• Toxicological Research
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.73-80
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• 2016

Chronic exposure to cadmium (Cd) is known to adversely affect renal function. Our previous studies indicated that Cd induces p53-dependent apoptosis by inhibiting gene expression of the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (Ube) 2d family in both human and rat proximal tubular cells. In this study, the effects of Cd on protein expression of p53 and apoptotic signals in the kidney and liver of mice exposed to Cd for 12 months were examined, as well as the effects of Cd on p53 protein levels and gene expression of the Ube2d family in various cell lines. Results showed that in the kidney of mice exposed to 300 ppm Cd for 12 months, there was overaccumulation of p53 proteins in addition to the induction of apoptosis, which was triggered specifically in the proximal tubules. Interestingly, the site of apoptosis was the same as that of p53 accumulation in the proximal tubules. In the liver of mice chronically exposed to Cd, gene expression of the Ube2d family tended to be slightly decreased, together with slight apoptosis without the accumulation of p53 protein. In rat small intestine epithelial (IEC-6) cells, Cd decreased not only the p53 protein level but also gene expression of Ube2d1, Ube2d2 and Ube2d4. In human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs), Cd did not suppress gene expression of the Ube2d family, but increased the p53 protein level. In human brain astrocytes (HBASTs), Cd only increased gene expression of UBE2D3. These results suggest that Cd-induced apoptosis through p53 protein is associated with renal toxicity but not hepatic toxicity, and the modification of p53 protein by Cd may vary depending on cell type.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.648-654
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• 2000

Background: Cardiopulmonary bypass during open heart surgery causes systemic inflammatory respose. IL-10 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine that inhibits inflammatory process and protects organ function by down regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine release and maintenance of blood level balance with pro-inflammatory cytokines. Mateial and Method: Plasma IL-10 levels were measured and analyzed in 22 patients who underwent open heart surgery (11 cases of coronary artery bypass graft, 11 cases of valve replacement) under cardiopulmonary bypass since 1988 January to July at Department of Thoracic and Czardiovascular surgery, Yeungnam University Hospital. 1g of methylprednisolone was administrated to thirteen patients randomly. Blood samp.es were taken and collected at the time of induction of anesthesia, 10 min before cardiopulmonary bypass, 10 min after starting of CPB, 10 min aftr aortic cross clamping, 10 min after ACC release, and 10 min, 2 hours, and `5 hours after CPB respectively. The plasma levels of IL-10 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays(ELISA). Wilcoxon-Raule Sum test was used for statistical analysis. Result: In all 22 patients, cardiopulmonary bypass time was used for statistical analysis. Result: In all 22 patients, cardiopulmonary bypass time was 171$\pm$41.4 min and aortic cross clamp time was 118$\pm$36.5 min. Peak IL-10 level was achieved at 10 min after ACC(361.0$\pm$52.81pg/ml) and was decreased sharply at 2 hours after CPB. Peak IL-10 level was correlated positively with aortic cross clamp time(p=0.011); however, it did not correlated with bypass time(p=0.181). In valve replacement group, mean IL-10 level at peak point was 567.89$\pm$107.69 pg/ml and was significantly higher than that of coronary artery bypass group(205.67$\pm$192.70 pg/ml)(p<0.001). ACC time in valve replacement group was significantly longer than that of coronary artery bypass group(p<0.01), however, bypass time was not(p=0.212). Thirteen patients with steroid pretreatment before starting of CPB showed relatively higher plasma IL-10 level than in control group, however, no statistical significance was noted(p=0.19). Conclusion: plasma level of IL-10 was increased in association with cardiopulmonary bypass and revealed peak at 10 min after ACC release. IL-10 level was correlated positively with ACC time. Therefore, systemic inflammatory respeonse in association with cardiopulmonary bypass could be decreased by reducing ACC time during cardiac surgery.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.299-306
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• 2009

Oxidative stress is the main limiting factor in crop productivity. To solve global environmental problems using the plant biotechnology, we have developed on the oxidative stress-tolerant transgenic tall fescue plants via Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation method. In order to develop transgenic tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) plants with enhanced tolerance to multiple environmental stresses, nucleotide diphosphate kinase gene under the control of CaMV35S promoter were introduced into genome of tall fescue plants. Proteomic analysis revealed that transgenic tall fescue not only accumulated NDP kinase 2 protein in their cells, but also induced several other antioxindative enzyme-related proteins. When leaf discs of transgenic plants were subjected to cold stress, they showed approximately 30% less damage than wild-type plants. In addition, transgenic tall fescue plants showed normal growth when transgenic plants were subjected to $4^{\circ}C$ for 3 days treatments. These results suggest that transgene is important in ROS scavenging by induction of antioxidative proteins, and could improve abiotic stress tolerance in transgenic tall fescue plants.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.102-108
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• 2008

Many alternative biocidal additives were applied to antifouling paint to replace TBT, and Sea-Nine 211 is one of alternating organic booster compounds used in antifouling paint. In this study, extent of Sea-Nine 211 toxicity on marine benthic bivalve is evaluated. Sea-Nine 211 was injected to surf clam, Pseudocardium sachalinensis, that inhabitate northern part of Gangwon Province, Korea. Survival rate of the clam and xenobiotics metabolizing enzyme activities in digestive gland were measured during 4 day-exposure period. The results were compared with those of TBT exposed clam. There were no mortality of clam in the solvent (DMSO) control group and the three Sea-Nine 211 exposure groups (5, 25, 50 mg kg$^{-1}$ body weight), while the clam exposed to 1, 2 and 5 mg kg$^{-1}$ TBT chloride (TBTC) demonstrated 70, 30 and 0% survival rate, respectively. The Sea-Nine 211 exposure group showed a tendency of cytochrome P450 (CYP) induction according to the exposure duration, on the other hand, CYP content was decreased in the TBT exposure group. NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase activity slightly increase according to the exposure duration in the Sea-Nine 211 exposure group, while TBTC inhibit its activity as CYP content. Moreover, there was no significant change of NADH cytochrome b5 reductate activity in the clam epxosed to Sea-Nine 211. In the TBTC exposure group, its activity increased in early exposure period and then significantly decreased the rest of exposure period. All the results indicate that Sea-Nine 211 demonstrated a tendency to induce CYP level, while TBTC inhibits the CYP level, NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase and NADH cytochrome b5 reductase activities.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.37-47
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• 2001

In order to investigate a pathogenesis of liver damage induced by skin burn, thermal injury was induced by scald burn on entirely dorsal surface in rats (total burn surface area $20\sim25\%$) except for inhalated injury. At 5 and 24 h after scald burn, biochemical assay and morphological changes in serum and liver tissue were examined. Skin burn increased liver weight (% of body weight, p<0.05) and the activity of serum aniline amino-transferase (ALT, p<0.05), in addition, the activity of xanthine oxidase (XO), an enzyme of oxygen free radical generating system, was elevated (p<0.01) in serum, but not in skin and in liver. Postburn treatment of allopurinol intraperitoneally decreased liver weight, serum ALT activity and serum XO activity. Scald burn induced ultrastructurally swelling of endoplasmic reticulum, ribosome detachment, accumulation of lipid, dilatation of bile canaliculi and intercellular space, neutrophil infiltration, activation of Kupffer's cells and degeneration of hepatocytic microvilli. Futhermore , thermal injury decreased not only the protein concentration in plasma but also the number of intravascular leukocytes, that indicates induction of edema formation with protein exudation and inflammation by neutrophil infiltration into the internal organs. However allopurinol injection after burn inhibited post burn ultrastructural changes. These data suggest that acute dermal scald burn injury leads to liver damage, that is related to elevation of xanthine oxidase activity in serum. Xanthine oxidase may be a key role in the pathogenesis of liver damage induced by skin burn.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.1204-1211
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• 2009

Hericium erinaceus is an edible mushroom used as a medicinal food in Asian countries. In this study, the chemopreventive effects of H. erinaceus mycelia hot water extract (HEW) were evaluated. HEW remarkably induced the luciferase activity of the antioxidant response element (ARE), located in the promoter region of phase 2 and antioxidant genes and regulated by nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). The up-regulation of ARE activity by HEW corresponded with the induction of Nrf2 and the antioxidant enzyme, hemeoxygenase-1. The inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activity is a promising effective approach in cancer chemoprevention, and HEW prominently suppressed COX-2 protein expression in HepG2 cells. Furthermore, HEW showed anti-inflammatory activity by modulating inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO), inducible NO synthase, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, interleukin-$1{\beta}$, and the transcription factor, nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$, in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. These results suggest that H. erinaceus possessed anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory effects via the modulation of Nrf2/ARE and inflammatory signaling pathways, and may therefore have potential use as a natural chemopreventive agent.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.435-441
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• 1998

We examined effects of interleukin $1{\alpha}$ ($IL1{\alpha}$) and phorbol 12, 13 dibutyrate (PDB), an activator of protein kinase C, on mRNA for Prostaglandin H synthase (PGHS) and prostanoid production in cultured ovine meningeal fibroblasts. Immuno- and morphologically-identified fibroblasts were derived from cerebral cortex and white matter from fetal lambs (approximately 120 days gestation) and grown to confluence on glass coverslips in 12 well plates. Levels of prostaglandin $F_{2{\alpha}}$ and the stable hydrolysis product of prostacyclin (i.e., $6-keto-PGF_{1{\alpha}}$) were determined using enzyme immunoassay. Relative amounts of mRNA were determined by in situ hybridization using ovine cDNA for PGHS1. $IL1{\alpha}$ (10 ng/ml) increased mRNA levels over baseline by $62{\pm}19%$ (p＜0.05) at 60 min., $37{\pm}12%$ (NS) at 120 min., and $36{\pm}18%$ (NS) at 240 min (n=12). Levels of $6-keto-PGF_{1{\alpha}}$ were $148{\pm}18%$ pg/ml during baseline, $246{\pm}41%$ pg/ml at 60 min., $248{\pm}40%$ pg/ml at 120 min., and $259{\pm}62%$ pg/ml at 240 min (all p＜0.05) (n=12). $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ was increased although it wasn't statistically significant. However, $IL1{\alpha}$ decreased $PGE_2$ level significantly (all p＜0.05). PDB $(10^{-6}M)$ increased mRNA levels over baseline by $25{\pm}6%$ after 30 min., $40{\pm}6%$ after 60 min., and $20{\pm}8%$ after 90 min. (n=9) (all p＜0.05). Levels of $6-keto-PGF_{1{\alpha}}$ were $200{\pm}43%$ pg/ml during baseline, $202{\pm}43%$ pg/ml after 30 min. (NS), $268{\pm}58%$ pg/ml after 60 min. (p＜0.05), and $296{\pm}60%$ pg/ml after 90 min. (p＜0.05) (n=9). Levels of $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ were $178{\pm}26%$ pg/ml during baseline, $300{\pm}30%$ pg/ml after 30 min., $299{\pm}35%$ pg/ml after 60 min., and $355{\pm}32%$ pg/ml after 90 min (all p＜0.05) (n=6). Actinomycin-D (1 mg/ml) prevented increases in mRNA, $6-keto-PGF_{1{\alpha}}$, and $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ at 60 min. for both $IL1{\alpha}$ and PDB. We conclude that cerebral fibroblasts are avid producers of prostanoids, and that enhanced production of PGHS is responsible for augmented $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ and prostacyclin production in the presence of an activator of protein kinase C and for decreased $PGE_2$ and increased prostacyclin production in the presence of $IL1{\alpha}$.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.279-281
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• 2001

Leek(Allium tuberosum Rotter) is a korean traditional herb of which leaves are used for daily food. In order to improve the potency of leek as a functional food, we investigated the several biochemical functions in vitro. The quinone reductase activity, an anticarcinogenic enzyme, was induced 2 times at the concentration of 1mg/ml of leek as compared to that of negative control(80% methanol). The induction of SOD(Superoxide dismutase) activity was also demonstrated. But the functional activities of leek were shown to be a little difference depending on the place where the leek was produced. The difference might to be due to the different environmental factors where affects the growth of leek. In an experiment to test the lypolytic activity of leek, the glycerol release was significantly increased(about 3 times to that of negative control). This was suggested that leek can be considered as a potential food for diet. The above results provide the potential food, and more profound research is requested.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.5-17
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• 2000

To evaluate the possible therapeutic effects of growth hormone and vitamin C on multiorgan failure, a rat model was developed for LPS-induced sepsis. Using this model, the effects of growth hormone and vitamin C on tissue damages, catalase and i-NOS activities, and MDA levels were examined in the lung and liver. The level of TNF- in plasm was also examined. Male, Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with LPS intraperitoneally then divided into 3 groups : positive controls injected with LPS only, the ones injected with growth hormone or vitamin C immediately after the LPS injections. The lung and the liver were then isolated, blood samples were collected at 24 or 48 hours after the LPS injection, then examined for histopathological and biochemical changes. The results obtained were as follows. 1. LPS induced sinusoid vasodilation and mild destruction of lobular structure in the liver. In the lung, alveolar structure appeared to be thickened and interstitial edema was observed. The levels of MDA in the liver and the lung was increased by LPS, while the activity of catalase was decreased. The activity of i-NOS of those tissues was also increased, which was more pronounced at 24 hr. The level of TNF- in plasm was increased by LPS 2. In the lung, vitamin C suppressed lymphocyte and neutrophil infiltration, alveolar wall thickening and interstitial edema. In the liver, vitamin C protected against the destruction of the lobular structure. The activity of catalase reduced by LPS was reversed partly by vitamin C. The activity of i-NOS enhanced by LPS was also reversed by vitamin C. The level of TNF- in plasm reduced in some animals by vitamin C, which however was not significant statistically(p<0.05). 3. Growth hormone showed similar protective effects against inflammation and damages in the liver and lung tissues. Growth hormone reversed partly the LPS effects on the level of MDA, the activity of catalase and i-NOS induction in the liver and the lung. Growth hormone reduced plasma level of TNF-${\alpha}$ substantially, which contrasted from vitamin C. Besides this, overall protective effects of growth hormone against LPS-induced experimental sepsis were similar to those of vitamin C. From this results, the mechanism of growth hormone on suppression of LPS-induced tissue damage might be associated with production of antioxidative enzyme and suppression of plasma TNF- level.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.1 s.81
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• pp.132-136
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• 2007

When alginate lyase gene (aly) from Pseudoalteromonas elyakovii was expressed in E. coli, most of the gene product was produced as aggregated insoluble particles known as inclusion bodies. In order to produce a soluble and active form of alginate lyase, E. coli cells fore cotransformed with the plasmids designed to permit coexpression of aly together with molecular chaperones such as DnaK/DnaJ/GrpE or GroEL/ES chaperones. The results revealed that the coexpression of aly together with DnaK/DnaJ/GrpE chaperone had a marked effect on the production of this protein as a soluble and active form, presumably through facilitating correct folding of alginate lyase protein. The optimal concentration of L-arabinose for the induction of DnaK/DnaJ/GrpE chaperone was found to be 0.05 mg/ml. When DnaK/DnaJ/GrpE chaperone was coexpressed, about 34% in the total alginate lyase was produced in the soluble fraction. By addition of 10% cetylpyridinium chloride, a clear zone around the colony coexpressing aly and DnaK/DnaJ/GrpE chaperone was formed, indicating that the alginate in the medium was hydrolyzed by active alginate lyase enzyme.