• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.113-121
• /
• 2020

Macrophages are initiators for regulating a host's defenses to eliminate pathogens and trigger tissue repair. Macrophages are classified into two types: classically (M1) activated macrophages and alternatively (M2) activated macrophages. M1-phenotype macrophages directly or indirectly kill infectious organisms and tumor cells via pro-inflammatory responses, whereas M2-phenotype macrophages remodel wounded tissue through anti-inflammatory responses. In this paper, we investigated how Phellinus linteus hot water extract passed from Diaion HP-20 resin (PLEP) regulates polarization of M1-like or M2-like macrophages in human THP-1 cells. PLEP did not have cytotoxicity at a high concentration of 300 ㎍/ml. We observed morphological alteration of the THP-1 cells, which are stimulated by PLEP, LPS/INF-γ (M1 stimulators) or IL-4/IL13 (M2 stimulators). PLEP exposure induced morphology contiguous with LPS/INF-γ. qPCR was also performed to determine whether PLEP influences M1 or M2 polarization-related genes. M1-phenotype macrophage-specific genes, such as TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, CXCL10 and CCR7, were enhanced by PLEP in a dose-dependent manner similar to LPS/INF-γ. Conversely, M2-phenotype-specific genes, such as MRC-1, DC-SIGN, CCL17 and CCL22, were suppressed by PLEP. PLEP also significantly up-regulated secretory inflammation cytokines related to M1 polarization of macrophages, including TNFα, IL-1β and IL-6, which was similar to the gene expression. Further, MAPK and NF-κB signaling were increased by treatment with PLEP, resulting in enhancement of cytokine secretion. PLEP might therefore be used as a promising booster of pro-inflammatory responses through M1 polarization of human THP-1 cells.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.147-155
• /
• 2020

In this study, the antioxidant and cytotoxic effects and the flavonoid contents of leaf extracts from Stachys sieboldii Miq. and Lycopus lucidus Turcz. were compared. The flavonoid contents of the acetone + methylene chloride (A+M) and methanol (MeOH) extracts of L. lucidus Turcz. leaves were 55.7 and 233.2 mg/g, respectively. In a DPPH assay, A+M and MeOH extracts from L. lucidus Turcz leaves had a greater scavenging effect than those of S. sieboldii Miq. leaves (p<0.05). In an ABTS assay, MeOH extracts from S. sieboldii Miq. and L. lucidus Turcz (0.5 mg/ml concentration) leaves had scavenging effects of 85% and 91%, respectively (p<0.05), suggesting that both of the MeOH extracts had greater scavenging effects than both A+M extracts. In a 120 min ROS production assay, all tested extracts decreased the cellular ROS production induced by H₂O₂ compared to that produced by exposure to the extract-free control. The MeOH extract from L. lucidus Turcz leaves had a greater inhibitory effect on cellular ROS production (p<0.05). Treatment with A+M and MeOH extracts from both S. sieboldii Miq. and L. lucidus Turcz. leaves showed a dose-dependent increased cytotoxicity against the growth of AGS, HT-29 cancer cells, and HT-1080 (p<0.05). Both A+M extracts had a greater inhibitory effect on the growth of all cancer cells than both MeOH extracts. These results suggest that the MeOH extract of L. lucidus Turcz. leaves is effective in scavenging free radicals and inhibiting cellular oxidation, while the A+M extract inhibits proliferation of three types of cancer cell.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.15 no.2 s.69
• /
• pp.169-175
• /
• 2005

Resveratrol (3,4',5-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene), a phytoalexin found in grape skins, peanuts, and red wine, has been reported to have a wide range of biological and pharmacological properties. $Amyloid-\beta$ deposition and senile plaque-associated astrocytes are common neuropathological features of Alzheimer's disease. In this study, we have explored the effects of resveratrol on $amyloid-\beta-peptide-mediated$ cytotoxicity in vitro and modulation of cell growth-regulatory gene products in astroglioma C6 cells to elucidate its possible mechanism for anti-cytotoxicity. Exposure of C6 cells to $Amyloid-\beta$ resulted in dose-dependent growth inhibition and morphological changes of C6 cells, which were recovered by pre-treatment with resveratrol. The anti-proliferative effect of $amyloid-\beta$ was associated with the induction of tumor suppressor p53 and cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitor p21 (WAF1/CIP1) expression assessed by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis in time-dependent manner in C6 cells. In addition, the pro-apoptotic Bax expression was also up-regulated in $amyloid-\beta-treated$ C6 cells without alteration of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and $Bcl-X_L$ expression. However, pre-treatment of resveratrol significantly inhibited $amyloid-\beta-induced$ p53, p21 and Bax levels, suggesting that the modulation of p53, p21 and Bax levels could be one of the possible pathways by which resveratrol functions as anti-cytotoxic agent. Our results demonstrate that resveratrol may enhance the protection against $amyloid-\beta-induced$ cytotoxicity by promoting the survival of glial cells.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.277-285
• /
• 2011

To determine the quality control of UGIS, we acquired 105 patients sampling image at 21 general screening centers. The results of image quality evaluation table containing two countries's UGIS showed that the mean of image qualified education table of our country was 73.3 and the standard error was 4.49; In addition, 19 organizations of 21 general screening centers were given appropriate judgement. The average of image qualified education table of Japan was 58 and the standard error was 4.45. Only 8 organizations were given appropriate judgement. Although we made the image quality evaluation tables with same images, there were many differences in the result of two tables. We figured out the problem about the description of whole stomach and photograph skills. Furthermore, we analysed the situation of the UGIS at each general screening center with the acquired images. The biggest problem of the UGIS of our country was that the procedures were performed without clear medical methods. Methods of UGIS were different at every 21 general screening centers, and most of them did not take exam of anterior surface of stomach of the UGIS. In addition, some general screening centers did not include mucosal relief method or esophagography which is required to include in the image qualified education table of our country. Because polisography is used in the same body position, the problem occured about indiscreet exposure dose of patients. Therefore we have to make an effort to get X-ray images which have enough diagnosis information by the quality control of UGIS.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.127-132
• /
• 2010

The purpose of this study is to measure scattered ray which is occurred except for Z-axis range of the detector in MDCT's iso-center and present the basic data about the standard for reduction of scattered ray. The development of MDCT brings out the enlargement of beam thickness to the patient's Z-axis, which distributes to the increase in exposure dose according to the rise of scattered ray. Also MDCT brings out the increase of scattered ray about 4times more than SDCT. To evaluate scattered ray according to the change of beam thickness on MDCT, we measured scattered ray of MDCT's Z-axis beam thickness by using one 16-slice CTs and two 64-slice CTs. We used the ionization chamber 60ml 2026C as the equipment of measurement. In our results, we found out that the change of scattered ray according to the beam thickness in the same kVp has increase of scattered ray. Secondly we found out the increase of scattered ray according to the increase of kVp. Lastly we found out the decrease of scattered ray according to the increase of the distance from the ionization chamber.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.243-249
• /
• 2014

In this study, we evaluated the toxic effects of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Zn) on the population growth rate (r) of the marine diatom, Skeletonema costatum. S. costatum. The population growth rate (r) of the species was determined after 96 hrs. of exposure to Cd (0, 0.63, 1.25, 2.50, 5.00, 10.00 ppm), Cu (0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00, 1.25, 1.50 ppm) and Zn (0, 0.31, 0.63, 1.25, 2.00, 2.50, 5.00 ppm). It was observed that 'r' in the control (absence of Cd, Cu and Zn) were greater than 0.05, however suddenly decreased with increased heavy metal concentrations. Cd, Cu and Zn reduced 'r' in a dose-dependent manner and a significant reduction were occurred at concentration of greater than 1.25, 1.25 and 2.50 ppm, respectively. Based on the toxicity, the heavy metal were ranked as Cu>Zn>Cd, with EC50 values of 1.11, 2.13 and 6.84 ppm, respectively. The lowest-observed-effective-concentration (LOEC) of 'r' in exposed to Cd, Cu and Zn were 1.25, 1.00, 2.00 ppm, respectively. Precisely, a concentration of greater than 1.25 ppm of Cd, 1.00 ppm of Cu and 2.00 ppm of Zn in marine ecosystems induced toxic effect on the 'r' of S. costatum. Based on our results, we suggested that the 'r' of S. costatum might be a useful bio indicator for the toxicity assessment of heavy metals in marine ecosystems.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.23 no.5
• /
• pp.689-697
• /
• 2013

In the United States, about 40,000 new cases of oral cancer are diagnosed each year and nearly 7,800 patients died from it in 2012. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have been found to have anticancer effects in a variety of cancer cell lines and animal models, but their effect in oral cancer remains unclear. This study was designed to examine the effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, a kind of omega-3 fatty acid) on oral cancer cells and the molecular mechanism of its action. We found that exposure of squamous cell carcinoma-4 (SCC-4) and squamous cell carcinoma-9 (SCC-9) human oral cancer cells to DHA induced growth inhibition in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Meanwhile, in addition to the elevated levels of apoptotic markers, such as cleaved PARP, subG1 portion and TUNEL-positive nuclei, DHA led to autophagic vesicle formation and an increase in autophagic flux, indicating the involvement of both apoptosis and autophagy in the inhibitory effects of DHA on oral cancer cells. Further experiments revealed that the apoptosis and autophagy induced by DHA were linked to inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling by AKT inhibition and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation in SCC-9 cells. Together, our results suggest that DHA induces apoptosis- and autophagy-associated cell death through the AMPK/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in oral cancer cells. Thus, utilization of omega-3 fatty acids may represent a promising therapeutic approach for chemoprevention and treatment of human oral cancer.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.21 no.12
• /
• pp.1678-1688
• /
• 2011

The apoptogenic effect of p-coumaric acid, a phenolic acid found in various edible plants, on human acute leukemia Jurkat T cells was investigated. Exposure of Jurkat T cells to p-coumaric acid (50-$150{\mu}M$) caused cytotoxicity and TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL)-positive apoptotic DNA fragmentation along with Bak activation, ${\Delta}{\psi}m$ loss, activation of caspase-9, -3, -7, and -8, and PARP degradation in a dose-dependent manner. However,these apoptotic events were completely abrogated in Jurkat T cells overexpressing Bcl-2.Under these conditions, necrosis was not accompanied. Pretreatment of the cells with the pan-caspase inhibitor (z-VAD-fmk) could prevent p-coumaric acid-induced sub-$G_1$ peak representing apoptotic cells, whereas it failed to block ${\Delta}{\psi}m$ loss, indicating that the activation of caspase cascade was prerequisite for p-coumaric acid-induced apoptosis as a downstream event of ${\Delta}{\psi}m$ loss. FADD- and caspase-8-positive wild-type Jurkat T cell clone A3, FADD-deficient Jurkat T cell clone I2.1, and caspase-8-deficient Jurkat T cell clone I9.2 exhibited similar susceptibilities to the cytotoxicity of p-coumaric acid, excluding an involvement of Fas/FasL system in triggering the apoptosis. The apoptogenic activity of p-coumaric acid is more potent in malignant Jurkat T cells than in normal human peripheral T cells. Together, these results demonstrated that p-coumaric acid-induced apoptogenic activity in Jurkat T cellswas mediated by Bak activation, ${\Delta}{\psi}m$ loss, and subsequent activation of multiple caspases such as caspase-9, -3, -7, and-8, and PARP degradation, which could be regulated by anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.53 no.1
• /
• pp.20-28
• /
• 2017

Physical sterilization methods using ultraviolet radiation and ionizing radiation such as gamma ray and electron beam are applied in various industry fields due to disinfection effects and economic efficiency but may also cause microbial mutation. In this research, Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli strains were treated with ionizing and ultraviolet radiation and their survival rate, mutation rate, and DNA damage were studied to evaluate the genetic safety. The survival rate of the strains decreased drastically as the irradiation dose of ultraviolet ray, gamma ray, and electron beam increased, and over 90% of the strain was exterminated at a dosage of $0.40{\sim}25.06mJ/cm^3$, 0.11~0.22 kGy, 0.14~0.53 kGy respectively. In SOS / umu-test, genotoxicity causing DNA damage was identified in all samples. In Ames test, back-mutation rate increased to $3.82{\times}10^{-4}$ and $9.84{\times}10^{-6}$ respectively when exposed to ultraviolet ray and gamma ray. At exposure to ultraviolet ray, gamma ray, and electron beam with dosage of over 99.99% extinction rate of S. enterica TA100, back-mutation rate increased 347 times, 220 times, 0.6 times respectively to the spontaneous back-mutation rate. Rifampicin resistance mutation rate of E. coli CSH100 exposed to ultraviolet ray, gamma ray, and electron beam was $2.46{\times}10^{-6}$, $1.66{\times}10^{-6}$, $4.12{\times}10^{-7}$ respectively. Therefore, gamma radiation is effective in microorganism control from the perspective of disinfection and electron beam has the advantage of sterilizing with little DNA damage and bacterial mutation.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.316-322
• /
• 2011

BACKGROUND: Pesticides concentration was monitored in 50 agricultural lakes, and ecological risk for aquatic organism was assessed using risk quotient (RQ) and probabilistic methods. METHODS AND RESULTS: Pesticides concentrations detected in 50 agricultural lakes during peak season (June and September) were in the range of $0.17{\sim}0.99{\mu}g/L$. The RQ for algae and the other species was estimated to be 0.25 and below 0.01, indicating medium risk and no risk. Oxadiazon predominantly contributed to RQ value of 99% for algae, fishes, and amphibians. In terms of hazardous concentration at 5% of species ($HC_5$), ecological risk quotients (ERQ) for oxadiazon ranged from 0.18~0.33, showing a medium risk level. Overall, the concentrations of pesticides were much lower than $HC_5$), value. Probability of combined ecological risk for pesticides ranged from 1.82% to 2.41%. CONCLUSION(s): Combined ecological risk probability did not exceed the acceptable level of 5%, indicating no ecological risk for selected aquatic species. This study suggests that regular ecological risk assessment (ERA) will be required to protect and manage an agricultural lake. Not only ERA at screening level by comparing exposure with toxic effects for aquatic species also advanced ERA technique considering species in indigenous to Korea, chronic toxicity, pulse dose, fate, and environmental factors should be required.