• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.293-310
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• 1991

Clonorchis sinensis is a common parasite of man in Korea. Researches on the specific antigens of C. sinensis would be valuable not only because those elucidate the molecular characteristics of this fluke but also because it is applicable to immunodiagnosis. Although many monoclonal antibodies have been used in the field of parasite immunology, few articles on monoclonal antibodies against C. sinensis have been published so far. The aim of this study was to analyse C. sinensis antigens recognized by monoclonal antibodies, and to set up ELISA-inhibition test using C. sinensis specific monoclonal antibodies for improved specificity of immunodiagnostic tests. By fusion between spleen cells of the mice immunized with C. sinensis water-soluble crude adult worm antigens and plasmacytoma cells of mouse origin, 29 hybridoma clones secreting anti-C. sinensis monoclonal antibodies were made, and 8 clones among those were found specific. After cell cloning, isotypes of 6 selected specific monoclonal anti- bodies were determined to be IgGl, IgG2b and IgA. Four exposed antigenic determinants of natural infection were recognized by different specific monoclonal antibodies. By enzyme-immunoelectrotransfer blot, 10 KD, 34 KD antigenic determinants were found to be reacted with CsHyb 0714-20, CsHyb 0605-10 monoclonal antibodies, respectively, The antigenic determinant recognized by CsHyb 0714-20 monoclonal antibody was revealed to be located at the surface and parenchyme of a parasite by indirect immunoauorescent antibody technique, and those reacted with CsHyb 0605-10, CsHyb 0714-25 monoclonal antibodies were found at the parenchyme and intestine. The antigenic determinant reacted with CsHyb 0605-23 monoclonal antibody was found mainly around the uterine eggs. Four antigenic determinants recognized by specific monoclonal antibodies were all found to be present in the early eluted fractions of C. sinensis antigens separated by Sephadex G-200 gel filtration. By conventional ELISA, 75% of clonorchiasis cases were found positive, but 7.1% of normal controls and 37.5% of paragonimiasis cases showed false positives. However, by ELISA-inhibition test using C. sinensis specific monoclonal antibody (CsHyb 0605-23), 77.1% of clonorchiasis cases were found positive, and there were no false positives in normal controls or paragonimiasis cases, indicating 100% specificity. The ELISA- inhibition test using monoclonal antibodies was found to have same sensitivity and definitely high specificity in comparison with conventional ELISA for serodiagnosis of human clonorchiasis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.159-167
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• 1987

To analyse the antigen specificity of patients sera from 24 confirmed neurocysticercosis and a monoclonal antibody, SDS-PAGE using 10~15% linear gradient gel and EITB were done. Cystic fluid, saline extracts of scolex and of whole worm of C. cellulosae, saline extracts of sparganum, hydatid cyst fluid, saline extracts of Fasciola, Clonorchis and Paragonimus were used as antigen. Of protein bands in cystic fluid of C. cellulosae, patient sera reacted frequently to bands of 152, 94, 64, 48, 24, 15, 10 and 7kDa proteins. To saline extracts of scolex and whole worm of C. cellulosae, patients sera reacted frequently to 94, 64, 52, 39, 34, 15 and 10kDa bands. Two bands in sparganum extract (130 and 64kDa) and two bands in hydatid cyst fluid (52 and 27kDa) were cross-reacting bands with sera from cysticercosis patients. Saline extracts of Fasciola, ClonorchiJ and Paragonimus did 'not exhibit cross-reacting bands. Monoclonal antibody to cystic fluid of C. cellulosae was found to react with low molecular weight proteins of 15, 10 and 7kDa.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.225-231
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• 1997

Purpose: To evaluate the postnatal changes of serum levels of mumps- and rubella-specific IgG antibody in unvaccinated infants, this study was performed using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The sera were collected from 103 unvaccinated infants under 15 months of age. The results obtained were as follows. 1) The seropositivities and the levels of mumps specific IgG decreased by ages, 70.6% in month, 50.0% in 2~3 months, 6.7% in 4~5 months and 0% after 6 months of age respectively. 2) The seropositivities of rubella-specific IgG were 58.8 % in 1 month, 70% in 2~3 months, 13.3% in 4~5 months, and 0% after 6 months of ages in unvaccinated infants respectively. 3) The seropositivities and antibody levels of mumps and rubella specific IgG had significantly decreased with age, and there was negative correlation between ages of infants and mumps or rubella-specific IgG levels(correlation coefficient r=-0.500, P < 0.001). Conclusions: The seropositivities of transplacental antibodies of mumps and rubella in unvaccinated infants were 0% after 6 months of age. These transplacental antibodies disappeared earlier age than we had thought.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.232-239
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• 1997

Purpose: The incidence of hepatitis A virus(HAV) infection has markedly decreased in the last 20 years due to industrialization and improvements in the standard of living and hygiene in Korea. The reduction in seroprevalence rates indicates infection potential for young adult population, and a need for vaccinations in high-risk adults and children groups has been suggested. In this study we evaluated the seroprevalence rates and natural infection rates of hepatitis A in children and adolescent to obtain the basic data for vaccination of hepatitis A. Methods: A total of 334 children and adolescent subjects below 20 years old in Kyonggi-do province were examined for HAV antibody and seroprevalence rates in each age group was investigated. In 584 elementary school students residing in Kyonggi-do province, serum samples collected in 1993 and 1996 from the same subjects for investigation of natural seroconversion rates. Method of testing antibody was enzyme immunoassay. Results: 1) The seropositive rate of HAV in 334 subjects aged below 20 years old was 5.4%. According to age, the seropositive rates were 27.3% in infant group, 0.0% in 1~4 year-old group, 0.0% in 5~9 year-old group, 2.9% in 10~14 year-old group and 15.0% in 15~19 year-old group. 2) In the study of 584 elementary school children, only one subject showed seropositive in 1993, and in 1996 three different subjects showed seropositive results(0.5%); the natural seroconversion rate during 3 years was 0.5%. 3) The seroprevalence rates of below 20 year-old subjects reported in previous studies were 63.8% in 1979 and 47.3% in 1989 while the present study showed the rate at 5.4%. Conclusion: Since natural antibody formation is rarely occurring, there is a high risk for apparent hepatitis A infection in adults. Therefore vaccination in high risk groups is essential at present, and in order to reduce the chance for hepatitis A infection in adults, vaccination in children may be needed.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.130-134
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• 2006

Objectives : Oxidative DNA damage is a known risk factor of lung cancer. The glutathione peroxidase (GPX) antioxidant enzyme that reduces hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxides plays a significant role in protecting cells from the oxidative stress induced by reactive oxygen species. The aim of this case-control study was to investigate effects of oxidative stress and genetic polymorphisms of the GPX1 genes and the interaction between them in the carcinogenesis of lung cancer. Methods : Two hundreds patients with lung cancer and 200 age- and sex-matched controls were enrolled in this study. Every subject was asked to complete a questionnaire concerning their smoking habits and their environmental exposure to PAHs. The genotypes of the GPX1 and 8-oxoguanine glycosylase 1 (hOGG1) genes were examined and the concentrations of urinary hydroxypyrene (1-OHP), 2-naphthol and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG) were measured. Results : Cigarette smoking was a significant risk factor for lung cancer. The levels of urinary 8-OH-dG were higher in the patients (p<0.001), whereas the urinary 1-OHP and 2-naphthol levels were higher in the controls. The GPX1 codon 198 polymorphism was associated with an increased risk of lung cancer. Individuals carrying the Pro/Leu or Leu/Leu genotype of GPX1 were at a higher risk for lung cancer (adjusted OR=2.29). In addition, these individuals were shown to have high urinary 8-OH-dG concentrations compared to the individuals with the GPX1 Pro/Pro genotype. On the other hand, the polymorphism of the hOGG1 gene did not affect the lung cancer risk and the oxidative DNA damage. Conclusions : These results lead to a conclusion that individuals with the GPX1 Pro/Leu or Leu/Leu genotype would be more susceptible to the lung cancer induced by oxidative stress than those individuals with the Pro/Pro genotype.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.125-132
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• 2003

Purpose : Lipoprotein(a) is a genetically determined risk factor for atherosclerotic vascular disease and is elevated in patients with renal disease. Especially the patients with nephrotic syndrome exhibit excessively high Lp(a) plasma concentrations. Also the patients with end-stage renal disease have elevated Lp(a) levels. But the mechanism underlying this elevation is unclear. Thus, in this study, by measuring the level of serum Lp(a) in common renal diseases in children, we hoped to see whether there would be a change in Lp(a) in renal diseases other than nephrotic syndrome. Then, we figured out its implications, and looked for the factors that affect the Lp(a) concentrations. Methods : A total of 75 patients(34 patients with hematuria of unknown etiology, 10 with hematuria and hypercalciuria, 8 with IgA nephropathy, 8 with poststreptococcal glomerulone phritis, 3 with $Henoch-Sch\"{o}nlein$ nephritis, 7 with urinary tract infection, and 5 with or- thostatic proteinuria) were studied. The control group included 20 patients without renal and liver disease. Serum Lp(a), total protein, and albumin levels, 24-hour urine protein and calcium excretions, creatinine clearance and the number of RBCs and WBCs in the urinary sediment were evaluated. Data analysis was peformed using the Student t-test and a P-value less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results : LP(a) was not correlated with 24-hour urine calcium and creatinine. Lp(a) level had a positive correlation with proteinuria and negative correlation with serum albumin and serum protein. Among the common renal diseases in children, Lp(a) was elevated only in orthostatic proteinuria (P<0.05). Conclusion : Lp(a) is correlated with proteinuria, serum protein, and serum albumin, but not with any kind of specific renal disease. Afterward, Lp(a) needs to be assessed in patients with orthostatic proteinuria and its possible role as a prognostic factor could be confirmed.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.398-406
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• 2012

This study aimed to examine whether the polygenic profile of ACE ID and ACTN3 R577X polymorphisms is associated with muscle power performance in Korean athletes. For this study, 106 top-class power athletes (top-class group), 158 elite power athletes (elite-class group), and 676 healthy adults (control) aged 18-39 yrs were recruited and their genotypes were analyzed. The top-class group showed higher frequencies of the II genotype and I allele in ACE, as well as higher frequencies of the RR genotype and R allele in ACTN3 (top-class vs. control: 41.4% vs. 32.1% for II genotype, 67.1% vs. 57.7% for I allele, p<0.05; 42.3% vs. 29.0% for RR genotype, 65.3% vs. 54.8% for I allele, p<0.05). In the polygenic profile, the top-class group had significantly higher frequencies of combined-II/ID+RR/RX genotype than the control group (top-class vs. control: 82.9% vs. 66.7% for II/ID+RR/RX, p<0.05), and there was even a sharp increase in total genotype score (TGS) in this group compared to the elite-class and control groups ($66{\pm}0.9$ vs. $58{\pm}1.9$ vs. $56{\pm}2.3$, p<0.05). The combined-II/ID+RR/RX genotype showed the possibility of succussion in the top-class muscle power performance with an odds ratio of 2.3 (CI:1.4-4.1, p<0.05). These results suggested that ACE and ACTN3 need to interact with each other to affect muscle-power performance in an additive form. Furthermore, the polygenic profile of ACE and ACTN3 can predict muscle performance with high success in a homogeneous dominant combined genotype (II/ID+RR/RX). A further study could identify and combine other genes into ACE and ACTN3 for muscle strength.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.167-174
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• 2013

Peroxiredoxin 6 (Prx 6) is a member of the thiol-specific antioxidant protein family, which may play a role in protection against oxidative stress and in regulating phospholipid turnover. The aim of this study was to determine whether a human Prx 6/Luc vector was stably expressed and responded to antioxidants in a lung cell line (NCI-H460). To achieve this, the luciferase signal, hPrx 6 mRNA expression, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were measured in transfectants with a hPrx 6/Luc plasmid after treatment with four antioxidant extracts, including Korea white ginseng (KWG), Korea red ginseng (KRG), Liriope platyphylla (LP), and red Liriope platyphylla (RLP). First, the hPrx 6/Luc plasmid was successfully constructed with DNA fragments of human Prx 6 promoter, amplified by PCR using genomic DNA isolated from NCI-H460 cells, and cloned into the pTransLucent reporter vector. The orientation and sequencing of the hPrx 6/Luc plasmid were identified with restriction enzyme and automatic sequencing. A luciferase assay revealed significant enhancement of luciferase activity in the four treatment groups compared with a vehicle-treated group, although the ratio of the increase was different within each group. The KRG- and LP-treated groups showed higher activity than the KWG- and RLP-treated groups. Furthermore, the luciferase activity against RLP occurred roughly in a dose-dependent manner. However, the level of endogenous hPrx 6 mRNA did not change in any group treated with the four extracts. The SOD activity was in agreement with the luciferase activity. Therefore, these results indicate that the hPrx 6/Luc vector system may successfully express and respond to antioxidant compounds in NCI-H460 cells. The data also suggest that the Prx 6/Luc vector system may be effectively applied in screening the response of hPrx 6 to antioxidant compounds in transgenic mice.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.138-144
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• 2010

Purpose: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), which mediates neovascularization of uterine endometrium may be involved in the neovascularization in the utero-placental circulation. Low numbers of endothelial progenitor colony-forming unit (CFU) in culture are predictive biomarker of vascular disease. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the number of CFU in preeclampsia differed from that in normal pregnancy. Materials and Methods: Women with singleton normal (n=26) or preeclamptic (n=20) pregnancies were studied during the third trimester. The number of EPCs was quantified by CFU methodology. Plasma levels of angiogenic factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), and placental growth factor (PlGF) were determined by enzyme-linked immunoassay. Results: CFU numbers were significantly decreased in the preeclamptic patients compared with the controls (median, 3; range 1-12 vs. 31; 3-81 CFU/well, P<0.001). A majority of the cells comprising individual colonies were positive for endothelial characteristics (Ulex europaeus lectin staining and acetylated low-density lipoprotein uptake). Plasma levels of the sFlt-1 were highly elevated (P<0.001) in patient with preeclampsia compared to controls, whereas PlGF were highly reduced (P=0.004), but these factors did not associate with CFU numbers. Conclusion: Our results suggest that reduced numbers of CFU obtained from maternal peripheral blood may contribute to the development of preeclampsia.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.18 no.sup
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• pp.47-54
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• 2012

Effect of commercial Direct Fed Microbials (DFM) or protease treated feed (PTF) supplementation on growth rate and biogenic substances such as BUN, glucose, IgG, GOT, GPT and Vitamin A, C, E from Holstein steers was studied for 7 months. Thirty two steers aged 2~3 months were separated with 4 groups for control, DFM (PS), protease (ES) and their mix (PS + ES) supplementally fed 0, 100, 100 and 50 + 50 g/day respectively. Weight gain was averagely higher in PS than any others, although there were no differences significantly. All treatments enhanced to 3~8% of control in dry matter, crude protein and total digestible nutrient (P>0.05). Metabolic diseases with veterinary cure had not shown in this study. Plasma GOT and GPT were lower in the PS and ES than control. Plasma glucose concentration was also lower in PS than the others. Total cholesterol of ES was higher than the others but that of PS is the lowest. Plasma vitamin C was higher in PS than the others. It was shown that dietary PS affected change from glucose to vitamin C with not overloading liver. Conclusionally, PS and ES were shown to enhance metabolic health of steers during growing period.