• BMB Reports
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• 제50권2호
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• pp.85-90
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• 2017

Recently, we demonstrated that superoxide dismutase 3 (SOD3) is a strong candidate for biomedicine. Anti-oxidant function of SOD3 was accomplished without cell penetration, and it inhibited the inflammatory responses via non-enzymatic functions. SOD3 has the heparin binding domain associating cell surface. Interestingly, we found that $Zn^{2+}$ promotes transduction effects of recombinant human SOD3 (rhSOD3) by increasing uptake via the heparin binding domain (HBD). We demonstrated an uptake of rhSOD3 from media to cell lysate via HBD, resulting in an accumulation of rhSOD3 in the nucleus, which was promoted by the presence of $Zn^{2+}$. This resulted in increased inhibitory effects of rhSOD3 on NF-{\kappa}B and STAT3 signals in the presence of $Zn^{2+}$, which shows elevated association of rhSOD3 into the cells. These results suggest that an optimized procedure can help to enhance the inflammatory efficacy of rhSOD3, as a novel biomedicine.

• 대한치과교정학회지
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.273-283
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• 1992

To find out the differences between periodontal ligament cells (PDL cells) and gingival fibroblast cells (GFB cells), alkaline phosphatase, a marker enzyme for osteoblast, was used to measure the activities and $^{45}CaCl_2$ isotope was used to find out cellular and release of $^{45}Ca$, a requisite for bone formation,. PDL cells and GFB cells from 1 to 5 passages were also measured in alkaline phosphatase activity assay. By the use of above methods, followings were concluded that the PDL cells and the GFB cells have characteristics that are different from each other. In that PDL cells showed large amount of calcium uptake and large amount of calcium release in initial stage, they seem to possess characteristics which are similar to osteoblast-like cells. 1. The PDL cells, in contrast to the gingival fibroblast, showed exceedingly high alkaline phosphatase activity which was highest at the second passage, decreasing thereon. But gingival fibroblasts cells showed no distinct differences in alkaline phosphatase activity as the passage were elapsed. 2. For both PDL cells and GF cells, the $^{45}Ca$ uptake was greatest at 2 hours period. The PDL cells showed higher measuring than GFB cells through out the whole time period. 3. Whereas the GFB cells showed slow increase of $^{45}Ca$ release as time relapsed, the PDL cells showed rapid increase of $^{45}Ca$ release.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제63권6호
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• pp.698-706
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• 2020

Objective : To study the physiochemical characteristics of podophyllotoxin (PPT) conjugated stearic acid grafted chitosan oligosaccharide micelle (PPT-CSO-SA), and evaluate the ability of the potential antineoplastic effects against glioma cells. Methods : PPT-CSO-SA was prepared by a dialysis method. The quality of PPT-CSO-SA including micellar size, zeta potential, drug encapsulation efficiency and drug release profiles was evaluated. Glioma cells were cultured and treated with PPT and PPT-CSO-SA. The ability of glioma cells to uptake PPT-CSO-SA was observed. The proliferation of glioma cells was determined by 3-[4, 5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl]-2, 5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The apoptosis and morphology of U251 cells were observed by 4',6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride (DAPI) dye staining. Cell cycle analysis was performed by flow cytometry. The migration ability of U251 cells was determined by wound healing test. Results : PPT-CSO-SA had nano-level particle size and sustained release property. The encapsulation efficiency of drug reached a high level. The cellular uptake percentage of PPT in glioma cells was lower than that of PPT-CSO-SA (p<0.05). The inhibitory effect of PPT-CSO-SA on glioma cells proliferation was significantly stronger than that of PPT (p<0.05). The morphologic change of apoptosis cell such as shrinkage, karyorrhexis and karyopyknosis were observed. The percentage of U251 cells in G2/M phase increased significantly in the PPT-CSO-SA group compared with PPT group (p<0.05). Compared with the PPT group, the cell migration ability of the PPT-CSO-SA group was significantly inhibited after 12 and 24 hours (p<0.05). Conclusion : PPT-CSO-SA can effectively enhance the glioma cellular uptake of drugs, inhibit glioma cells proliferation and migration, induce G2/M phase arrest of them, and promote their apoptosis. It may be a promising anti-glioma nano-drug.

• BMB Reports
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• 제45권2호
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• pp.96-101
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• 2012

Urea-based nitrogen fertilizer was widely utilized in maize production, but transporters involved in urea uptake, translocation and cellular homeostasis have not been identified. Here, we isolated three maize aquapoin genes, ZmNIP2;1, ZmNIP2;4 and ZmTIP4;4, from a cDNA library by heterogous complementation of a urea uptake-defective yeast. ZmNIP2;1 and ZmNIP2;4 belonged to the nodulin 26-like intrinsic proteins (NIPs) localized at plasma membrane, and ZmTIP4;4 belonged to the tonoplast intrinsic protein (TIPs) at vacuolar membrane. Quantitative RT-PCR revealed that ZmNIP2;1 was expressed constitutively in various organs while ZmNIP2;4 and ZmTIP4;4 transcripts were abundant in reproductive organs and roots. Expression of ZmTIP4;4 was significantly increased in roots and expanded leaves under nitrogen starvation, while those of ZmNIP2;1 and ZmNIP2;4 remained unaffected. Functions of maize aquapoin genes in urea transport together with their distinct expression manners suggested that they might play diverse roles on urea uptake and translocation, or equilibrating urea concentration across tonoplast.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.73-77
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• 2007

N,N-Dimethyl-D-ribo-phytosphingosine (DMPH) is an N-methyl derivative of sphingosine. In the present paper, we studied effects of DMPH on intracellular Ca$^{2+}$ concentration, pH, glutamate uptake, and cell viability in human 1321N1 astrocytes. DMPH increased intracellular Ca$^{2+}$ concentration and cytosolic pH significantly in a dose-dependent manner. DMPH also inhibited glutamate uptake by 1321N1 astrocytes. Finally, treatment of cells with DMPH for 24 h reduced viability of cells largely and concentration-dependently. In summary, DMPH increased intracellular Ca$^{2+}$ concentration and pH, inhibited glutamate uptake and evoked cytotoxicity in 1321N1 astrocytes. Our observations with DMPH in the 1321N1 astrocytes would enhance understanding of DMPH actions in the brain.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.1-10
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• 1997

For the purpose of improving the chemotherapeutic index of acyclovir(ACV), it was conjugated with asialofetuin(AF), which has been reported to enter into hepatocytes. When $[H^3]$ acyclovir in itself or its conjugate were administered to rats, the latter was taken up more selectively by the liver than any other tissues. The stability of ACVMP-AF conjugate in phosphate buffer (pH 5.0) and rat liver homogenate showed a pseudo-first order profile. ACVMP-AF, however, was relatively stable in pH7.4 phosphate buffer and rat plasma. The conjugate was added to the isolated rat hepatocyte and cellular uptake was monitored by scintillation counting for up to 6 hours at $37^{\circ}C$. Hepatocytes incubated with the conjugate exhibited radioactivities significantly enhanced over control levels dose-dependently, i.e., a 3-40 fold increase in radioactivities was observed over controls at the conjugate concentrations of $0.1-10\;{\mu}g/ml$. The AUQ in the liver, kidney, spleen, intestine and lung was higher in treatment with ACVMP-AF than that in treatment with ACV. In treatment with ACVMP-AF, the weighted-average overall drug targeting efficiency(Te) for the liver was higher than in treatment with ACV(57.00 vs 13.31 %), and the weighted-average tissue exposure(Re) was 5.03 for the liver. These results indicated that ACVMP-AF conjugate was rapidly taken up by hepatocytes and could be an efficient and selective hepatic targeting system.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.248-254
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• 2008

Candida magnoliae, an osmotolerant and erythritol producing yeast, prefers D-fructose to D-glucose as carbon sources. For the investigation of the fructophilic characteristics with respect to sugar transportation, a sequential extraction method using various detergents and ultracentrifugation was developed to isolate cellular membrane proteins in C. magnoliae. Immunoblot analysis with the Pma1 antibody and two-dimensional electrophoresis analysis coupled with MS showed that the fraction II was enriched with membrane proteins. Eighteen proteins out of 36 spots were identified as membrane or membrane-associated proteins involved in sugar uptake, stress response, carbon metabolism, and so on. Among them, three proteins were significantly upregulated under the fructose supplying conditions. The hexose transporter was highly homologous to Ght6p in Schizosaccharomyces pombe, which was known as a predominant transporter for the fructose uptake of S. pombe because it exhibited higher affinity to D-fructose than D-glucose. The physicochemical properties of the ATP-binding cassette transporter and inorganic transporter explained their direct or indirect associations with the fructophilic behavior of C. magnoliae. The identification and characterization of membrane proteins involved in sugar uptake might contribute to the elucidation of the selective utilization of fructose to glucose by C. magnoliae at a molecular level.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제14권4호
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• pp.145-153
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• 1999

Effects of various concentrations of copper in solid fibrous form and methylglyoxal (MG) on phosphorus uptake and growth change of green algae Scenedesmus obliquus were studied. There was significant differences among cultures treated with various concentrations of copper and MG in growth of algae with parameters of cell numbers, photosynthetic rate and cellular morphology, and phosphorus uptake by cell. When the copper in media is treated with 25 mg or 50 mg per 100 ml of Bristol solution, the mean cell number of algae was 15.642${\times}$10$\^$6/ cells$.$ml$\^$-1/ and 12.986${\times}$10$\^$6/ cells$.$ml$\^$-1/, respectively, while those of algae in culture without copper was 18.486${\times}$10$\^$6/ cells$.$ml$\^$-1/. The mean cell area of 2450 ${\mu}$m$^2$, 1894 ${\mu}$m$^2$and 1697 ${\mu}$m$^2$in basic media, basic media with 25 mg of copper and basic media with 50 mg of copper was showed the inhibitory effect of copper on algal growth. The algal growth was stimulated by MG when the culture was treated with 25 mg of copper or without copper, while it was inhibited when the culture was treated with 50 mg of copper. It was considered that there was significant interaction between copper and MG on algal growth. The phosphorus concentration in algal medium treated with 25 mg or 50 mg of copper was 29.435 ppm and 26.224 ppm, respectively, while those of algae in culture without copper was 52.8 ppm, which shows that the application of copper in algal medium can prevent the availability of phosphorus to algal cell.

• 대한임상독성학회지
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.66-78
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• 2019

Purpose: Thallium (TI+) autometallography is often used for the imaging of neuronal metabolic activity in the rodent brain under various pathophysiologic conditions. The purpose of this study was to apply a thallium autometallographic technique to observe changes in neuronal activity in the forebrain of rats following acute carbon monoxide (CO) intoxication. Methods: In order to induce acute CO intoxication, adult Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 1100 ppm of CO for 40 minutes, followed by 3000 ppm of CO for 20 minutes. Animals were sacrificed at 30 minutes and 5 days after induction of acute CO intoxication for thallium autometallography. Immunohistochemical staining and toluidine blue staining were performed to observe cellular damage in the forebrain following intoxication. Results: Acute CO intoxication resulted in significant reduction of TI+ uptake in major forebrain structures, including the cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, and striatum. In the cortex and hippocampal CA1 area, marked reduction of TI+ uptake was observed in the cell bodies and dendrites of pyramidal neurons at 30 minutes following acute CO intoxication. There was also strong uptake of TI+ in astrocytes in the hippocampal CA3 area following acute CO intoxication. However, there were no significant histological findings of cell death and no reduction of NeuN (+) neuronal populations in the cortex and hippocampus at 5 days after acute CO intoxication. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that thallium autometallography can be a new and useful technique for imaging functional changes in neural activity of the forebrain structure following mild to moderate CO intoxication.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제46권2호
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• pp.248-254
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• 2022

Background: Zinc homeostasis is essential for human health and is regulated by several zinc transporters including ZIP and ZnT. ZIP4 is expressed in the small intestine and is important for zinc absorption from the diet. We investigated in the present study the effects of Panax ginseng (P. ginseng) extract on modulating Zip4 expression and cellular zinc levels in mouse Hepa cells. Methods: Hepa cells were transfected with a luciferase reporter plasmid that contains metal-responsive elements, incubated with P. ginseng extract, and luciferase activity was measured. Using ⁶⁵ZnCl₂, zinc uptake in P. ginseng-treated cells was measured. The expression of Zip4 mRNA and protein in Hepa cells was also investigated. Finally, using a luciferase reporter assay system, the effects of several ginsenosides were monitored. Results: The luciferase activity in cells incubated with P. ginseng extract was significantly higher than that of control cells cultured in normal medium. Hepa cells treated with P. ginseng extract exhibited higher zinc uptake. P. ginseng extract induced Zip4 mRNA expression, which resulted in an enhancement of Zip4 protein expression. Furthermore, some ginsenosides, such as ginsenoside Rc and Re, enhanced luciferase activity driven by intracellular zinc levels. Conclusion: P. ginseng extract induced Zip4 expression at the mRNA and protein level and resulted in higher zinc uptake in Hepa cells. Some ginsenosides facilitated zinc influx. On the basis of these results, we suggest a novel effect of P. ginseng on Zip4-mediated zinc influx, which may provide a new strategy for preventing zinc deficiency.