• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.363-370
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• 2007

Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) has been as an model animal for studing the neurological disease such as stroke and epilepsy because of the congenital incompleteries in Willis circle, as well as the investigation of water metabolism because of the long time-survival in the condition of water-deprived desert condition, compared with other species animal. Aquaporin 2 (AQP2) expressed at the surface of principal cells in collecting duct results from an equilibrium between the AQP2 in intracellular vesicles and the AQP2 on the plasma membrane. Aquaporin 4 (AQP4), which is expressed in cell in a wide range of organ, is also present in the collecting duct principal cells where this is abundant in the basolateral plasma membranes and represent potential exit pathways from the cell for water entering via AQP2. In this research, we divide 3 groups of which each group include the 5 animals. In the study of 7 or 14 days water restricted condition, we investigated the AQP2 and AQP4 by using a quantitative immunohistochemistry in the kidney. The results obtained in this study were summarized as followings. AQP2 is abundant in the apical plasma membrane and apical vesicles in the collecting duct principal cell and at rare abundance in connecting tubules. In the water-deprived Mongolian gerbil kidney, expression of AQP2 was continuosly increased in the cortical collecting duct and inner medullary collecting duct. This increase was both the apical region and cytoplasm. AQP4 is mainly expressed in the inner medulla, although some expression is also noted in the more proximal segment. In the water-deprived Mongolian gerbil kidney, AQP4 was also increased in the inner medullary collecting duct. Immunoactivity was increased in entire inner medullary collecting duct and newly detected in cytoplasm of principal cell. These findings suggest that increased levels of AQP2 and AQP4 in the cortical and inner medulalry collecting duct may play a important role for maintain fluid balance in the water-deprived kidney.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.281-286
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• 2002

In this study, we intended to get a preliminary data for establishing rat tracheal surface epithelial(RTSE) cell culture system as an experimental model for physiology and pharmacology of tracheal epithelial cells. Primary culture on the membrane support and application of the air-liquid interface system at the level of cell layer were performed. The cell growth rate and mucin production rate were measured according to the days in culture. The results were as follows: this culture system was found to manifest mucocilliary differentiation of rat tracheal epithelial cells, the cells were confluent and the quantity of produced and released mucin was highest on culture day 9, the mucin was mainly released to the apical side and tbe free $^3{H}$-glucosamine which was not incorporated to process of synthesis of mucin was left on the basolateral side. Taken together, we suggest that air-liquid interface culture system can be used as a substitute for immersion culture system and as an experimental model for in vivo mucus-hypersecretory diseases.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.186-196
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• 2010

Introduction: The first aim of this study was to isolate the dental tissue-derived stem cells from the dental follicle (DF), dental pulp (DP), and root apical papilla (RAP) of the extracted wisdom teeth. Second was to evaluate their characterization with the expressions of transcription factors and cell surface markers. Finally, their ability of the in vitro multi-lineage differentiations into osteogenic and adipogenic cells were compared, respectively. Materials and Methods: Dental tissues, including dental follicle, dental pulp, and root apical papilla, were separated in the extracted wisdom teeth. These three dental tissues were cultured in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM) with supplements, respectively. After passage 3, the homogeneous shaped dental tissue-derived cells were analyzed the expression of transcription factors (Oct-4, Nanog and Sox-2) and cell surface markers (CD44, CD90 and CD105) with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis. In order to evaluate in vitro multi-lineage differentiations, the culture media were changed to the osteogenic and adipogenic induction mediums when the dental tissue-derived cells reached to passage 3. The characteristics of these three dental tissue-derived cells were compared with immunohistochemistry. Results: During primary culture, heterogenous and colony formatted dental tissue-derived cells were observed in the culture plates. After passage 2 or 3, homogenous spindle-like cells were observed in all culture plates. Transcription factors and mesenchymal stem cell markers were positively observed in all three types of dental tissue-derived cells. However, the quantity of expressed transcription factors was most large in RAP-derived cells. In all three types of dental tissue-derived cells, osteogenic and adipogenic differentiations were observed after treatment of specific induction media. In vitro adipogenic differentiation was similar among these three types of cells. In vitro osteogenic differentiation was most strongly and frequently observed in the RAP-derived cells, whereas rarely osteogenic differentiation was observed in the DP-derived cells. Conclusion: These findings suggest that three types of human dental tissue-derived cells from extracted wisdom teeth were multipotent mesenchymal stem cells, have the properties of multi-lineage differentiations. Especially, stem cells from root apical papilla (SCAP) have much advantage in osteogenic differentiation, whereas dental follicle cells (DFCs) have a characteristic of easy adipogenic differentiation.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.424-429
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• 2006

In the present study, a human mammary epithelial cell (HMEC) culture model was developed to evaluate the potential involvement of carrier-mediated transport systems in drug transfer into milk. Trypsin-resistant HMECs were seeded on $Matrigel^{circledR}-coated$ filters to develop monolayers of functionally differentiated HMEC. Expression of the specific function of HMEC monolayers was dependent of the number of trypsin treatments. Among the monolayers with different numbers of treatment (treated 1 to 3 times), the monolayer treated 3 times (3-t-HMEC monolayer) showed the highest maximal transepithelial resistance and expression of $\beta-casein$ mRNA as an index of differentiation. Transport of tetraethylammonium (TEA) across the 3-t-HMEC monolayer in the basolateral-to-apical direction was significantly higher than that in the apical-to-basolateral direction (p<0.05), whereas such directionality was not observed for p-aminohippurate, suggesting the existence of organic cation transporters, but not organic anion transporters. In fact, expression of mRNAs of human organic cation transporter (OCT) 1 and 3 were detected in the 3-t-HMEC monolayer. These results indicate that the 3-t-HMEC monolayer is potentially useful for the evaluation of carrier-mediated secretion of drugs including organic cations into human milk.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.22 no.1_2
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• pp.35-43
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• 1979

The present investigation has been made to study the deficiency symptoms of boron on the formation of cell wall and the development of the individual components of the orchid cell wall. Analytical samples were taken from two sources; one from the individual orchid plants started from an apical meristem culture followed by the generation of the protocorm-like body which was developed into a plant, the other from the plant cultivated in water for 30 days. The amount of boron in the cultrues were controlled and the deficiency symptoms were observed under theelectron microscope, optical microscope with samples taken from the zones of elongation of leaves and compared the dry weight of cell walls and finally the various fractions of the cell wall components. The following results were obtained: (1) The growth of roots and leaves was hampered in the boron deficient plants. (2) In the boron-deficient leaves a severe necrosis and cracks were developed in the tissue of zone of elongation besides the decrease in growth. (3) under the electorn microscope the cell walls of boron-deficient plants showed rough undulated structures unlike the smooth control cell walls. (4) the dry weight of total cells and cell walls of boron deficient plants were higher than the control plants. (5) In the boron deficient plant the amout of pectin and hemicellulose isolated from cell walls were higher and the amount of protein was lower than the controlled plots.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.119-137
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• 1989

It has been shown in this and earlier investigation that the turtle bladder mucosa has three main cell types on their mucosal surface. They are the granular cells, ${\alpha}$ CA cells, and ${\beta}$ CA cells. The three major transport mechanisms that occurs in the turtle bladder are sodium reabsorption, proton secretion, and bicarbonate secretion. In the present work the trans-port mechanisms by bladder epithelial cells of freshwater turtle, Pseudemys scripta, are summarized as follows. 1. The granular cells play an important role in sodium transport, while the ${\alpha}$ and ${\beta}$ CA cells do not appear to play a determining role in sodium transport. 2. It appears that the active sodium transport in the granular cells occurs in two-step process, implying that first, sodium diffuses into the cells, followed by an energy-dependent efflux step, which is catalyzed by the ouabain-sensitive Na-K ATPase. 3. The ${\alpha}$ type of CA cells are responsible for the proton secretion using the proton pump on the apical plasma membrane, while the ${\beta}$ type of CA cells are believed to be responsible for bicarbonate secretion. 4. When looked at under freeze-fracture electron microscopy, the apical plasma membrane of ${\alpha}$ cells have a characteristic population of rod-shaped intramembranous particles which are believed to be components of the proton pumps. Conversely, ${\beta}$ type of CA cells show rod-shaped particles in their basolateral plasma membranes, which is consistent with the proton absorptive, bicarbonate secretory mechanism. 5. In the turtle bladder, the ${\alpha}$ and ${\beta}$ type of cells are believed to be both responsible for proton transport, but in opposite directions.

• Proceedings of the Korea Environmental Mutagen Society Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.80-88
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• 2002

Recent studies demonstrate that collagen IV selectively pro-motes the repair of physiological processes in sublethally injured renal proximal tubular ceils (RPTC). We sought to further define the mechanisms of cell repair by measuring the effects of toxicant injury and stimulation of repair by L-ascorbic acid-2-phosphate (AscP), exogenous collagen IV, or function-stimulating integrin antibodies on the expression and subcellular localization of collagen-binding integrins (CBI) in RPTC. Expression of CBI subunits ${\alpha}_1$, ${\alpha}_2$, and ${\beta}_1$ in RPTC was not altered on day 1 after sublethal injury by S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine (DCVC). On day 6, expression of ${\alpha}_1$ and ${\beta}_1$ subunits remained unchanged, whereas a 2.2-fold increase in ${\alpha}_2$ expression was evident in injured RPTC. CBI localization in control RPTC was limited exclusively to the basal membrane. On day 1 after injury, RPTC exhibited a marked inhibition of active $Na^+$ transport and a loss of cell polarity characterized by a decrease in basal CBI localization and the appearance of CBI on the apical membrane. On day 6 after injury, RPTC still exhibited marked inhibition of active $Na^+$ transport and localization of CBI to the apical membrane. However, DCVC-injured RPTC cultured in pharmacological concentrations of AscP (500 ${\mu}$M)or exogenous collagen IV (50 ${\mu}$g/ml) exhibited an increase inactive $Na^+$ transport, relocalization of CBI to the basal membrane, and the disappearance of CBI from the apical membrane on day 6. Function-stimulating antibodies to CBI ${\beta}_1$ did not promote basal relocalization of CBI despite stimulating the repair of $Na^+$/$K^+$-ATPase activity on day 6 after injury. These data demonstrate that DCVC disrupts integrin localization and that physiological repair stimulated by AscP or collagen IV is associated with the basal relocalization of CBI in DCVC-injured RPTC. These data also suggest that CBI-mediated repair of physiological functions may occur independently of integrin relocalization.

• ALGAE
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.239-248
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• 2009

Fluorescence and electron microscopy were used to examine epidermal shedding in the fucoid alga, Ascophyllum nodosum. Mature meristoderm cells are ca. 50-100 x 30-40 ${\mu}m$ and highly polarized, with a single nucleus and chloroplasts near the base of the cell. Nuclei in these cells undergo mitosis when they are dividing to form a new cortical cell towards the middle of the frond, or anticlinal divisions as part of frond elongation. However, cytokinesis also occurs regularly in these cells when a new periclinal wall is deposited at about 30% of the cell length from the apical end. The newly formed distal cells are anucleate and without chloroplasts. Following cytokinesis the tangential walls then break at the thinnest point. The whole process is synchronous in adjoining epidermal cells across large areas of the frond surface, and this layer dehisces from the thallus. This is the only known plant or algal system in which cytokinesis regularly occurs in the absence of mitosis. We consider this process a novel form of programmed cell death.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.221-226
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• 2023

A stem cell niche provides an environment that governs stem cell maintenance and division. Thus, the development of a proper niche is of prime importance to stem cell behaviors. Mechanisms of niche development are beginning to be revealed in the Drosophila male gonad. Niche cells are initially dispersed throughout the gonad, then assemble at its apical tip through the anterior migration of posteriorly located niche cells. The molecular mechanisms of this migration and assembly are still poorly understood. Here we show evidence suggesting that Lin28, an RNA-binding protein and regulator of let7 genesis, might be an intrinsic factor for the anterior migration of niche cells. We found that a dispersed, ectopic niche, a phenotype observed with anterior migration defects, occurs in lin28 mutant gonads. This phenotype is rescued by expression of lin28 in the niche cells. These findings suggest that Lin28 might be required for the anterior migration of niche cells.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.53-61
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• 2016

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular Apicomplexan parasite and a causative agent of toxoplasmosis in human. It causes encephalitis, uveitis, chorioretinitis, and congenital infection. T. gondii invades the host cell by forming a moving junction (MJ) complex. This complex formation is initiated by intermolecular interactions between the two secretory parasitic proteins-namely, apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) and rhoptry neck protein 2 (RON2) and is critically essential for the host invasion process. By this study, we propose two potential leads, NSC95522 and NSC179676 that can efficiently target the AMA1 hydrophobic cleft, which is a hotspot for targeting MJ complex formation. The proposed leads are the result of an exhaustive conformational search-based virtual screen with multilevel precision scoring of the docking affinities. These two compounds surpassed all the precision levels of docking and also the stringent post docking and cumulative molecular dynamics evaluations. Moreover, the backbone flexibility of hotspot residues in the hydrophobic cleft, which has been previously reported to be essential for accommodative binding of RON2 to AMA1, was also highly perturbed by these compounds. Furthermore, binding free energy calculations of these two compounds also revealed a significant affinity to AMA1. Machine learning approaches also predicted these two compounds to possess more relevant activities. Hence, these two leads, NSC95522 and NSC179676, may prove to be potential inhibitors targeting AMA1-RON2 complex formation towards combating toxoplasmosis.