• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제22권6호
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• pp.553-557
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• 2014

Verapamil is used in the treatment of hypertension, angina pectoris, and atrial fibrillation. Recently, several studies have demonstrated that verapamil increased the optic nerve head blood flow and improved the retrobulbar circulation. All these show that verapamil is potentially useful for ophthalmic treatment. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate whether verapamil could protect human lens epithelial cell (HLEC) from oxidative stress induced by $H_2O_2$ and the cellular mechanism underlying this protective function. The viability of HLEC was determined by the MTT assay and apoptotic cell death was analyzed by Hoechst 33258 staining. Moreover, Caspase-3 expression was detected by immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry analysis. We also detected Caspase-3 mRNA expression by reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction and the GSH content in cell culture. The results showed that oxidative stress produced significant cell apoptotic death and it was reduced by previous treatment with the verapamil. Verapamil was effective in reducing HLEC death mainly through reducing the expression level of apoptosis-related proteins, caspase-3, and increasing glutathione content. Therefore, it was suggested that verapamil was effective in reducing HLEC apoptosis induced by $H_2O_2$.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제23권5호
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• pp.36.1-36.16
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• 2023

Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) play a critical role in thymic development and thymopoiesis. As individuals age, TECs undergo various changes that impact their functions, leading to a reduction in cell numbers and impaired thymic selection. These age-related alterations have been observed in both mice and humans. However, the precise mechanisms underlying age-related TEC dysfunction remain unclear. Furthermore, there is a lack of a comprehensive study that connects mouse and human biological processes in this area. To address this gap, we conducted an extensive transcriptome analysis of young and old TECs in mice, complemented by further analysis of publicly available human TEC single-cell RNA sequencing data. Our analysis revealed alterations in both known and unknown pathways that potentially contribute to age-related TEC dysfunction. Specifically, we observed downregulation of pathways related to cell proliferation, T cell development, metabolism, and cytokine signaling in old age TECs. Conversely, TGF-β, BMP, and Wnt signaling pathways were upregulated, which have been known to be associated with age-related TEC dysfunctions or newly discovered in this study. Importantly, we found that these age-related changes in mouse TECs were consistently present in human TECs as well. This cross-species validation further strengthens the significance of our findings. In conclusion, our comprehensive analysis provides valuable insight into the biological and immunological characteristics of aged TECs in both mice and humans. These findings contribute to a better understanding of thymic involution and age-induced immune dysfunction.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.3.1-3.16
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• 2021

Coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been spreading worldwide since its outbreak in December 2019, and World Health Organization declared it as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. SARS-CoV-2 is highly contagious and is transmitted through airway epithelial cells as the first gateway. SARS-CoV-2 is detected by nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal swab samples, and the viral load is significantly high in the upper respiratory tract. The host cellular receptors in airway epithelial cells, including angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 and transmembrane serine protease 2, have been identified by single-cell RNA sequencing or immunostaining. The expression levels of these molecules vary by type, function, and location of airway epithelial cells, such as ciliated cells, secretory cells, olfactory epithelial cells, and alveolar epithelial cells, as well as differ from host to host depending on age, sex, or comorbid diseases. Infected airway epithelial cells by SARS-CoV-2 in ex vivo experiments produce chemokines and cytokines to recruit inflammatory cells to target organs. Same as other viral infections, IFN signaling is a critical pathway for host defense. Various studies are underway to confirm the pathophysiological mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Herein, we review cellular entry, host-viral interactions, immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 in airway epithelial cells. We also discuss therapeutic options related to epithelial immune reactions to SARS-CoV-2.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.117-122
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Curcumin, a major component of the Curcuma species, contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Although it was found to induce apoptosis in cancer cells, the functional role of curcumin as well as its molecular mechanism in anti-inflammatory response, particularly in intestinal cells, has been less investigated. The intestine epithelial barrier is the first barrier and the most important location for the substrate coming from the lumen of the gut. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We administered curcumin treatment in the human intestinal epithelial cell lines, T84 and Caco-2. We examined endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response by thapsigargin, qPCR of XBP1 and BiP, electrophysiology by wild-type cholera toxin in the cells. RESULTS: In this study, we showed that curcumin treatment reduces ER stress and thereby decreases inflammatory response in human intestinal epithelial cells. In addition, curcumin confers protection without damaging the membrane tight junction or actin skeleton change in intestine epithelial cells. Therefore, curcumin treatment protects the gut from bacterial invasion via reduction of ER stress and anti-inflammatory response in intestinal epithelial cells. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our data demonstrate the important role of curcumin in protecting the intestine by modulating ER stress and inflammatory response post intoxication.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제43권4호
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• pp.161-170
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• 2011

Quercetin is one of the most distributed flavonoids in the plant kingdom and occurs naturally in a wide range of fruits and vegetables. This study was undertaken to determine whether quercetin exerts beneficial effect against necrotic and apoptotic cell death induced by hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O2$) in intestinal cells using the human-derived cultured T84 colonic epithelial cell line. Necrotic cell death was induced by exposing cells to 0.5 mM $H_2O_2$ for 2 h and apoptosis was induced by incubating cells in normal culture medium for 18 h following exposure of cells to 0.5 mM $H_2O2$ for 2 h. Cell viability was evaluated by the trypan blue exclusion assay and apoptosis was assessed by Hoechst 33258 staining and flow cytometry. $H_2O_2$ induced necrotic cell death in a time and dose-dependent fashion. Both necrotic and apoptotic cell deaths were not prevented by the antioxidants N,N'-diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine(DPPD) and Trolox, whereas both cell deaths induced by the organic hydroperoxide t-butylhydroperoxide (tBHP) were prevented by DPPD, suggesting that $H_2O_2$ induces cell death through a lipid peroxidation-independent mechanism. $H_2O2$-induced necrotic death was prevented by deferoxamine and 3-aminobenzamide, while the apoptotic cell death was not affected by these agents. Quercetin prevented both necrotic and apoptotic cell deaths induced by $H_2O_2$ in a dose-dependent manner. $H_2O_2$ caused activation of poly (ADP-ribose) polmerase (PARP), which was inhibited by deferoxamine, 3-aminobenzamide, and quercetin, but not DPPD. These results indicate that quercetin inhibits both necroticand apoptotic deaths of T84 cells. The anti-necrotic effect of quercetin may be attributed to its iron chelator activity rather than a direct $H_2O_2$ scavenging capacity and antioxidant. The present study suggests that quercetin may play a therapeutic role in the treatment of human gastrointestinal diseases mediated by oxidants.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제37권2호
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• pp.281-289
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• 1997

The study was designed to investigate the effects of progesterone and estrogen on the uterus of rats by immunohistochemical methods using Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) antibody. Eighteen female rats(Wistar), weighing initially about 300g, were ovariectomized. These rats were divided into four groups, progesterone-treated group, estrogen-treated group, estrogen+progesterone-treated group, and control group, progesterone-treated group was injected with 1mg of progesterone per rat per day for 2 days and estrogen-treated group with $20{\mu}g$ of $17{\beta}-estradiol$ for 3 days and estrogen+progesterone-treated group with $17{\beta}-estrdiol$ for 3 days and then with progesterone for 2 days as above. In gross findings, the uteri were markedly hypertrophied by estrogen treatment but were not affect in size by progesterone treatment. Immunohistochemical investigation was performed on the cell types with higher appearance of PCNA positive reaction cells in four groups. The groups with higher appearance of the stromal cells were ordered as estrogen-treated group, progesterone-treated group, estrogen+progesterone-treated group, and control group. The muscle cells were ordered as progesterone-treated group, estrogen-treated group, estrogen+progesterone-treated group, and control group. Positive reaction cells of the stromal cells were total 4.6 times higher than those of muscle cells. Therefore, the affect of the hypertrophy on the uterus by estrogen was larger than those of progesterone and affect on the uterus by stromal cells were larger than those of muscle cells. The group with more PCNA positive reaction cells of luminal epithelial cells were ordered as control group, progesterone-treated group, estrogen+progesterone-treated group, and estrogen-treated group, and glandular epithelial cells were ordered as estrogen+progesterone-treated group, progesterone-treated group, control group, and estrogen-treated group. It was suggested that estrogen and progesterone did not affect on the proliferating cells of luminal epithelial cells and affection of progesterone on the development of glandular epithelial cell was larger than that of estrogen.

• 한국산학기술학회논문지
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• 제18권10호
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• pp.551-558
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• 2017

조직특이적 프로모터 및 벡터를 연구하고 검증하기 위해서는 조직 및 종의 특이성을 유지하는 세포 시스템을 개발하는 것이 바람직하다. 이러한 시스템은 형질전환동물 모델에 대한 효과적인 대안이다. 우리는 베타 카제인 (CSN2)의 세포 형태와 mRNA 수준에 기초하여 일차 배양으로부터 돼지 유선 상피 세포 주 (PMECs)를 확립하였다. 선택된 PMECs는 cytokeratin 항체에 의해 염색되었으며, 유선 상피 세포에 존재한다고 생각되어지는 유즙 단백질 유전자 (CSN2, 락토페린 및 유청 단백질)를 발현하는 것으로 나타났다. 또한, 3D 배양에서 PMECs932-7의 acini 구조를 확인하기 위해 살아있는 세포를 핵산에 결합하는 SYTO-13으로 염색하였다. 우리는 마트리겔 (matrigel)에 있는 PMECs의 acini가 말초 세포의 응집에 의해 형성되고 공간의 lumen을 특징으로 한다는 것이 관찰하였다. 우리는 PMECs의 matrigel 사용법과 세포 밀도를 포함한 세포 배양 조건의 영향을 시험함으로서 시스템을 시연했다. 이러한 결과는 PMCEs의 유선 상피 세포는 유전적 또는 구조적 특징을 갖고 있음을 시사하고 있다.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.132-136
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• 2000

The cell surface glycoprotein CD44 is a kind of adhesion molecule, which binds hyaluronic acid, type I collagen and fibronectin. Although there have been numerous reports on the expression and the function of CD44 in lymphocytes and macrophages, very little is known about its distribution and definite role in epithelial tissue, especially in oral epithelial one. The present study was performed to investigate the distribution and expression of the CD44 in human gingiva and squamous cell carcinoma(SCC) arising in human gingiva. And the authors compared CD44 expression with histopathologic grade of SCC. The results were as follows: 1. The CD44 was strongly expressed in granular, spinous and basal layers of normal marginal and attached gingiva, in spinous and basal layers of normal sulcular gingiva, and in all epithelial layers of normal junctional gingiva. 2. In SCC of gingiva, the CD44 was expressed in all but one case. In most of the cases the CD44 was expressed at cell membrane and the degree of expression was relatively strong. 3. In low-grade SCC of gingiva, the CD44 was strongly expressed, especially at the basal and spinous layers of abundantly keratinized cancer nests. In high-grade SCC of gingiva, the CD44 expression tended to be weak but was strong at cells showing individual keratinization. This study suggest that the CD44 expression of normal and cancerous gingival epithelium is associated with the degree of proliferation and differentiation of epithelial cells.

• 대한약학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한약학회 2003년도 Proceedings of the Convention of the Pharmaceutical Society of Korea Vol.1
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• pp.291.2-292
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to investigate the transport characteristics of passage cultured l1uman nasal epithelial cell monolayers grown on Transwell@ inserts using liquid-covered culture (LCC) method. The monolayer of passage 2 and 3 exhibited tight barrier (TEER>1,000 ohmxcm$^2$) in 2-3 days after seeding. In the morphological studies by actin staining and SEM/TEM, the existence of tight junction was clearly observed. (omitted)

• 한국독성학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국독성학회 2002년도 Current Trends in Toxicological Sciences
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• pp.75-75
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• 2002

Two types of normal human breast epithelial cells (HBECs) have already been established and characterized. Type I HBECs are deficient in gap junctional intercellular communication and are capable of anchorage-independent growth and of expressing luminal epithelial cell markers, a variant estrogen receptor (ER), and stem cell characteristics.(omitted)