• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.924-942
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• 2020

The facial expression is diverse and various among persons due to the impact of the psychology factor. Whilst the facial action is comparatively steady because of the fixedness of the anatomic structure. Therefore, to improve performance of the action unit recognition will facilitate the facial expression recognition and provide profound basis for the mental state analysis, etc. However, it still a challenge job and recognition accuracy rate is limited, because the muscle movements around the face are tiny and the facial actions are not obvious accordingly. Taking account of the moving of muscles impact each other when person express their emotion, we propose to make full use of co-occurrence relationship among action units (AUs) in this paper. Considering the dynamic characteristic of AUs as well, we adopt the 3D Convolutional Neural Network(3DCNN) as base framework and proposed to recognize multiple action units around brows, nose and mouth specially contributing in the emotion expression with putting their co-occurrence relationships as constrain. The experiments have been conducted on a typical public dataset CASME and its variant CASME2 dataset. The experiment results show that our proposed AU co-occurrence constraint 3DCNN based AU recognition approach outperforms current approaches and demonstrate the effectiveness of taking use of AUs relationship in AU recognition.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.13
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• pp.5455-5461
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• 2014

Background: Saponins are a major active component for the traditional Chinese medicine, Rubus parvifolius L., which has shown clear antitumor activities. However, the specific effects and mechanisms of saponins of Rubus parvifolius L. (SRP) remain unclear with regard to human chronic myeloid leukemia cells. The aim of this study was to investigate inhibition of proliferation and apoptosis induction effects of SRP in K562 cells and further elucidate its regulatory mechanisms. Materials and Methods: K562 cells were treated with different concentrations of SRP and MTT assays were performed to determine cell viability. Apoptosis induction by SRP was determined with FACS and DAPI staining analysis. Western blotting was used to detect expression of apoptosis and survival related genes. Specific inhibitors were added to confirm roles of STAT3 and AMPK pathways in SRP induction of apoptosis. Results: Our results indicated that SRP exhibited obvious inhibitory effects on the growth of K562 cells, and significantly induced apoptosis. Cleavage of pro-apoptotic proteins was dramatically increased after SRP exposure. SRP treatment also increased the activities of AMPK and JNK pathways, and inhibited the phosphorylation expression level of STAT3 in K562 cells. Inhibition of the AMPK pathway blocked the activation of JNK by SRP, indicating that SRP regulated the expression of JNK dependent oon the AMPK pathway. Furthermore, inhibition of the latter significantly conferred resistance to SRP pro-apoptotic activity, suggesting involvement of the AMPK pathway in induction of apoptosis. Pretreatment with a STAT3 inhibitor also augmented SRP induced growth inhibition and cell apoptosis, further confirming roles of the STAT3 pathway after SRP treatment. Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that SRP induce cell apoptosis through AMPK activation and STAT3 inhibition in K562 cells. This suggests the possibility of further developing SRP as an alternative treatment option, or perhaps using it as adjuvant chemotherapeutic agent for chronic myeloid leukemia therapy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.4533-4537
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• 2013

Objective: To use microarray chip technology for screening of stem cell radiation related miRNAs in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma; study and explore the relationship of miRNAs with radiosensitivity of laryngeal squamous cells. Method: After conventional culture and amplification of the laryngeal squamous carcinoma cell line Hep-2, CD 133+ cells were screened out with combination of isolated culture of stem cell microspheres and FACS for preparation of laryngeal cancer stem cells. After radiation treatment, miRNAs of laryngeal squamous carcinoma stem cells before and after radiation were enriched and purified. After microarray hybridization with mammalian miRNA and scanning of fluorescence signal, the miRNAs of laryngeal squamous carcinoma stem cells before and after radiation was subject to differential screening and clustering analysis. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR was used to verify part of the differentially expressed miRNAs. Results: 70 miRNAs related to laryngeal cancer stem cell radiation with 2-fold difference in expression were screened out, in which 62 were down-regulated and 8 were up-regulated. Fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR results were consistent with miRNAs chip results. Conclusion: Some miRNAs may be involved in self-regulation with laryngeal squamous carcinoma stem cell radiation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.1179-1187
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• 2001

In fish both humoral and cell mediated immune responses have been reported whereas antibodies recognizing specific cellular populations have not yet been developed except for ones recognizing surface Ig molecules on B lymphocytes. Our aim was to develop and characterize monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) specific for the immune-related cells. Mabs were produced by fusion of myeloma cells (SP2/0) with Balb/c mouse spleen cells previously sensitized against Israeli carp (I. carp) kidney mononuclear cells. We obtained 44 Mabs positively reacting with I. carp kidney mononuclear cells and partially characterized 7 Mabs in the morphological and mitogen-based proliferative aspects. Fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis against I. carp kidney cells by using 7 different Mabs showed 80.3% for ICK 17-4, 65.1% for ICK 2-3, 64.1% for ICK 25-1, 67.5% for lCK 22-1, 70.8% for ICK 16-2, 76.8% for ICK 13-2, 79.7% for ICK II-I. Panning method was used for the isolation of Mabs specific mononuclear carp spleen cells followed by Wright's stain. The stained cell populations were identified as monocytes (ICK 17-4, ICK 2-3, ICK 25-1, ICK 22-1 and ICK 16-2), lymphocytes (ICK 11-1), and a mixed cell population of monocytes and lymphocytes (ICK 13-2). In cell proliferation assay, monocytes purified by ICK 17-4, 2-3 and 22-1 efficiently responded to Con A and PHA, while ones separated by ICK 25-1 did not react with any mitogens. Lymphocytes isolated by ICK 11-1, though it is not known whether they are T or B cells, were more responsive to Con A than PHA or LPS, suggesting that fish immune cells are somewhat different from mammalian cells in responding to mammalian T or B cell mitogens.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.279-287
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• 2013

Autophagy is a process of cytoplasmic degradation of endogenous proteins and organelles. Although its primary role is protective, it can also contribute to cell death. Recently, autophagy was found to play a role in the activation of host defense against intracellular pathogens. The aims of our study was to investigate whether host cell autophagy influences Toxoplasma gondii proliferation and whether autophagy inhibitors modulate cell survival. HeLa cells were infected with T. gondii with and without rapamycin treatment to induce autophagy. Lactate dehydrogenase assays showed that cell death was extensive at 36-48 hr after infection in cells treated with T. gondii with or without rapamycin. The autophagic markers, LC3 II and Beclin 1, were strongly expressed at 18-24 hr after exposure as shown by Western blotting and RT-PCR. However, the subsequent T. gondii proliferation suppressed autophagy at 36 hr post-infection. Pre-treatment with the autophagy inhibitor, 3-methyladenine (3-MA), down-regulated LC3 II and Beclin 1. The latter was also down-regulated by calpeptin, a calpain inhibitor. Monodansyl cadaverine (MDC) staining detected numerous autophagic vacuoles (AVs) at 18 hr post-infection. Ultrastructural observations showed T. gondii proliferation in parasitophorous vacuoles (PVs) coinciding with a decline in the numbers of AVs by 18 hr. FACS analysis failed to confirm the presence of cell apoptosis after exposure to T. gondii and rapamycin. We concluded that T. gondii proliferation may inhibit host cell autophagy and has an impact on cell survival.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.3-11
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• 2011

Hepatocyte growth factor(HGF) and c-Met play an important role in the control of tumor growth and invasion, and they are known to be good prognostic indicators of patient outcome. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) has been shown to have chemopreventive and therapeutic properties by modulating multiple signal pathways regarding the control of proliferation and invasion of cells. In this study, we evaluated the role of c-Met in EGCG-induced inhibition of invasion and apoptosis in an oral cancer cell line. In KB cells where c-Met was knocked down with siRNA, we performed invasion assay and FACS with Annexin V-FITC/PT staining. In addition, we checked the change of mitochondrial membrane potential(MMP) and the generation of reactive oxygen species(ROS). EGCG-induced inhibition of invasiveness was significantly decreased after the knock-down of c-Met. EGCG-induced apoptosis, MMP change and ROS generation was also reduced in c-Met knock-ed-down KB cells. These results suggest that c-Met is involved in EGCG-induced apoptosis and inhibition of invasiveness of oral cancer cell line.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.446-451
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• 2010

We investigated whether oral administration with capsicum extract (Capsicum annuum var. cheongyang) would affect the immune system by examining the immune cells of Peyer's patch (PP), a gut associated lymphoid tissue, ex vivo. The mice were orally administrated with capsicum extract (100 mg/kg/day), capsaicin (10 mg/Kg), and the vehicle for four consecutive days, and PPs were isolated from intestines 2 days later. When the PP cells were cultured in the presence of Concanavalin A for 72 hr, the levels of cytokines, including IL-2 and IFN-${\gamma]$, were dramatically increased, while the levels of IL-4 remained unchanged compared with the control. Data from the FACS analysis of PP cells indicated that capsicum extract significantly increased the number of CD3+ and CD4+ T cells as well as CD 19+ B cells compared with the control but not CD11b+ cells. Furthermore, the percentages of IL-2+ /CD4+ cells and IFN-${\gamma}+$/CD4+ were greatly increased. These data suggested that oraladministration with capsicum extract might activate the CD4+ T cells leading to cytokine production as well as CD19+ B cells in Peyer's patches. As such, capsicum extract might have potential as an immune modulating agent.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.217-221
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• 2008

Free-living Naegleria fowleri leads to a fatal infection known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis in humans. Previously, the target cell death could be induced by phagocytic activity of N. fowleri as a contact-dependent mechanism. However, in this study we investigated the target cell death under a non-contact system using a tissue-culture insert. The human microglial cells, U87MG cells, co-cultured with N. fowleri trophozoites for 30 min in a non-contact system showed morphological changes such as the cell membrane destruction and a reduction in the number. By fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis, U87MG cells co-cultured with N. fowleri trophozoites in a non-contact system showed a significant increase of apoptotic cells (16%) in comparison with that of the control or N. fowleri lysate. When U87MG cells were co-cultured with N. fowleri trophozoites in a non-contact system for 30 min, 2 hr, and 4 hr, the cytotoxicity of amebae against target cells was 40.5, 44.2, and 45.6%, respectively. By contrast, the cytotoxicity of non-pathogenic N. gruberi trophozoites was 10.2, 12.4, and 13.2%, respectively. These results suggest that the molecules released from N. fowleri in a contact-independent manner as well as phagocytosis in a contact-dependent manner may induce the host cell death.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.1 s.61
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• pp.46-58
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• 2005

Objective : This study on Sipimikwanjung-tang was undertaken to evaluate its antioxidant capacities and antiperoxidation activities in rat liver tissues. Sipimikwanjung-tang which has been one of the prescriptions in sasang constitutional medicine is usually applied for the therapy of various liver diseases. It is elucidated that Sipimikwanjung-tang has antioxidants on liver tissue of rat and the cytotoxic effects on human hepatoblastoma Hep G2 cells. Methods: Sipimikwanjung-tang extract in antioxidant effects of Hep G2 cells is evaluated by MTT assay, DAPI staining, DNA fragmentation assays and FACS can analysis. Results: Sipimikwanjung-tang induced apoptosis in Hep G2 cells, and induced G1 and G2M arrest of the cell cycle as well as a significant increase in PARP and caspase-3 activity. It induced an increase in $H_2O_2$ generation and the subsequent $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation and also induced cell apoptosis through the caspase-3-dependent pathways in the low concentration of Sipimikwanjung-tang extracts. However, the high dose of Sipimikwanjung-tang extract in Hep G2 cells inhibited $TGF-{\beta}l-induced$ apoptosis via increase in cellular $H_2O_2$, formation and $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation in human hepatoblastoma Hep G2 cells. Conclusion: From this study, the possibility that Sipimikwanjung-tang extracts apply to antioxidant and apoptotic treatment of disease is revealed.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.289-296
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• 2014

Human adipose-tissue-derived stromal cells (hADSCs) are abundant in adipose tissue and can differentiate into multi-lineage cell types, including adipocytes, osteoblasts, and chondrocytes. In order to define the optimal harvest site of adipose tissue harvest site, we solated hADSCs from different subcutaneous sites (upper abdomen, lower abdomen, and thigh) and compared their proliferation and potential to differentiate into adipocytes and osteoblasts. In addition, this study examined the effect of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a protein kinase C (PKC) activator, on proliferation and differentiation of hADSCs to adipocytes or osteoblasts. hADSCs isolated from different subcutaneous depots have a similar growth rate. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis showed that the expression levels of CD73 and CD90 were similar between hADSCs from abdomen and thigh regions. However, the expression of CD105 was lower in hADSCs from the thigh than in those from the abdomen. Although the adipogenic differentiation potential of hADSCs from both tissue regions was similar, the osteogenic differentiation potential of hADSCs from the thigh was greater than that of hADSCs from the abdomen. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) treatment increased osteogenic differentiation and suppressed adipogenic differentiation of all hADSCs without affecting their growth rate and the treatment of Go6983, a general inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC) blocked the PMA effect. These findings indicate that the thigh region might be a suitable source of hADSCs for bone regeneration and that the PKC signaling pathway may be involved in the adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation of hADSCs.