• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.221-227
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• 2004

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), particularly the highly selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors have been shown to decrease the growth of tumor, in part, by inhibition of neovascularization. Recently, besides mature endothelial cells, endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been shown to contribute neovascularization in angiogenic tissues. In this study, we addressed a question whether nimesulide, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, could affect differentiation of EPCs into adhesive endothelial cells in vitro. Total mononuclear cells were isolated from cord blood by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation, and then the cells were incubated with nimesulide or vehicle control for 7 days. The number of adherent and spindle-shaped cells decreased by nimesulide treatment in a concentration-dependent fashion at a concentration range of 5 - 200 ${\mu}M$. Moreover, the adherent cells double positive for DiI-ac-LDL uptake and lectin binding significantly decreased upon nimesulide treatment. There was no change of expression of CD31 between treatment and control groups, whereas slight reduction was detected upon treatment in expression of VE-cadherin, ICAM-1, vWF, ${\alpha}v$, and ${\alpha}5$. Nimesulide also reduced cell viability during first 3 days' culture and induced apoptosis in adherent EPCs, resulting in increased annexin-V-positive and propidium iodide-negative cells. Taken together, these results suggest that nimesulide could be applied for the inhibition of new vessel formation, in part, by inhibiting differentiation and survival of EPCs.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.271-281
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• 1996

The effect of superovulation (PMSG, FSH) on the ovarian response of matured cows were tested. The survival rates of bovine embryos and ovarian oocytes frozen by slow, rapid freezing and vitrification were investigated. A total of 15 heads of cow were devided into 3 groups by injection dose of GTH (PSMG, FSH). Each group was superrovulated with injections of 2, 500, 3, OOOJU PSMG and 40mg FSH followed by injection of 30mg PGF2a. Embryos were non-surgically recovered from superovulated cows 6~7days after estrus. The recovered embryos were frozen in 10% glycerol + 10% sucrose by slow and rapid freezing. Ovarian oncytes were frozen in 20% g]ycerol+l0% ethylene glycerol + 30% Ficol + 10% sucrose by vitrification and the survival of frozen embryos and ovarian oncytes were judged by FDA-test. The results are summarized as follows; 1. Estrus after the injection of 2500, 3000 I.U. PMSG and 4Omg FSH were 32.8, 35.0 and 43.4 and the duration of estrus were 18.6, 18.8 and 22.4 hours respectively. 2. The average sizes of the left ovaries were 5.4cm (2, 500 IU PMSG), 5.1cm (3, OOOIU PMSG) and 6.4cm (FSH), and the right were 6.2cm (2, 5001U PMSG), 5.7cm (3, OOOIU PMSG) and 7.&m (FSH) respectively. There were significant differences in the right overies among treatments (P<0.05). 3. The average number of ovarian follicles in the left ovaries were 4.8 (2, 500 IU PMSG), 5.2(3, 000 IU PMSG) and 7.8 (FSH) respectively. There were significant difference in the right ovaries among treatments (P<0.05). 4. In the average numbers of ovulation points in the left ovaries were 3.0 (2, 5001U PMSG), 3.2 (3, OOOIU PMSG) and 4.4 (FSH) respectively, and the right were 7.2 (2, 5001U PMSG), 7.8(3, 000IU PMSG) and 11.4 (FSH). There were significant differences in the right ovaries among treatments (P<0.05). 5. The numbers of the recovered embryos were 20 (2, 5001U PMSG), 19 (3, 000 IU PMSG) and 21 (FSH) respectively, and oncytes and degenerted oncytes were 6.5 and 11.0 Estrus periods of post parturation were 52.4days (2, 5001U PMSG), 69.8days (3, OOOIU PMSG) and 62.4days (FSH) respectively. 6. The FDA score of cow morulae frozen by slow freezing, sernirapid frezing and vitrified freezing was higher in slow (3.1) and vitrified freezing (3.0) than that in semirapid freezing (1.28). The FDA-scores of cow, pig and rabbit ovarian oocytes frozen in 20% glycerol + 10% ethylene glycol + 30% Ficoll + 10% sucrose by vitrification were higher in cows (3.3) than both in pigs (2.6) and rabbits (2.3).

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.119-124
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• 2006

The present study compared the developmental potential of cloned porcine embryos with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), fetal fibroblasts (FFs) and cumulus cells (CCs) by assessing the cleavage and blastocyst rate, total cell number, inner cell mass (ICM) ratio and apoptosis. MSCs were isolated by ficoll gradients from femur of -6 month old female pig, and maintained for primary cultures. FFs from a female fetus at ${\sim}30$ day of gestation were established, and CCs were obtained from cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) aspirated from $3{\sim}6$ mm follicles in diameter. Donor cells at $3{\sim}4$ passage were employed for nuclear transfer (NT). COCs were matured and fertilized in vitro(IVF) as control. Cleavage rate was significantly (P<0.05) higher in IVF than in NT embryos with MSCs, FFs and CCs ($82.7{\pm}8.9%\;vs\;70.6{\pm}5.4,\;68.7{\pm}5.1\;and\;63.4{\pm}5.6%$, respectively). However, blastocyst rates in IVF and NT embryos derived from MSCs ($24.5{\pm}2.8\;and\;20.4{\pm}8.3%$) did not differ, but were significantly (P<0.05) higher than NT derived from FFs and CCs ($10.6{\pm}2.7\;and\;9.8{\pm}2.1%$). Total cell number and the ratio of ICM to total cells among blastocysts cloned from MSCs ($35.4{\pm}5.2\;and\;0.40{\pm}0.09%$, respectively) were significantly (P<0.05) higher than those from FFs and CCs ($24.9{\pm}6.2%\;vs\;0.19{\pm}0.16,\;23.6{\pm}5.5\;and\;0.17{\pm}0.16%$, respectively). Proportions of TUNEL positive cells in NT embryos from FFs and CCs ($6.9{\pm}1.5\;and\;7.4{\pm}1.7%$, respectively) were significantly (P<0.05) higher than in MSCs ($4.8{\pm}1.4%$) and IVF ($2.3{\pm}0.9%$). The results demonstrate that MSCs have a greater potential as donor cells than FFs and CCs in achieving enhanced production of cloned porcine embryos.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.217-224
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• 1991

One of water and/or methanol extracts from 14 herbal deugs which were screened using murine splenocytes showed immunosuppressive activities previously. After water extract from Xanthium strumarium was treated with chloroform. $100 \mu{g/ml}$ of water layer (XS-WCI) has very strong immunosimulating activities tested by $^3H$-thmidine incorporation (control as $100 \mu{g/ml}$, 26345 cpm was 69515 cpm). MLR also appears to be simulated strongly (control vs $100 \mu{g/ml}$, 4962 cpm vs 78688 cpm). When $100 \mu{g/ml}$ of XS-WCI and $0.8 \mu{g/ml}$ of concanavalin a (ConA) were added. more $^3H$-thymidine were incorporated significantly, compared with $0.8 \mu{g/ml}$ of ConA only. In contrast with ConA. results from $5 \mu{/ml}$ of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and $100 \mu{g/ml}$ of XS-WCI were not different. compared with $5\mu{/ml}$of LPS only. These results indicated the responses of XS-WCI to B cell and T cell may be different. XS-WCI was injected intraperitoneally (10 mg/kg. 50mg/kg/ 100 mg/kg) for 4 days or 10 days and tested secretion of IgM or IgG by direct and indirect hemolytic plaque-forming cell assays, respectively. Numbers of hemolytic plaques for both IgM and IgG were increased significantly. Especially, secretion of IgGs was increased more than 10 times. After administration of XS-WCI for 7 days (50 mg/kg. 100 mg/kg) splenomegaly deu to graft vs host reaction was observed. Human lymhocytes separated from whole blood by Ficoll-Hypaque method were also proliferated after treatment of $10 \mu{g/ml}$ and $50 \mu{g/ml}$ of XS-WCI. As seen in murine lymphocytes, human lymphocyte proliferation was increased synergistically after treatment with both of XS-WCI and phytohemagglutinin (PHA). It appears that XS-WCI may have potential immunosimulating activities and that it remains to be purified further for isolation of active components.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.368-376
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of lycopene on the migration, adhesion, tube formation capacity, and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) activity of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) cultivated with high glucose (HG) and as well as explore the mechanism behind the protective effects of lycopene on peripheral blood EPCs. MATERIALS/METHODS: Mononuclear cells were isolated from human peripheral blood by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation. EPCs were identified after induction of cellular differentiation. Third generation EPCs were incubated with HG (33 mmol/L) or 10, 30, and $50{\mu}g/mL$ of lycopene plus HG. MTT assay and flow cytometry were performed to assess proliferation and apoptosis of EPCs. EPC migration was assessed by MTT assay with a modified boyden chamber. Adhesion assay was performed by replating EPCs on fibronectin-coated dishes, after which adherent cells were counted. In vitro vasculogenesis activity was assayed by Madrigal network formation assay. Western blotting was performed to analyze protein expression of both phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated p38 MAPK. RESULTS: The proliferation, migration, adhesion, and in vitro vasculogenesis capacity of EPCs treated with 10, 30, and $50{\mu}g/mL$ of lycopene plus HG were all significantly higher comapred to the HG group (P < 0.05). Rates of apoptosis were also significantly lower than that of the HG group. Moreover, lycopene blocked phosphorylation of p38 MAPK in EPCs (P < 0.05). To confirm the causal relationship between MAPK inhibition and the protective effects of lycopene against HG-induced cellular injury, we treated cells with SB203580, a phosphorylation inhibitor. The inhibitor significantly inhibited HG-induced EPC injury. CONCLUSIONS: Lycopene promotes proliferation, migration, adhesion, and in vitro vasculogenesis capacity as well as reduces apoptosis of EPCs. Further, the underlying molecular mechanism of the protective effects of lycopene against HG-induced EPC injury may involve the p38 MAPK signal transduction pathway. Specifically, lycopene was shown to inhibit HG-induced EPC injury by inhibiting p38 MAPKs.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 1994

This study was carried out to test the effects of fluorescein diacetate(FDA 0${mu}ell$/ml, 0.5${mu}ell$/ml, 5${mu}ell$/ml, 10${mu}ell$/ml or 0${mu}ell$/ml, 5${mu}ell$/ml in PBS) treated before culture on the survival of vitrified mouse morulae in vitrification solution(20% glycerol＋glycerol＋10% ethylene glycol＋30% ficoll＋10% sucrose). The results were summarized as follows; 1. The survival rate of FDA-tested fresh mouse morulae after 24 hours culture was over 96%((P4.8) in the control or treatment groups with various levels of FDA. Because the rate of mouse morulae which developed to hatched blastocysts was higher with the various levels of FDA treatment(67%) than control(50%), it was considered that toxicity of FDA did not affect the survival of mouse morulae. 2. When mouse morulae were FDA-tested in FDA 0(control), 0.5, 5, and 10${mu}ell$/ml treatment after vitrification, the development rate to expanded blastocyst were 66, 82, 64 and 76%, and FDA scores were P4.2(84%), P4.7(94%), P4.2(84%) and P3.9(78%), respectively. There were no significant differences between control and FDA treatments, but there were significant difference between 0.5${mu}ell$/ml)94%) and 10${mu}ell$/ml(78%) treatment(P<0.01). 3. The survival rates of cultured mouse morulae according to FDA-scores(P0=non-fluorescence; P1~P5=according to their fluorescence) after vitrification were P5;92%, P4;67%, P3;42% and P2.P0;0%, respectively. 4. Implantation rates of morulae stage embryos cultured into early blastocysts and implanted into uterine hornes vitrification were 14 and 11% embryos treated control(0${mu}ell$/ml) and FDA 5${mu}ell$/ml and the normal fetus development was 2% embryos for both treatments. Results of this percent study indicated that toxicity of FDA does not affect not only the survival of fresh and vitrified mouse morulae but also the development rate and implantation of fetus after transfer as well. The development rates of mouse morulae with the FDA score of P5, P4 and P3 were 92, 67 and 42%, respectively, it was considered that FDA-test was fit for the judge of survival.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.233-241
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• 1986

Patients of chronic hepatic diseases(n=107) including chronic hepatitis caused by hepatitis B virus infections(n=31), liver cirrhosis(n=53), and hepatocellular carcinoma(n=23) were examined to ascertain genetic relationship between chronic hepatic diseases and histocompatibility antigen. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were separated from whole blood by the method of Ficoll/Hypaque gradient. Total 54 histocompatibility antigens(class I antigens: 41, class II antigens: 13) were analysed by performing of complement dependent microlymphocytotoxicity method using Terasaki's and Catholic Medical College tissue typing plates. HLA antigen frequencies were compared with those of 661 normal controls. The following results were obtained: 1. HLA antigen frequencies of HLA-Bw46, -Bw76, -Cw1, -Cw6, and HLA-DR8 in chronic hepatitis patients were shown to be higher than those in controls(P<0.01). 2. HLA antigen frequencies of HLA-Bw46, -Cw7(P<0.01), and HLA-B37, -Bw58, -Cw1, -MT1(P < 0.05) in liver cirrhosis patients were shown relatively higher frequencies than those in controls. 3. In patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, antigens of HLA-A1, -A26, -Cw3, -Cw7 and HLA-DR6 were dominantly detected. 4. There were negative associations with HLA-Cw4, and -DR4 in patients of chronic hepatic diseases(P < 0.05).

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.225-230
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• 2000

This study was designed to investigate effect of cryoprotectant kinds and cell stages on the viability of bovine embryos cryopreserved by vitrification. The oocytes were collected from ovarian follicles of Korean native cows. The follicular oocytes were cultured in TCM-199 medium containing hormone and 10%(v/v) FCS for 24~48hrs in a incubator with 5% $CO_2$, in air at 38.5$^{\circ}C$ and then matured oocytes were again cultured for 7~10 hrs with spermatozoa capacitated by preincubation. The vitrification solutions of EFS and EDS were consisted of 40%(v/v) ethylene glycol, 18%(v/v) Ficoll and 0.3M sucrose, and 20%(v/v) ethylene glycol, 16.5%(v/v) DMSO and 0.5M sucrose in TCM-199 medium supplemented with 10% FCS, respectively. The embryos were exposed to EFS or EDS at $25^{\circ}C$ and loaded into OPP straw for 30 sec. The plug end of each straws was heat-sealed and straws was slowly immersed into liquid nitrogen(L$N_2$). The results obtained were summarized as follows : 1 . The rates of cleavage and hatching of embryos frozen with vitrification, rapid and slow freezing methods were 67.5%, 27.5% and 42.5%, 20.0% and 52.5%, 25.0%, respectively And rates of cleavage and hatching of embryos frozen with vitrification method were significantly(p<0.05) higher than those in other methods, and the rates were lower than those in control group(82.5% and 37.5%). 2. The rates of cleavage and hatching of embryos were significantly(p<0.05) different between EFS(47.5% and 22.5%) and EPS(52.5% and 27.5%), and the rates were lower than those in control group(82.5% and 37.5%). 3. After vitrification freezing of bovine embryos at zygote, 2 cell, 8 cell, morulae and blastocyst stage, the rate of cleavage and hatching were 25.0% and 15.0%, 32.5% and 20.0%, 37.5% and 20.0%, 52.5%, 27.5%, 47.5% and 25.0%, respectively. And developmental rates to the expended blastocyst stage of embryos frozen at zygote stage was significantly(p<0.05) lower rather than those in 2, 8-cell and morulae stage.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.52-56
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• 2017

Objectives: Neutrophils represent the front line of human defense against infections. Immediately after stimulation, neutrophilic enzymes are activated and produce toxic mediators such as pro-inflammatory cytokines, nitric oxide (NO) and myeloperoxidase (MPO). These mediators can be toxic not only to infectious agents but also to host tissues. Because flavonoids exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, they are subjects of interest for pharmacological modulation of inflammation. In the present study, the effects of rutin on stimulus-induced NO and tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ productions and MPO activity in human neutrophils were investigated. Methods: Human peripheral blood neutrophils were isolated using Ficoll-Hypaque density gradient centrifugation coupled with dextran T500 sedimentation. The cell preparations containing > 98% granulocytes were determined by morphological examination through Giemsa staining. Neutrophils were cultured in complete Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI) medium, pre-incubated with or without rutin ($25{\mu}M$) for 45 minutes, and stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Then, the $TNF-{\alpha}$, NO and MPO productions were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Griess Reagent, and MPO assay kits, respectively. Also, the viability of human neutrophils was assessed using tetrazolium salt 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT), and neutrophils were treated with various concentrations of rutin ($1-100{\mu}M$), after which MTT was appended and incubated at $37^{\circ}C$ for 4 hour. Results: Rutin at concentrations up to $100{\mu}M$ did not affect neutrophil viability during the 4-hour incubation period. Rutin significantly decreased the NO and $TNF-{\alpha}$ productions in human peripheral blood neutrophils compared to PMA-control cells (P < 0.001). Also, MPO activity was significantly reduced by rutin (P < 0.001). Conclusion: In this in vitro study, rutin had an anti-inflammatory effect due to its inhibiting NO and $TNF-{\alpha}$ productions, as well as MPO activity, in activated human neutrophils. Treatment with rutin may be considered as a therapeutic strategy for neutrophil-mediated inflammatory/autoimmune diseases.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.129-134
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• 1998

The objective of this study was to test whether the developmental capacity of human multi-pronuclear (PN) zygotes after ultra-rapid freezing using EM grid can be maintained. For this experiment, multi-PN zygotes which produced in human IVF program were used as an alternatives of normal 2PN zygotes, and they were separated into 3PN or $\geq4PN$ zygotes to compare their in vitro development and cryoinjury according to PN number. As freezing solution, EFS30 which consisted of 30% ethylene glycol, 18% bcoll, 0.5 M sucrose and 10% FBS added D-PBS was used. The result obtained in this experiment was summarized as follows; When the multi..PN zygotes were ultrarapidly frozen and thawed, the high mean percentages (85.5%) were survived. Also when the cleavage rates between control and freezing group were compared with PN number, there were not significantly different in each group (3PN; 81.3% & 85.4% and $\geq4PN$; 90.0% & 95.7%). When the in vitro development rates after thawing were examined, freezing 3PN group (22.0%) was not differed to control 3PN group (38.5%), although the development result of freezing $\geq4PN$ group (45%) was significantly lower than that of control $\geq4PN$ group (44.4%) (p<0.05). These results demonstrate that developmental capacity of human zygote can be obtained by ultra-rapid freezing method using EM grid and EFS30.