• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
• /
• 2004.06a
• /
• pp.236-236
• /
• 2004

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is one of the most abundant glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in the female reproductive tract such as uterine, oviductal and follicular fluids in mouse, pig, cattle and human. CD44 is the principal cell membrane receptor for HA, expressed from the 1-to 8-cell stage in human embryos, during post-implantation mouse and bovine embryogenesis and on the surface of differentiated embryonic stem cells. (omitted)

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.16 no.6
• /
• pp.405-411
• /
• 2012

The spontaneous axon regeneration of damaged neurons is limited after spinal cord injury (SCI). Recently, mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation was proposed as a potential approach for enhancing nerve regeneration that avoids the ethical issues associated with embryonic stem cell transplantation. As SCI is a complex pathological entity, the treatment of SCI requires a multipronged approach. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the functional recovery and therapeutic potential of human MSCs (hMSCs) and polymer in a spinal cord hemisection injury model. Rats were subjected to hemisection injuries and then divided into three groups. Two groups of rats underwent partial thoracic hemisection injury followed by implantation of either polymer only or polymer with hMSCs. Another hemisection-only group was used as a control. Behavioral, electrophysiological and immunohistochemical studies were performed on all rats. The functional recovery was significantly improved in the polymer with hMSC-transplanted group as compared with control at five weeks after transplantation. The results of electrophysiologic study demonstrated that the latency of somatosensory-evoked potentials (SSEPs) in the polymer with hMSC-transplanted group was significantly shorter than in the hemisection-only control group. In the results of immunohistochemical study, ${\beta}$-gal-positive cells were observed in the injured and adjacent sites after hMSC transplantation. Surviving hMSCs differentiated into various cell types such as neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. These data suggest that hMSC transplantation with polymer may play an important role in functional recovery and axonal regeneration after SCI, and may be a potential therapeutic strategy for SCI.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.261-271
• /
• 2004

Objective: This study was performed to evaluate the possibility of prolonged culture of human embryonic stem cells (hESC; SNUhES2) on human amniotic fluid cells (hAFC), which had been storaged after karyotyping. Method: The hAFC was prepared for feeder layer in the presence of Chang's medium and STO medium (90% DMEM, 10% FBS) at $37^{circ}C$ in a 5% $CO_2$ in air atmosphere. Prior to use as a feeder layer, hAFC was mitotically inactivated by mitomycin C. The hESCs on hAFC were passaged mechanically every seven days with ES culture medium (80% DMEM/F12, 20% SR, bFGF). Results: The hAFC feeder layer support the growth of undifferentiated state of SNUhES2 for at least 59 passages thus far. SNUhES2 colonies on hAFC feeder appeared slightly angular and flatter shape as compared with circular and thicker colonies observed with STO feeder layer and showed higher level with complete undifferentiation in seven days. Like hESC cultured on STO feeders, SNUhES2 grown on hAFC expressed normal karyotype, positive for alkaline phosphatase activity, high telomerase activity, Oct-4, SSEA-3, SSEA-4, Tra-1-60 and Tra-1-81 and formed embryoid bodies (EBs). Conclusion: The hAFC supports undifferentiated growth of hESC. Therefore, these results may help to provide a clinically practicable method for expansion of hESC for cell therapies.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.59-66
• /
• 2007

Understanding molecular mechanisms that control embryonic stem cell (ESC) self-renewal and differentiation is important for the development of ESC-based therapies. Statins, inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase), potently reduce cholesterol level. As well as inhibiting cholesterol synthesis, statins inhibit other intermediates in the mevalonate pathway such as farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP), major substrates for protein isoprenylation. Studies showed that pleiotropic effects of statins beyond cholesterol lowering property arise from inhibition of protein isoprenylation that is involved in various cellular functions including proliferation and differentiation. It has been determined that statins have inhibitory effect on ESC self-renewal and stimulatory effect on ESC differentiation into adipogenic/osteogenic lineages. Importantly, statins mediate downregulation of ESC self-renewal by inhibiting RhoA-dependent signaling, independently of their choresterol-lowering properties. Understanding statin's actions on ESCs may provide important insights into the molecular mechanisms that regulate self-renewal or differentiation of ESCs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.178-188
• /
• 2013

The glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) present in the female reproductive tract promote sperm capacitation. When bovine sperm were exposed to 10 ${\mu}g/ml$ of one of four GAGs (Chondroitin sulfate, CS; Dermatan sulfate, DS; Hyaluronic acid, HA; Heparin, HP) for 5 h, the total motility (TM), straight-line velocity (VSL), and curvilinear velocity (VCL) were higher in the HP- or HA-treated sperm, relative to control and CS- or DS-treated sperm. HP and HA treatments increased the levels of capacitated and acrosome-reacted sperm over time, compared to other treatment groups (p<0.05). In addition, sperm exposed to HP or HA for 1 h before IVF exhibited significantly improved fertilizing ability, as assessed by 2 pronucleus (PN) formation and cleavage rates at d 2. Exposure to these GAGs also enhanced in vitro embryo development rates and embryo quality, and increased the ICM and total blastocyst cell numbers at d 8 after IVF (p<0.05). A real-time PCR analysis showed that the expression levels of pluripotency (Oct 4), cell growth (Glut 5), and anti-apoptosis (Bax inhibitor) genes were significantly higher in embryos derived from HA- or HP-treated sperm than in control or other treatment groups, while pro-apoptotic gene expression (caspase-3) was significantly lower in all GAG treatment groups (p<0.05). These results demonstrated that exposure of bovine sperm to HP or HA positively correlates with in vitro fertilizing ability, in vitro embryo developmental potential, and embryonic gene expression.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.608-614
• /
• 2017

Background: Ginsenoside Rg1 belongs to protopanaxatriol-type ginsenosides and has diverse pharmacological activities. In this report, we investigated whether Rg1 could upregulate muscular stem cell differentiation and muscle growth. Methods: C2C12 myoblasts, MyoD-transfected 10T1/2 embryonic fibroblasts, and HEK293T cells were treated with Rg1 and differentiated for 2 d, subjected to immunoblotting, immunocytochemistry, or immunoprecipitation. Results: Rg1 activated promyogenic kinases, p38MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) and Akt signaling, that in turn promote the heterodimerization with MyoD and E proteins, resulting in enhancing myogenic differentiation. Through the activation of Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway, Rg1 induced myotube growth and prevented dexamethasone-induced myotube atrophy. Furthermore, Rg1 increased MyoD-dependent myogenic conversion of fibroblast. Conclusion: Rg1 upregulates promyogenic kinases, especially Akt, resulting in improvement of myoblast differentiation and myotube growth.

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2006.06a
• /
• pp.166.1-166.1
• /
• 2006

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.213-217
• /
• 2022

Haploidization in somatic cells is the process of reducing the diploid somatic chromosomes to haploid. Several studies have attempted somatic haploidization using oocytes in mice and humans. Some researchers showed partial somatic haploidization, but none observed embryo development. Our study attempted somatic haploidization using the modified somatic nuclear transfer (SCNT) protocol with various combinations of chemicals or proteins in mice. This study induced the proper segregation of somatic homologous chromosomes and full embryo development in vitro. Furthermore, somatic haploid embryos established embryonic stem cells and produced live births. The current review summarizes this recent study on the success of somatic haploidization and provides an overview of other related studies on somatic haploidization.

• Laboraroty Animal Research
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.264-269
• /
• 2018

Cell cycle dysfunction can cause severe diseases, including neurodegenerative disease and cancer. Mutations in cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors controlling the G1 phase of the cell cycle are prevalent in various cancers. Mice lacking the tumor suppressors $p16^{Ink4a}$ (Cdkn2a, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2a), $p19^{Arf}$ (an alternative reading frame product of Cdkn2a,), and $p27^{Kip1}$ (Cdkn1b, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1b) result in malignant progression of epithelial cancers, sarcomas, and melanomas, respectively. Here, we generated knockout mouse models for each of these three cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors using engineered nucleases. The $p16^{Ink4a}$ and $p19^{Arf}$ knockout mice were generated via transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), and $p27^{Kip1}$ knockout mice via clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated nuclease 9 (CRISPR/Cas9). These gene editing technologies were targeted to the first exon of each gene, to induce frameshifts producing premature termination codons. Unlike preexisting embryonic stem cell-based knockout mice, our mouse models are free from selectable markers or other external gene insertions, permitting more precise study of cell cycle-related diseases without confounding influences of foreign DNA.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.12
• /
• pp.6047-6053
• /
• 2012

Bracken fern [Pteridium aquilinem (L.) kuhn (Dennstaedtiaceae)] is one of the most common species on the planet. It has been consumed by humans and animals for centuries. Use by some human groups is because they believe bracken fern is good for health as plant medicine. However, it is also one of the few known plants that can cause tumors in farm animals. Many interested groups have focused their attention on bracken fern because of these interesting features. In order to evaluate the biological effects of exposure to this plant in cellular level, human cancer cell lines were treated with the fern dichloromethane extracts and the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects were studied. Anti-proliferative/cytotoxic effects were evaluated by cell count, MTT assay and flow cytometry methods with three different cancer cell lines, TCC, NTERA2, and MCF-7, and two normal cells, HDF1 and HFF3. Pro-apoptotic effects of the extracts were determined by DAPI staining and comet assay, on TCC cancer cells compared to the normal control cell lines. Cellular morphology was examined by light microscopy. Our present study showed that the extract caused DNA damage and apoptosis at high concentrations ($200{\mu}g/mL$) and also it may induce cell cycle arrest (G2/M phase) at mild concentrations (50 and $30{\mu}g/mL$) depending on the cell type and tumor origin. These results indicate that bracken fern extract is a potent source of anticancer compounds that could be utilized pharmaceutically.