysanthemum zawadskii (C. zawadskii) is used in traditional East Asian medicine for the treatment of various diseases, including inflammatory disease. However, it has remained unclear whether extracts of C. zawadskii inhibit inflammasome activation in macrophages. The present study assessed the inhibitory effect of an ethanol extract of C. zawadskii (CZE) on the activation of the inflammasome in macrophages and the underlying mechanism. Bone marrow[-derived macrophages (BMDMs) were obtained from wild-type C57BL/6 mice. The release of IL-1β and lactate dehydrogenase in response to nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor (NLR) family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activators, such as ATP, nigericin and monosodium urate (MSU) crystals, was significantly decreased by CZE in lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-primed BMDMs. Western blotting revealed that CZE inhibited ATP-induced caspase-1 cleavage and IL-1β maturation. To investigate whether CZE inhibits the priming step of the NLRP3 inflammasome, we confirmed the role of CZE at the gene level using RT-qPCR. CZE also downregulated the gene expression of NLRP3 and pro-IL-1β as well as NF-κB activation in BMDMs in response to LPS. Apoptosis associated speck-like protein containing a caspase-recruitment domain (CARD) oligomerization and speck formation by NLRP3 inflammasome activators were suppressed by CZE. By contrast, CZE did not affect NLR family CARD domain containing protein 4 (NLRC4) or absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) inflammasome activation in response to Salmonella typhimurium and poly(dA:dT) in LPS-primed BMDMs, respectively. The results revealed that three key components of CZE, namely linarin, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid and chlorogenic acid, decreased IL-1β secretion in response to ATP, nigericin and MSU. These findings suggest that CZE effectively inhibited activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.23-27
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• 2005

The major garlic component, Allicin [diallylthiosulfinate, or (R, S)-diallyldissulfid-S-oxide] is known for its medicinal effects, such as antihypertensive activity, microbicidal activity, and antitumor activity. Allicin and diallyldisulfide, which is a converted form of allicin, inhibited the cholesterol level in hepatocytes, in vivo and in vitro. The metabolism of allicin reportedly occurs in the microsomes of hepatocytes, predominantly with the contribution of cytochrome P-450. However, little is known about how allicin affects the genes involved in the activity of hepatocytes in vivo. In the present study, we used the short-term intravenous injection of allicin to examine the in vivo genetic profile of hepatocytes. Allicin up-regulate ten genes in the hepatocytes. For example, the interferon regulator 1 (IRF-I), the wingless-related MMTV (mouse mammary tumor virus) integration site 4 (wnt-4), and the fatty acid binding protein 1. However, allicin down-regulated three genes: namely, glutathione S-transferase mu6, a-2-HS glycoprotein, and the corticosteroid binding globulin of hepatocytes. The up-regulated wnt-4, IRF-1, and mannose binding lectin genes can enhance the growth factors, cytokines, transcription activators and repressors that are involved in the immune defense mechanism. These primary data, which were generated with the aid of the Atlas Plastic Mouse 5 K Microarray, help to explain the mechanism which enables allicin to act as a therapeutic agent, to enhance immunity, and to prevent cancer. The data suggest that these benefits of allicin are partly caused by the up-regulated or down-regulated gene profiles of hepatocytes. To evaluate the genetic profile in more detail, we need to use a more extensive mouse genome array.