• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.112-117
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• 1973

The very low density apolipoproteins were separated by a newly developed method of isoelectric focusing in a narrow pH gradient. Four polypeptides were isolated that differed from the major proteins of the high density or low density lipoproteins. Three of these proteins had indistinguishable amino acid compositions, but different isoelectric points, COOH-terminal alanine, no isoleucine, cysteine or cystine. Two of these polypeptides had $NH_2-terminal$ serine. The polymorphism of apolipoprotein-Ala, so designated from the COOH-terminal residue, was related to sialic acid content; one form contained 2 moles of sialic acid per mole of protein, the second, 1 mole of protein, and the third, no sialic acid. The fourth polypeptide had an amino acid composition different from the first three polypeptides and from other polypetides obtained from very low density lipoprotein. This polypeptide had $NH_2-terminal$ threonine, COOH-terminal resistant to carboxypeptidase A, no histidine, cysteine, cystine or sialic acid. These four polypeptides constituted approx. 40% of the total protein in very low density lipoprotein.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2002.06a
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• pp.82-82
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• 2002

The Wnt signaling pathway plays pivotal roles in embryonic development and oncogenesis through various signaling molecules inculding Frizzled receptor, recently characterized LRP5/6 and Dickkopf protein. Although Wnt signaling has been characterized in both developmental and oncogenic processes, little is known about its function in the normal adult. The ability of LRP5 to bind apolipoprotein E(apoE) and the abundant expression of LRP5 transcripts in hepatocytes, raise the possibility that LRP5 plays a role in the hepatic clearance of ApoE-containing chylomicron remonants, a major plasma lipoprotein carrying diet-derived cholesterol. (omitted)

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.26-31
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• 2018

Macrophages play a key role in atherosclerotic plaque formation, but their participation has been discerned largely via ex vivo analyses of atherosclerotic lesions. Therefore, we aimed to identify atherosclerosis on noninvasive in vivo imaging using reporter gene system. This study demonstrated that recruitment of macrophages could be detected in atherosclerotic plaques of Apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE-/-) mice with a sodium iodide symporter (NIS) gene imaging system using $^{99m}Tc-SPECT$. This novel approach to tracking macrophages to atherosclerotic plaques in vivo could have applications in studies of arteriosclerotic vascular disease.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.654-658
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• 2012

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common rheumatic pathology. One of the major objectives of OA research is the development of early diagnostic strategies such as those using proteomic technology. Synovial fluid (SF) in OA patients is a potential source of biomarkers for OA. The efficient and reliable preparation of SF proteomes is a critical step towards biomarker discovery. In this study, we have optimized a pretreatment method for twodimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) separation of the SF proteome, by enriching low-abundance proteins and simultaneously removing hyaluronic acid, albumin, and IgG. SF samples pretreated using this optimized method were then evaluated by 1DE and 2DE separation followed by immunodetection of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), a known OA biomarker, and by the identification of 3 proteins (apolipoprotein, haptoglobin precursor, and fibrinogen D fragment) that are related to joint diseases.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.79 no.3
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• pp.143-152
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• 2016

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and lethal lung disease characterized by the accumulation of excessive fibroblasts and myofibroblasts in the extracellular matrix. The transforming growth factor ${\beta}1$ (TGF-${\beta}1$)-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is thought to be a possible source of fibroblasts/myofibroblasts in IPF lungs. We have previously reported that apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) has anti-fibrotic activity in experimental lung fibrosis. In this study, we determine whether ApoA1 modulates TGF-${\beta}1$-induced EMT in experimental lung fibrosis and clarify its mechanism of action. Methods: The A549 alveolar epithelial cell line was treated with TGF-${\beta}1$ with or without ApoA1. Morphological changes and expression of EMT-related markers, including E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin were evaluated. Expressions of Smad and non-Smad mediators and TGF-${\beta}1$ receptor type 1 ($T{\beta}RI$) and type 2 ($T{\beta}RII$) were measured. The silica-induced lung fibrosis model was established using ApoA1 overexpressing transgenic mice. Results: TGF-${\beta}1$-treated A549 cells were changed to the mesenchymal morphology with less E-cadherin and more N-cadherin expression. The addition of ApoA1 inhibited the TGF-${\beta}1$-induced change of the EMT phenotype. ApoA1 inhibited the TGF-${\beta}1$-induced increase in the phosphorylation of Smad2 and 3 as well as that of ERK and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase mediators. In addition, ApoA1 reduced the TGF-${\beta}1$-induced increase in $T{\beta}RI$ and $T{\beta}RII$ expression. In a mouse model of silica-induced lung fibrosis, ApoA1 overexpression reduced the silica-mediated effects, which were increased N-cadherin and decreased E-cadherin expression in the alveolar epithelium. Conclusion: Our data demonstrate that ApoA1 inhibits TGF-${\beta}1$-induced EMT in experimental lung fibrosis.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.12
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• pp.1370-1377
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• 2005

Purpose : Delineation of serum lipid and lipoprotein values in children after Kawasaki disease(KD) is important because of the predilection of this disease for the coronary arteries. Methods : The KD group was composed of 51 patients who were hospitalized from Jan. 2002 to Dec. 2003. Control was 25 patients with non-KD febrile illness. The levels of total lipid, phospholipid, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol(HDL-C), LDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol, apolipoprotein A1(apo A1), apolipoprotein B, and Lipoprotein(a) were measured and compared with Echocardiographic findings. Measurements were obtained in four time periods: acute febrile, subacute, convalescent phase and 1 year after KD. Results : HDL-C($33.64{\pm}7.49mg/dL$ vs $50.43{\pm}14.41mg/dL$, P<0.01) and apo A1($99.75{\pm}6.39mg/dL$ vs $113.34{\pm}11.35mg/dL$, P<0.05) were decreased more in the acute febrile period of KD than in the control, but these changes were not correlated with cardiac complications. All lipid profiles were markedly elevated in the subacute stage and normalized in the convalescent stage; there were no changes until 1-year follow up. There were no significant differences in the changes of lipid profiles, including Lp(a) and coronary dilatation, in any time periods. Conclusion : KD is associated with important abnormalities in lipid metabolism, but these changes were transient and appear to be due to the disease itself. These data lead us to infer that KD dose not cause such permanent changes in lipid abnormalities as to be considered a risk factor for atherosclerosis, beyond that caused by the disease itself.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.893-901
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• 2017

Objective: Hypocalcemia is an important metabolic disease of dairy cows during the transition period, although the effect of hypocalcemia on biological function in dairy cows remains unknown. Methods: In this study, proteomic, mass spectrum, bioinformatics and western blotting were employed to identify differentially expressed proteins related to serum Ca concentration. Serum samples from dairy cows were collected at three time points: 3rd days before calving (day -3), the day of calving (day 0), and 3rd days after calving (day +3). According to the Ca concentration on day 0, a total of 27 dairy cows were assigned to one of three groups (clinical, subclinical, and healthy). Samples collected on day -3 were used for discovery of differentially expressed proteins, which were separated and identified via proteomic analysis and mass spectrometry. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to determine the function of the identified proteins (gene ontology and pathway analysis). The differentially expressed proteins were verified by western blot analysis. Results: There were 57 differential spots separated and eight different proteins were identified. Vitamin D-binding protein precursor (group-specific component, GC), alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M) protein, and apolipoprotein A-IV were related to hypocalcemia by bioinformatics analysis. Due to its specific expression (up-regulated in clinical hypocalcemia and down-regulated in subclinical hypocalcemia), A2M was selected for validation. The results were consistent with those of proteomic analysis. Conclusion: A2M was as an early detection index for distinguishing clinical and subclinical hypocalcemia. The possible pathogenesis of clinical hypocalcemia caused by GC and apolipoprotein A-IV was speculated. The down-regulated expression of GC was a probable cause of the decrease in calcium concentration.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.628-636
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• 1999

There is a marked increase in geriatric disease, especially liver disease, due to the continuous increase in alcohol and fat consumption. Since the fatty liver, induced by alcohol or fat, is basically from abnormalities in the lipid metabolism, it is possible that fatty acid binding protein(FABP) which is related to the fatty acid metabolism may also be abnormal in these livers. FABP is a small molecular weight protein family present in cytosol in high concentration. It has been proposed as a fatty acid transfer protein and as a binding protein responsible for controlling intracellular free fatty acid concentration. In this research, we have examined the relationship between liver FABP and fatty liver induced by alcohol or high cholesterol diet. Rats were fed one of either semipurified liquid diets; control diet containing 65% carbohydrate, 20% protein, and 15% fat or high cholesterol diet containing 1%(w/w) cholesterol or alcohol diet containing 37% of alcohol instead of carbohydrate. After 5 weeks of feeding period, all rats received commercial chow diet for 5 weeks to examine recovery effect. Liver and blood samples were collected at 0, 1, 3, 5 and 10 weeks to analyze lipid compositions. FABP was purified from liver cytosol and injected to rabbit to obtain antiserum. Liver FABP amount was determined by SDS-PAGE and western blotting methods. Fatty acid binding capacity was determined by binding of 14Cpalmitate with the delipidated liver cytosol. Consumption of alcohol increased serum cholesterol, triglyceride concentration and decreased HDL-cholesterol concentration after 5 weeks. Serum apolipoprotein B concentration increased after 3 weeks and LDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein A concentration changed after 1 week. Liver cholesterol and triglyceride concentration increased after 3 weeks. Consumption of high cholesterol diet changed liver and serum lipid composition after 3 weeks. Swiching to normal diet for 5 weeks did not normalize most of lipid composition in serum and liver except serum and liver except serum cholesterol, triglyceride and liver cholesterol. Liver cytosol FABP content and the fatty acid binding capacity decreased dramatically after 1 week with alcohol consumption. This results indicate that FABP content changes before the changes before the changes of blood or liver lipid composition, suggesting changes of FABP may cause development of the fatty liver induced by alcohol and can be used as an index of detecting a early development of fatty liver.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.187-191
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• 2005

This study was designed to investigate the changes of quantity and quality of proteins in medium and cytoplasm during in vitro maturation of bovine oocytes. The total quantity of proteins in medium decreased from 0 to 4.5 hr, but increased from 13.5 to 18 hr after the onset of in vitro maturation. The total quantity of protein in cytoplasm increased from 0 to 4.5 hr, decreased from 4.5 to 9 hr, and increased after 18 hr after the onset of in vitro maturation. A total of 298 protein spots was detected on a gel of 2D SDS-PAGE form maturation medium. Among 28 protein spots expressed significant differences in their quantity, 8 proteins were identified by peptide mass fingerprinting (aldose reductase, alpha enolase, apolipoprotein A-1 precursor, 43kDa collectin precursor, heat shock 27kDa protein, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 precursor, thrombospondin 1, transitional endoplasmic reticulum ATPase). Among total of 35 protein spots detected on gel of 2D SDS-PACE from oorytes cytoplasm, $\beta$-tubulin was identified by peptide mass fingerprinting.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.379-384
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Apolipoprotein A5 gene promoter region T-1131C polymorphism (APOA5 T-1131C) is known to be associated with elevated plasma TG levels, although little is known of the influence of the interaction between APOA5 T-1131C and lifestyle modification on TG levels. To investigate this matter, we studied APOA5 T-1131C and plasma TG levels of subjects participating in a three-month lifestyle modification program. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A three-month lifestyle modification program was conducted with 297 participants (Age: $57{\pm}8years$) in Izumo City, Japan, from 2001-2007. Changes in energy balance (the difference between energy intake and energy expenditure) and BMI were used to evaluate the participants' responses to the lifestyle modification. RESULTS: Even after adjusting for confounding factors, plasma TG levels were significantly different at baseline among three genotype subgroups: TT, $126{\pm}68mg/dl$; TC, $134{\pm}74mg/dl$; and CC, $172{\pm}101mg/dl$. Lifestyle modification resulted in significant reductions in plasma TG levels in the TT, TC, and CC genotype subgroups: $-21.9{\pm}61.0mg/dl$, $-20.9{\pm}51.0mg/dl$, and $-42.6{\pm}78.5mg/dl$, respectively, with no significant differences between them. In a stepwise regression analysis, age, APOA5 T-1131C, body mass index (BMI), homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and the 18:1/18:0 ratio showed independent association with plasma TG levels at baseline. In a general linear model analysis, APOA5 T-1131C C-allele carriers showed significantly greater TG reduction with decreased energy balance than wild type carriers after adjustment for age, gender, and baseline plasma TG levels. CONCLUSIONS: The genetic effects of APOA5 T-1131C independently affected plasma TG levels. However, lifestyle modification was effective in significantly reducing plasma TG levels despite the APOA5 T-1131C genotype background.