• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1665-1674
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• 2019

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-transmitted, emerging Flavivirus that causes Guillain-$Barr{\acute{e}}$ syndrome and microcephaly in adults and fetuses, respectively. Since ZIKV was first isolated in 1947, severe outbreaks have occurred at various places worldwide, including Yap Island in 2007, French Polynesia in 2013, and Brazil in 2015. Although incidences of ZIKV infection and dissemination have drastically increased, the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of ZIKV have not been sufficiently studied. In addition, despite extensive research, the exact roles of individual ZIKV genes in the viral evasion of the host innate immune responses remain elusive. Besides, it is still possible that more than one ZIKV-encoded protein may negatively affect type I interferon (IFN) induction. Hence, in this study, we aimed to determine the modulations of the IFN promoter activity, induced by the MDA5/RIG-I signaling pathway, by over-expressing individual ZIKV genes. Our results show that two nonstructural proteins, NS2A and NS4A, significantly down-regulated the promoter activity of IFN-${\beta}$ by inhibiting multiple signaling molecules involved in the activation of IFN-${\beta}$. Interestingly, while NS2A suppressed both full-length and constitutively active RIG-I, NS4A had inhibitory activity only on full-length RIG-I. In addition, while NS2A inhibited all forms of IRF3 (full-length, regulatory domain-deficient, and constitutively active), NS4A could not inhibit constitutively active IRF3-5D. Taken together, our results showed that NS2A and NS4A play major roles as antagonists of MDA5/RIG-I-mediated IFN-${\beta}$ induction and more importantly, these two viral proteins seem to inhibit induction of the type I IFN responses in differential mechanisms. We believe this study expands our understanding regarding the mechanisms via which ZIKV controls the innate immune responses in cells and may pave the way to development of ZIKV-specific therapeutics.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 2019

Portulaca oleracea L. (PL) has been used in traditional medicine herb for treatment of various diseases, such as diarrhea, dysentery, and skin inflammation. Previous studies have shown that the PL regulates the inflammation by inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Although PL might have improvement effects of intestinal function and bioactive effects, there are not enough studies to demonstrate. This study investigated the effects of KDC16-2 on the improvement of intestinal function and anti-inflammatory effects in vivo and in vitro. The improvement effect of intestinal function was measured fecal amount, water content and intestinal transit rate in KDC16-2 treated ICR mice. As results, compared with the control group, the KDC16-2 group showed a significant increase in wet fecal weight, dry fecal weight and fecal water content. The intestinal transit rate of KDC16-2 group was significantly increased. Based on the results, KDC16-2 is considered to have effects on improving intestinal function. The effect of anti-inflammatory demonstrated by using dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice. The mice were administered 3% DSS along with KDC16-2 (100, 300 mg/kg) for 14 days. DSS-induced colitis mice were significantly ameliorated in KDC16-2 treated group, including body weight loss, colon length shortening, tight junction protein of colon and histological colon injury. The levels of inflammatory mediators (IgG2a, IgA, C-reactive protein and Myeloperoxidase) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, Interleukin (IL)-6) which are involved in inflammatory responses were increased in the DSS-treated group as compared to those in the control group, and the levels were significantly decreased in the KDC16-2 groups. In addition, we investigated the impact of KDC16-2 on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses in J774A.1 cells. KDC16-2 inhibited production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). These results suggested that the KDC16-2 could effectively alleviate the dysfunction of intestinal and inflammatory mediators. Thus, these KDC16-2 can be potentially used as health functional food of intestinal.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.196-201
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• 2016

Objectives: The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of incorporating three different nanobiomaterials into bleaching material on microhardness of bleached enamel. Materials and Methods: The crowns of 24 extracted sound human molars were sectioned. Sixty enamel specimens ($2{\times}3{\times}4 mm$) were selected and divided into five groups (n = 12): Group 1 received no bleaching procedure (control); Group 2 underwent bleaching with a 40% hydrogen peroxide (HP) gel; Groups 3, 4, and 5 were bleached with a 40% HP gel modified by incorporation of bioactive glass (BAG), amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) and hydroxyapatite (HA), respectively. The enamel microhardness was evaluated. The differences in Knoop microhardness data of each group were analyzed by one-way ANOVA, followed by post hoc Tukey tests. Results: Significant differences were observed between the study groups. The enamel microhardness changes in Groups 1, 3, 4, and 5 were significantly lower than that of Group 2 (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, it can be concluded that incorporation of each one of the three tested biomaterials as remineralizing agents might be effective in decreasing enamel microhardness changes subsequent to in-office bleaching.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.341-353
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• 2019

Quercetin is one of flavonoids widely distributed in the plants and well known to have antioxidants, antiinflammatory, antimicrobial properties. In this study, alginate sponge containing quercetin-encapsulated nanocapsules was prepared by miniemulsion polymerization, dyring/crosslinking method and their bioactive characteristics were investigated. Alginate sponge containing quercetin-encapsulated nanocapsules were evaluated using a field emission scanning electron microscope(FE-SEM), a high performance liquid chromatography, cell viability, DPPH radical scavenging activity and antibacterial activity. The study indicates that alginate sponge containing quercetin-encapsulated nanocapsules had significant antioxidant, antiinflammatory and antibacterial activities. This study suggested that alginate sponge containing quercetin-encapsulated nanocapsules can be a potential candidate for medical materials.

• Biomaterials and Biomechanics in Bioengineering
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.63-71
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• 2014

This study aimed to develop a novel bioactive hybrid xerogel consisting of silk fibroin /$SiO_2-CaO-P_2O_5$ by sol-gel process at room temperature. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), FT-IR Spectroscopy, pore measurement, mechanical property testing, in vitro bioactivity test and cytotoxicity assay were performed to characterize the xerogel for bone tissue engineering application. We have found that the xerogel possessed excellent pore structures and mechanical property. Once immersed in a simulated fluid (SBF), the xerogel exhibited profound bioactivity by inducing hydroxyapatite layers on its surfaces. The cell toxicity study also demonstrated that there was little toxic to MC3T3-E1 cells. These results indicate that silk fibroin /$SiO_2-CaO-P_2O_5$ hybrid xerogel potentially could be used as a bone tissue engineering material.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.96-101
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• 2010

Leaf explants of the Solanum hainanense plant, grown in vitro, were cultured in basal Murashige and Skoog (MS) media supplemented with 0.5 mg/L kinetin and 1 mg/L 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) for callus initiation. For maintenance and proliferation, the callus was cultured on MS medium supplemented with 1 mg/L 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 0.5 mg/L 2,4-D. The glycoalkaloid content in the callus was at its maximum after ten weeks of culture (188.65 mg/g), whereas that of the one-year-old control was 22.22 mg/g in the root and 5.99 mg/g in the stem. The glycoalkaloid extracted from the callus inhibited the activity of collagenase on collagen gel. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis showed that biotransformation occurred when a callus was grown on medium supplemented with various carbon sources. These results suggest that callus of S. hainanense is a good material for production of glycoalkaloid.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.44-49
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• 2015

Interactions between microbes and epithelial cells in the gastrointestinal tract are closely associated with regulation of intestinal mucosal immune responses. Recent studies have highlighted the modulation of mucosal immunity by microbe-derived molecules such as ATP and short-chain fatty acids. In this study, we undertook to characterize the expression of the ATP-gated $P2X_7$ receptor ($P2X_7R$) on M cells and its role in gastrointestinal mucosal immune regulation because it was poorly characterized in Peyer's patches, although purinergic signaling via $P2X_7R$ and luminal ATP have been considered to play an important role in the gastrointestinal tract. Here, we present the first report on the expression of $P2X_7R$ on M cells and characterize the role of $P2X_7R$ in immune enhancement by ATP or LL-37.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2020.12a
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• pp.78-78
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• 2020

Cruciferous plants such as broccoli and radish contain glucosinolate, which is a bioactive precursor that is most often used in Korean foods and is unique as a food ingredient. In addition, it contains various other phytochemicals and is promising as a health-oriented food material. In particular, Sulforaphane is a hydrolyzate of the glucosinolate, which has a more beneficial effect on the human body. Glucosinolate may be hydrolyzed by enzymes called myrosinase, which is voluntarily possessed by cruciferous plants. However, the ESP(Epithiospecifier protein) in broccoli sprouts could acts competitively with myrosinase, and convert to the less bioactive sulforaphane nitrile form. Therefore, we improved the yielding of sulforaphane in broccoli sprouts with a new method. We induce inactivation of the ESP protein by heat treatment. At this time, a myrosinase was introduced from the radish sprout because myrosinase in broccoli sprouts is also denatured by heat treatment. According to the results, we have confirmed by GC / MS that formation of sulforaphane increases more than 7 fold using set heating and mixing conditions.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.179-194
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• 2024

A layer-by-layer coating was produced using electrophoretic deposition for a HA/Al₂O₃ coating layer and a bioglass coating layer on Co-Cr-Mo alloy with a roughness of 0.5 ㎛ (400 emery paper SiC). The corrosion behaviour was analyzed by assessing the coating layers' exceptional corrosion resistance, which outperformed the substrate. Cr ion release test using AAS was carried out, indicating that factional graded coating inhibited ion release from the uncoated substrate to coated sample. The porosity was expressed as a percentage, representing the extent of imperfections on the surface of all coatings. These imperfections fell within an acceptable range of 1% to 3%. The roughness of the coated surface was measured using atomic force microscopy, which revealed an excellent roughness value of 3.32 nm. Tape test technique for adhesion revealed that the removal area of the substrate coating layer varied by 11.92%. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the presence of all coating material peaks and verified phases of the deposited coating layers. These findings provided evidence that the coating composition remains unaffected by the electrophoretic deposition process. The bioactivity was assessed by immersion in a simulated bodily fluid, which revealed the formation of HCA during a period of 5 days.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.2014-2021
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• 2019

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) belongs to the genus Betacoronavirus and causes severe morbidity and mortality in humans especially when infected patients have underlying diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Previously, we demonstrated that MERS-CoV-encoded ORF8b strongly inhibits MDA5- and RIG-I-mediated induction of the interferon beta (IFN-β) promoter activities. Here, we report that ORF8b seemed to regulate MDA5 or RIG-I differentially as protein levels of MDA5 were significantly down-regulated while those of RIG-I were largely unperturbed. In addition, ORF8b seemed to efficiently suppress phosphorylation of IRF3 at the residues of 386 and 396 in cells transfected with RIG-I while total endogenous levels of IRF3 remained largely unchanged. Furthermore, ORF8b was able to inhibit all forms of RIG-I; full-length, RIG-I-1-734, and RIG-I-1-228, the last of which contains only the CARD domains. Taken together, it is tempting to postulate that ORF8b may interfere with the CARD-CARD interactions between RIG-I and MAVS. Further detailed analysis is required to delineate the mechanisms of how ORF8b inhibits the MDA5/RIG-I receptor signaling pathway.