• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.20
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• pp.43-54
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• 2007

The Muryangsa temple five-storied stone pagoda (Treasure No. 185) was geographically located in the area of the Baekje Kingdom. The architectural style of the Muryangsa temple five-storied stone pagoda is the pagoda at the early Goryeo Dynasty that was succeeded technique of the Baekje Kingdom and form of the Shilla Kingdom. Because this pagoda is located outside during old time that it received serious petrological and biological weathering in rock blocks and occurred the center subsidence in the upper capstone. This study executed ground stability interpretation in order to know what central subsidence in the upper capstone occurred for soft ground. The ground stability interpretation used seismic survey, electrical resistivity survey and GPR survey by non-destructive method. As the result, the ground appeared in the condition which is good. Specially, high resistance zone appeared from electric resistivity survey which come to seem with ground reinforcement harden. Consequently, central subsidence condition in the upper capstone is not by the instability of ground, and is judged with the thing by the structure instability in rock blocks over the upper capstone. This will be applied basic data with the long-term monitoring or preservation countermeasure of the pagoda.

• BMB Reports
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• v.43 no.7
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• pp.491-498
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• 2010

Chemerin is a novel adipokine which is abundant in adipose tissue to promote adipocyte differentiation and with significant relativity to BMI and insulin sensitivity. We report here the molecular characterization of porcine chemerin and its receptors ChemR23 and GPR1, as well as their transcriptional regulation during lipogenesis. Chemerin was mainly expressed in liver, intestine, kidney and adipose tissue, consistent with the expression pattern of GPR1, but not ChemR23, which was predominantly present in spleen and temperately in adipose tissue. We further investigated the lipogenesis-related transcriptional activation of $PPAR{\gamma}$ and KLF15 on chemerin and its receptors. The data showed that KLF15, but not $PPAR{\gamma}$, can up-regulate the mRNA level of chemerin, ChemR23 and GPR1, which was consistent with the results of luciferase assay that confirmed the effect of KLF15 on ChemR23 promoter. Taken together, our data provide basic molecular information for the further investigation on the function of chemerin in lipogenesis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.482-499
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• 2017

Allergic diseases have increased over the past several decade worldwide including developing countries. Allergic inflammatory responses are caused by Th (T helper)2 immune responses, triggered by allergen ingestion by antigen presenting cells such as dendritic cells (DCs). Intestinal microorganisms control the metabolism and physiological functions of the host, contribute to early immune system maturation during the early life, and homeostasis and epithelial integrity during life. Bifidobacteria have strain-specific immunostimulatory properties in the Th1/Th2 balance, inhibit TSLP (thymic stromal lymphopoietin) and IgE expression, and promote Flg (Filaggrin) and FoxP3 (Treg) expression to alleviate allergies. In addition, unmethylated CpG motif ODN (oligodeoxynucleotides) is recognized by TLR (toll-like receptors)9 of B cells and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) to induce innate and adaptive immune responses, while the butyrate produced by Clostridium butyricum activates the GPR (G-protein coupled receptors)109a signaling pathway to induce the expression of anti-inflammatory gene of pDCs, and directly stimulates the proliferation of thymically derived regulatory T (tTreg) cells through the activation of GPR43 or inhibits the activity of HADC (histone deacetylase) to differentiate naive $CD4^+$ T cells into pTreg cells through the histone H3 acetylation of Foxp3 gene intronic enhancer.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.267-271
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• 2020

Gut microbiota produce dietary metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids, which exhibit anti-inflammatory effects. Free fatty acid receptor 2 (FFA2, formerly known as GPR43) is a specific receptor for short-chain fatty acids, such as acetate that regulates inflammatory responses. However, the therapeutic potential of FFA2 agonists for treatment of atopic dermatitis has not been investigated. We investigated the efficacy of the FFA2 agonist, 4-chloro-α-(1-methylethyl)-N-2-thiazoylylbenzeneacetanilide (4-CMTB), for treatment of atopic dermatitis induced by 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB). Long-term application of DNCB to the ears of mice resulted in significantly increased IgE in the serum, and induced atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions, characterized by mast cell accumulation and skin tissue hypertrophy. Treatment with 4-CMTB (10 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly suppressed DNCB-induced changes in IgE levels, ear skin hypertrophy, and mast cell accumulation. Treatment with 4-CMTB reduced DNCB-induced increases in Th2 cytokine (IL-4 and IL-13) levels in the ears, but did not alter Th1 or Th17 cytokine (IFN-γ and IL-17) levels. Furthermore, 4-CMTB blocked DNCB-induced lymph node enlargement. In conclusion, activation of FFA2 ameliorated DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis, which suggested that FFA2 is a therapeutic target for atopic dermatitis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.427-433
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• 2021

Free fatty acid receptor 2 (FFA2, also known as GPR43), a G-protein-coupled receptor, has been known to recognize short-chain fatty acids and regulate inflammatory responses. FFA2 gene deficiency exacerbated disease states in several models of inflammatory conditions including asthma. However, in vivo efficacy of FFA2 agonists has not been tested in allergic asthma. Thus, we investigated effect of 4-chloro-α-(1-methylethyl)-N-2-thiazoylylbenzeneacetanilide (4-CMTB), a FFA2 agonist, on antigen-induced degranulation in RBL-2H3 cells and ovalbumin-induced allergic asthma in BALB/c mice. Treatment of 4-CMTB inhibited the antigen-induced degranulation concentration-dependently. Administration of 4-CMTB decreased the immune cell numbers in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and suppressed the expression of inflammatory Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13) in the lung tissues. Histological studies revealed that 4-CMTB suppressed mucin production and inflammation in the lungs. Thus, results proved that FFA2 functions to suppress allergic asthma, suggesting 4-CMTB activation of FFA2 as a therapeutic tool for allergic asthma.

• Experimental and Molecular Medicine
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• v.50 no.12
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• pp.2.1-2.12
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• 2018

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) has a broad spectrum of biological activity by regulating metabolic processes via both the direct activation of the class B family of G protein-coupled receptors and indirect nonreceptor-mediated pathways. GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists have significant therapeutic effects on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and steatohepatitis (NASH) in animal models. However, clinical studies indicated that GLP-1 treatment had little effect on hepatic steatosis in some NAFLD patients, suggesting that GLP-1 resistance may occur in these patients. It is well-known that the gut metabolite sodium butyrate (NaB) could promote GLP-1 secretion from intestinal L cells. However, it is unclear whether NaB improves hepatic GLP-1 responsiveness in NAFLD. In the current study, we showed that the serum GLP-1 levels of NAFLD patients were similar to those of normal controls, but hepatic GLP-1R expression was significantly downregulated in NAFLD patients. Similarly, in the NAFLD mouse model, mice fed with a high-fat diet showed reduced hepatic GLP-1R expression, which was reversed by NaB treatment and accompanied by markedly alleviated liver steatosis. In addition, NaB treatment also upregulated the hepatic p-AMPK/p-ACC and insulin receptor/insulin receptor substrate-1 expression levels. Furthermore, NaB-enhanced GLP-1R expression in HepG2 cells by inhibiting histone deacetylase-2 independent of GPR43/GPR109a. These results indicate that NaB is able to prevent the progression of NAFL to NASH via promoting hepatic GLP-1R expression. NaB is a GLP-1 sensitizer and represents a potential therapeutic adjuvant to prevent NAFL progression to NASH.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.404-412
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• 2016

We hypothesized that supplementing finishing diets with palm oil would promote adipogenic gene expression and stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) gene expression in subcutaneous (s.c.) and intramuscular (i.m.) adipose tissues of feedlot steers. Eighteen Angus and Angus crossbred steers were assigned to three groups of 6 steers and fed a basal diet (control), with 3% palm oil, or with 3% soybean oil, for 70 d, top-dressed daily. Tailhead s.c. adipose tissue was obtained by biopsy at 14 d before the initiation of dietary treatments and at 35 d of dietary treatments. At slaughter, after 70 d of dietary treatment, tailhead s.c. adipose tissue and i.m. adipose tissue were obtained from the longissimus thoracis muscle. Palm oil increased plasma palmitic acid and soybean oil increased plasma linoleic acid and ${\alpha}$-linolenic acid relative to the initial sampling time. Expression of AMP-activated protein kinase alpha ($AMPK{\alpha}$) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ($PPAR{\gamma}$) increased between the initial and intermediate biopsies and declined thereafter (p<0.03). SCD gene expression did not change between the initial and intermediate biopsies but declined by over 75% by the final period (p = 0.04), and G-coupled protein receptor 43 (GPR43) gene expression was unaffected by diet or time on trial. Soybean oil decreased (p = 0.01) $PPAR{\gamma}$ gene expression at the intermediate sample time. At the terminal sample time, $PPAR{\gamma}$ and SCD gene expression was less in i.m. adipose tissue than in s.c. adipose tissue (p<0.05). $AMPK{\alpha}$ gene expression was less in s.c. adipose tissue of palm oil-fed steers than in control steers (p = 0.04) and CCAAT enhancer binding protein-beta ($CEBP{\beta}$) gene expression was less in s.c. and i.m. adipose tissues of palm oil-fed steers than in soybean oil-fed steers (p<0.03). Soybean oil decreased SCD gene expression in s.c. adipose tissue (p = 0.05); SCD gene expression in palm oil-fed steers was intermediate between control and soybean oil-fed steers. Contrary to our original hypothesis, palm oil did not promote adipogenic gene expression in s.c. and i.m. adipose tissue.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.411-419
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• 2015

We previously demonstrated that bovine subcutaneous preadipocytes promote adipogenic gene expression in muscle satellite cells in a co-culture system. Herein we hypothesize that saturated fatty acids would promote adipogenic/lipogenic gene expression, whereas mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids would have the opposite effect. Bovine semimembranosus satellite cells (BSC) and intramuscular preadipocytes (IPA) were isolated from crossbred steers and cultured with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS)/Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) and 1% antibiotics during the 3-d proliferation period. After proliferation, cells were treated for 3 d with 3% horse serum/DMEM (BSC) or 5% FBS/DMEM (IPA) with antibiotics. Media also contained $10{\mu}g/mL$ insulin and $10{\mu}g/mL$ pioglitazone. Subsequently, differentiating BSC and IPA were cultured in their respective media with $40{\mu}M$ palmitic, stearic, oleic, or linoleic acid for 4 d. Finally, BSC and IPA were single- or co-cultured for an additional 2 h. All fatty acid treatments increased (p = 0.001) carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 beta ($CPT1{\beta}$) gene expression, but the increase in $CPT1{\beta}$ gene expression was especially pronounced in IPA incubated with palmitic and stearic acid (6- to 17-fold increases). Oleic and linoleic acid decreased (p = 0.001) stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) gene expression over 80% in both BSC and IPA. Conversely, palmitic and stearic acid increased SCD gene expression three fold in co-cultured in IPA, and stearic acid increased $AMPK{\alpha}$ gene expression in single- and co-cultured BSC and IPA. Consistent with our hypothesis, saturated fatty acids, especially stearic acid, promoted adipogenic and lipogenic gene expression, whereas unsaturated fatty acids decreased expression of those genes associated with fatty acid metabolism.