• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.482-489
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• 2021

Background: Asthma is an incurable hyper-responsive disease of the pulmonary system that is caused by various allergens, including indoor and outdoor stimulators. According to the Global Asthma Network, 339 million people suffered from asthma in 2018, with particularly severe forms in children. Numerous treatments for asthma are available; however, they are frequently associated with adverse effects such as growth retardation, neurological disorders (e.g., catatonia, poor concentration, and insomnia), and physiological disorders (e.g., immunosuppression, hypertension, hyperglycemia, and osteoporosis). Methods: Korean Red Ginseng has long been used to treat numerous diseases in many countries, and we investigated the anti-asthmatic effects and mechanisms of action of Korean Red Ginseng. Eighty-four BALB/c mice were assigned to 6 treatment groups: control, ovalbumin-induced asthma group, dexamethasone treatment group, and 3 groups treated with Korean Red Ginseng water extract (KRGWE) at 5, 25, or 50 mg/kg/day for 5 days. Anti-asthmatic effects of KRGWE were assessed based on biological changes, such as white blood cell counts and differential counts in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, serum IgE levels, and histopathological changes in the lungs, and by examining anti-asthmatic mechanisms, such as the cytokines associated with Th1, Th2, and Treg cells and inflammation pathways. Results: KRGWE affected ovalbumin-induced changes, such as increased white blood cell counts, increased IgE levels, and morphological changes (mucous hypersecretion, epithelial cell hyperplasia, inflammatory cell infiltration) by downregulating cytokines such as IL-12, IL-4, and IL-6 via GATA-3 inactivation and suppression of inflammation via NF-κB/COX-2 and PGE₂ pathways. Conclusion: KRGWE is a promising drug for asthma treatment.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.735-743
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• 2009

The common word flavonoids is often used to classify a family of natural compounds, highly abundant in all higher plants, that have received significant therapeutic interest in recent years. Naringin is associated with a reduced risk of heart disease, neurodegenerative disease, cancer and other chronic diseases; however the molecular basis of this effect remains to be elucidated. Thus we attempted to elucidate the anti-allergic effect of Naringin in ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma model mice. The OVA-induced mice showed allergic reactions in the airways. These included an increase in the number of eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, an increase in inflammatory cell infiltration into the lung around blood vessels and airways, airway luminal narrowing, and the development of airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR). The administration of Naringin before the last airway OVA challenge resulted in a significant inhibition of all asthmatic reactions. Accordingly, this study may provide evidence that Naringin plays a critical role in the amelioration of the pathogenetic process of asthma in mice. These findings provide new insight into the immunopharmacological role of Naringin in terms of its effects on asthma in mice.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.85-96
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• 2007

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are promising candidates for cell-based therapies. One major obstacle for their clinical use is the unsafety of fetal bovine serum (FBS), which is a crucial part of all media currently used for the culture of MSC. We investigated the effect of human cord serum (HCS) on the growth response, mRNA and protein expressions of human amnion-derived stem cells (HAM). HAM were isolated from the amnion after a Caesarean section and cultured in DMEM supplemented with 10% FBS, 5% HCS or 10% HCS. During culture, their biological characteristics at earlier and later passages were analyzed using RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry. Regardless of serum sources, HAM showed the prominent expression of Oct-4, Rex-1, SCF, FGF-5, BMP-4, nestin, GATA-4, NCAM and HLA ABC genes. The expression profile was observed even at later passages. Similarly, HAM cultured in either FBS or HCS exhibited the distinct protein expression of collagen I, II, III and XII, fibronectin, $\alpha$-smooth muscle actin, vimentin, CK18, CD54, FSP, TRA-1-60, SSEA-3, -4 and HLA ABC. However, desmin expression was only observed in HAM cultured in medium supplemented with FBS and vWF expression was only found in HAM cultured in medium supplemented with HCS. Overall pattern of gene and protein expression of HAM was typical of known adult stem cells such as bone marrow-derived MSC. In conclusion, HCS could be as effective as FBS for the culture of HAM.

• BMB Reports
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.79-84
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• 2012

In asthma, T helper 2 (TH2)-type cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13 are produced by activated $CD^{4+}$ T cells. Dendritic cells played an important role in determining the fate of naive T cells into either $T_H1$ or $T_H2$ cells. We determined whether RG-II regulates the $T_H1/T_H2$ immune response by using an ovalbumin-induced murine model of asthma. RG-II reduced IL-4 production but increased interferon-gamma production, and inhibited GATA-3 gene expression. RG-II also inhibited asthmatic reactions including an increase in the number of eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, an increase in inflammatory cell infiltration in lung tissues, airway luminal narrowing, and airway hyperresponsiveness. This study provides evidence that RG-II plays a critical role in ameliorating the pathogenic process of asthmatic inflammation in mice. These findings provide new insights into the immunotherapeutic role of RG-II in terms of its effects in a murine model of asthma.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 2006

This study was conducted to examine whether the parthenogenetic mouse embryonic stem (P-mES) cells can differentiate into functional cardiomyocytes in vitro similar to (mES) cells. p-mES04 and IVF-derived mES03 cells were cultured by suspension culture for 4 days. The formed embryoid bodies (EBs) were treated with 0.75% dimethyl-sulfoxide (DMSO) for further 4 days (4-/4+), and then plated onto gelatin coated culture dish. The appearance of contracting cardiomyocytes from the P-mES04 and mES03 cells was examined for 30 days. The highest cumulative frequency was detected at days 13 (69.83%) and 22 (61.3%), respectively. By immunocytochemistry, beating P-mES04 cells were positively stained with muscle specific anti-sarcomeric a-actinin Ab and cardiac specific anti-cardiac troponin I Ab similar to contracted mES03 cells. When the expression of cardiac muscle-specific genes was analyzed by RT-PCR, beating P-mES04 cells were expressed cardiac specific L-type calcium channel, a1C, cardiac myosin heavy chain a, cardiac muscle heavy polypeptide $7{\beta}$, GATA binding protein 4 and atrial natriuretic factor, but not expressed skeletal muscle specific L-type calcium channel, a1S, which was similar to male adult heart cells and mES03-derived beating cardiomyocytes. The result demonstrates that the P-mES cells can be used as an alternative for the study on the characteristic analysis of in vitro cardiomyocyte differentiation from the ES cells.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.361-369
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• 1994

To study the light-induced expression mechanism and protein transport into the chloroplast, a rice genomic clone (GrbcS) for the small subunit of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (rbcS) was isolated and its nucleotide sequence was determined. Nucleotide sequence analysis of GrbcS revealed that the gene consists of two exons interrupted by an intron, encoding a protein of 175 amino acids including a transit peptide of 47 amino acids. These structural features of GrbcS are consistent with those of other rbcS genes from monocot species. Genomic Southern blot analysis suggested that the rbcS genes are present as a relatively small multigene family in the rice genome. Comparison of the nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences to other rice rbcSs shows close sequence similaritiy. Conserved DNA sequences present in other light-responsive genes are also found in the 5’ upstream region of GrbcS such as G-box, 3AF1-binding site and GATA site. The possible function of these putative regulatory elements are discussed.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.35-46
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• 2023

Objectives : Gumiganghwal-tang and its main components have been used for treatment of cough, headache, joint pain and fever. Using a respiratory inflammatory model, we intend to demonstrate the its anti-inflammatory effect and immune mechanism of Gumiganghwal-tang. Methods : We induced the respiratory inflammation mouse model by papain treatment. Female BALB/C mice (8 weeks old) were divided into three groups as follows: saline control group, papain treatment group (vehicle), papain and Gumiganghwal-tang (200 mg/kg) treatment group (n=4). To verify the anti-inflammatory effect of Gumiganghwal-tang extracts, we measured the infiltration of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and nasal lavage fluid (NALF). Additionally, the efficacy of Gumiganghwal-tang extracts on Th2 cell population and alveolar macrophage in lung were analyzed by using flow cytometry. Results : Gumiganghwal-tang extracts administration decreased inflammatory cell infiltration in BALF and NALF, especially of eosinophils. Furthermore, interleukin-5 level was reduced in lung by drug administration. Interestingly, Gumiganghwal-tang extracts treatment also decreased the Th2 cell (CD4⁺GATA3⁺) population and increased the alveolar macrophage (CD11b⁺CD11c⁺) population in lung. Conclusions : Our findings indicate that Gumiganghwal-tang extracts have anti-inflammatory effects by mediating Th2 cell and alveolar macrophage cell activation.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.55-66
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• 2002

Embryonic stem cells(ES cells) are derived from the inner cell mass(ICM) of blastocysts, which have the potentials to remain undifferentiated, to proliferate indefinitely in vitro, to differentiate into the derivates of three embryonic germ layers. ES cells are an attractive model system for studying the initial developmental decisions and their molecular mechanisms during embryogenesis. Additionally, ES cells of significant interest to those characterizing the various gene functions utilizing transgenic and gene targeting techniques. We investigated the effects of reproductive hormones, gonadotropins(GTH) and steroids on the induction of differentiation and expressions of their receptor genes using the newly established mouse ES cells. We collected the matured blastocysts of inbred mice C57BL/6J after superovulation and co-cultured with mitotically inactivated STO feeder cells. After 5 passages, we confirmed the expression alkaline phosphatase(Alk P) activity and SSEA-1, 3, 4 expressions. The protocol devised for inducing ES differentiation consisted of an aggregation steps, after 5 days as EBs in hormone treatments(FSH, LH, E$_2$, P$_4$, T) that allows complex signaling to occur between the cells and a dissociation step, induced differentiation through attachment culture during 7 days in hormone treatments. Hormone receptors were not increased in dose-dependent manner. All hormone receptors in ES cells treated reproductive hormones were expressed lower than those of undifferentiated ES cell except for LHR expression in E$_2$-treated ES cells group. After hormone induced differentiation, at least some of the cells are not terminally differentiated, as is evident from the expression of Oct-4, a marker of undifferentiated. To assess their differentiation by gene expression, we analyzed the expression of 7 tissue-specific markers from all three germ layers. Most of hormone-treated group increased in the expression of gata-4 and $\alpha$ -fetoprotein, suggesting reproductive hormone allowed or induced differentiation of endoderm.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.2237-2240
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• 2017

In the present study, we investigated the effect of tyndallized HY7712 (tHY7712) on the expression of Th cell specific transcription factors and cytokines in whole-body ${\gamma}$-irradiated mice. Oral administration of tHY7712 strongly recovered the ${\gamma}$-irradiation-suppressed expression of helper T (Th) cell- and regulatory T cell-related transcription factors and cytokines, such as T-bet, Foxp3, IFN-${\gamma}$, TNF-${\alpha}$, and IL-10, and suppressed Th2 cell-associated transcription factor and cytokine GATA3 and IL-5, respectively. Furthermore, compared with the control, tHY7712 treatment also restored ${\gamma}$-irradiation-impaired natural killer and cytotoxic T cell activities against YAC-1 tumor cells to 97.8% and 98.6%, respectively.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.233-241
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• 2010

Human adipose stem cells are an abundant, readily available population of multipotent progenitor cells that reside in adipose tissue and these cells have characteristics very similar to bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BMMSCs). However, liposuction procedure, donor age, body mass index, and harvesting sites might generate differences in the initial cell population and the preparations are a heterogeneous mixture of precursors with different subsets. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the characteristics of human thigh adipose stem cells and the differentiation potential into mesodermal and endodermal lineage. Thigh adipose stem cells maintained fibroblast-like morphology similar to BM-MSCs and they underwent average 56.5 doublings and produced $5{\times}10^{22}$ cells. These cells expressed SCF, Oct4, nanog, vimentin, CK18, FGF5, NCAM, Pax6, BMP4, HNF4a, nestin, GATA4, HLA-ABC, and HLA-DR genes at p3 and they also expressed Oct4, Thy-1, FSP, vWF, vimentin, desmin, CK18, CD54, CD4, CD106, CD31, a-SMA, HLA-ABC proteins. Moreover, they could differentiate into mesodermal lineage cells such as adipocyte, osteoblast and chondrocyte. In addition, they also differentiated into insulin secreting cells in our culture condition. In conclusion, human thigh adipose stem cells retain proliferative potential and expression patterns similar to BM-MSCs and they also differentiate into various cell types. Thus, human thigh adipose stem cells might be useful alternative cell source for clinical application.