• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제23권5호
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• pp.637-643
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• 2013

We have demonstrated that 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ) isolated from Bacillus subtilis MORI could enhance the levels of adiponectin and its receptors in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes, which has been shown to be effective in lowering blood glucose levels and enhancing insulin sensitivity. DNJ was not toxic to differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes for up to a concentration of $5{\mu}M$. In terms of expression levels of adiponectin and its receptors (AdipoR1 and AdipoR2), DNJ in concentrations as low as $0.5{\mu}M$ elevated both mRNA and protein levels of adiponectin and transcript levels of AdipoR1 and AdipoR2. In addition, DNJ increased phosphorylation of 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in a statistically significant manner. Finally, treatment with DNJ resulted in increased mRNA expression of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), which encodes for a glucose transporter, along with a significant increase in glucose uptake into the adipocytes based on results of a 2-deoxy-D-[$^3H$] glucose uptake assay. Our findings indicate that DNJ may greatly facilitate glucose uptake into adipose tissues by increasing the action of adiponectin via its up-regulated expression as well as its receptor genes. In addition, the glucose-lowering effects of DNJ may be achieved by an increased abundance of GLUT4 protein in the plasma membrane, as a consequence of the increased transcript levels of the GLUT4 gene and the activation of AMPK.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.11-16
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• 2012

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are often characterized by the elevated expression of drug-resistance related stem-cell surface markers, such as CD133 and ABCG2. Recently, we reported that CSCs have a high level of expression of the IL-6 receptor (IL-6R). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of anticancer drugs on the expression of the drug resistance-related cancer stem cell markers, ABCG2, IL-6R, and CD133 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines. A549, H460, and H23 NSCLC cell lines were treated with the anticancer drugs 5-fluorouracil (5-FU; $25{\mu}g/ml$) and methotrexate (MTX; $50{\mu}g/ml$), and the expression of putative CSC markers was analyzed by fluorescent activated cell sorter (FACS) and the gene expression level of abcg2, il-6r and cd133 by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). We found that the fraction of ABCG2-positive(+) cells was significantly increased by treatment with both 5-FU and MTX in NSCLC cells, and the elevation of abcg2, il-6r and cd133 expressions in response to these drugs was also confirmed using RT-PCR. Also, the number of IL-6R(+) cells was increased by MTX in the 3 cell lines mentioned and increased by 5-FU in the H460 cell line. The number of CD133(+) cells was also significantly increased by both 5-FU and MTX treatment in all of the cell lines tested. These results indicate that 5-FU and MTX considerably enhance the expression of drug-resistance related CSC markers in NSCLC cell lines. Thus, we suggest that antimetabolite cancer drugs, such as 5-FU and MTX, can lead to the propagation of CSCs through altering the expression of CSC markers.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제22권6호
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• pp.607-616
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• 2018

The effect of melatonin on juveniles with cardio fibrosis is poorly understood. We investigated whether HDACs participate in the anti-fibrotic processes regulated by melatonin during hypertrophic remodeling. Abdominal aortic constriction (AAC) was employed in juvenile rats resulting in pressure overload-induced ventricular hypertrophy and melatonin was subsequently decreased via continuous light exposure for 5 weeks after surgery. AAC rats displayed an increased cross-sectional area of myocardial fibers and significantly elevated collagen deposition compared to sham-operated rats, as measured by HE and Masson Trichrome staining. Continuous light exposure following surgery exacerbated the increase in the cross-sectional area of myocardial fibers. The expression of HDAC1, HDAC2, HDAC3, HDAC4 and HDAC6 genes were all significantly enhanced in AAC rats with light exposure relative to the other rats. Moreover, the protein level of $TNF-{\alpha}$ was also upregulated in the AAC light exposure groups when compared with the sham. However, Smad4 protein expression was unchanged in the juveniles' hearts. In contrast, beginning 5 weeks after the operation, the AAC rats were treated with melatonin (10 mg/kg, intraperitoneal injection every evening) or vehicle 4 weeks, and sham rats were given vehicle. The changes in the histological measures of cardio fibrosis and the gene expressions of HDAC1, HDAC2, HDAC3, HDAC4 and HDAC6 were attenuated by melatonin administration. The results reveal that melatonin plays a role in the development of cardio fibrosis and the expression of HDAC1, HDAC2, HDAC3, HDAC4 and HDAC6 in cardiomyocytes.

• 한국응용곤충학회지
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• 제57권3호
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• pp.165-175
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• 2018

곤충은 넓은 범위의 온도영역에 사는 것으로 알려져 있으나, $40^{\circ}C$가 넘는 고온이나 빙결온도 이하의 저온에서는 생존이 어렵다. 본 연구는 사육온도 조건이 다른 환경에서 대사중심 조직인 지방체의 유전자 발현을 분석하기 위해, 온도조건을 달리하여 담배나방을 저온 사육충 ($3{\sim}10^{\circ}C$), 고온 사육충 ($35^{\circ}C$)로 나누고 상온 사육충 ($25^{\circ}C$)을 대조구로 사용하여 전사체 분석을 수행하였다. 저온에서 특이적으로 높은 발현을 보인 유전자는 표피단백질, ${\Delta}9$ 불포화효소, 글리세롤 3-인산 탈수소효소이며, 저온에서 발현이 낮아진 유전자는 키틴 합성효소, catalase, UDP-당전이 효소이다. 고온에서 특이적으로 높은 발현을 보인 유전자는 과산화물제거효소, metallothionein 2, phosphenolpyruvate carboxykinase, 트레할로스 운반단백질이었다. 고온에서 높고 저온에서 낮은 대조적 발현을 보인 유전자는 열충격단백질, glutathione peroxidase이었다. 이들 온도 특이적이거나 대조적 발현을 보이는 유전자는 기후변화에 관련한 특이마커로 활용이 가능할 것으로 사료된다.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제14권3호
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• pp.147-155
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• 2008

In previous works, we found that solvent extract of Opuntia humifusa Raf., a member of the lactaceae family, displayed potent anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. Thus, all solvent fractions, except for the water layer, showed potent scavenging effects. According to activity-guided fractionation, one of active radical scavenging principles in the ethyl acetate fraction was found to be taxifolin. In this study, we investigated whether taxifolin showed anti-oxidative activity. In addition, taxifolin modulated nitric oxide (NO) release and the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine mRNA such as interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$), IL-6, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and TNF-${\alpha}$. Taxifolin showed potent anti-oxidant activity with the $IC_{50}\;of\;8.5{\pm}1.4\;and\;9.3{\pm}1.0{\mu}M$ using xanthine/xanthine oxidase (XO) assay and 2,2-Diphenyl-lpicrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) assay, respectively. We next determined the role of taxifolin on the immunomodulating activity using murine macrophage cell line RAW264.7 cells. Taxifolin dose-dependently inhibited NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW264.7. It also significantly blocked the expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) mRNA in the LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. In addition, taxifolin potently suppressed the expression of IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6 and GM-CSF mRNA in LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells, but not that of TNF-${\alpha}$ Moreover, taxifolin significantly inhibited the transcriptional activity of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) and activator protein -1 (AP-1). These results suggest that taxifolin may downregulate inflammatory iNOS, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6 and GM-CSF gene expressions through inhibition of NF-K and AP-1 activation in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.374-382
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• 2017

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) remains unexplained and untreated despite the high attention of research in recent years. Aside from its various characteristics is the baffling male preponderance over the female population. Using a validated animal model of ASD which is the telomerase reverse transcriptase overexpressing mice (TERT-tg), we conducted ASD-related behavioral assessments and protein expression experiments to mark the difference between male and females of this animal model. After statistically analyzing the results, we found significant effects of TERT overexpression in sociability, social novelty preference, anxiety, nest building, and electroseizure threshold in the males but not their female littermates. Along these differences are the male-specific increased expressions of postsynaptic proteins which are the NMDA and AMPA receptors in the prefrontal cortex. The vGluT1 presynaptic proteins, but not GAD, were upregulated in both sexes of TERT-tg mice, although it is more significantly pronounced in the male group. Here, we confirmed that the behavioral effect of TERT overexpression in mice was male-specific, suggesting that the aberration of this gene and its downstream pathways preferentially affect the functional development of the male brain, consistent with the male preponderance in ASD.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제19권9호
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• pp.1200-1208
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• 2009

Tight junctions (TJs)은 인접된 세포 사이의 전해질 및 거대분자 확산 조절에 관여하는 paracellular permeability의 장벽 역할을 한다. 본 연구에서는 MCF-7 및 MDA-MB-231 인체유방암세포에서 대두의 대표적인 생리활성물인 genistein에 의한 암세포의 침윤 억제에서 TJs의 견고성 및 투과성과의 연관성을 조사하였다. 본 연구의 결과에 의하면 genistein에 의한 유방암세포의 증식 억제, 암세포 이동성의 저하 및 침윤성의 억제는 TJs의 증가된 견고성과 연관이 있었으며, 이를 transepithelial electrical resistance의 증가 및 paracellular permeability의 감소로 확인하였다. Genistein은 두 유방암세포에서 TJs의 주요 조절 단백질로서 paracellular transport 조절에 중요한 역할을 하는 claudin-3 및 claudin-4의 발현을 억제시켰다. 그리고 genistein은 암세포의 전이 조절 관련 유전자들인 like growth factor-1 receptor 및 snail의 발현을 억제하였으며, thrombospondin-1 및 E-cadherin의 발현은 증가시켰다. 또한 small interfering RNA를 이용하여 genistein의 유방암세포의 침윤 억제에서 claudin-3단백질의 중요성을 확인하였다. 결론적으로 genistein이 TJs의 견고성 증가를 통하여 암세포의 침윤성을 억제할 수 있었으며, 이 과정에서 아마도 claudin 단백질의 발현 증가가 중요한 역할을 하고 있음을 알 수 있었다. 본 연구의 결과는 genistein이 종양 전이억제를 효과적으로 차단할 수 있음을 보여주는 것이다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.149-156
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• 1999

포유류의 자궁조직은 발정주기를 통하여 역동적으로 변화하고 있으며 이러한 자궁조직의 분화는 시상하부-뇌하수체-생식소를 잇는 축에 의해 조절되는 스테로이드 호르몬에 의해 이루어진다. 그러나 에스트로겐 (E)이 어떤 유전자를 발현하여 자궁 내의 변화를 일으키는지는 아직 자세히 알려지지 않고 있다. 본 연구는 난소를 절제한 성숙한 흰쥐에 E을 처리한 후 자궁조직 내에서 c-fos, c-jun 및 hsp25 mRNA의 발현 변화를 Northern blot analysis방법을 사용하여 연구한 것이다. c-fos및 c-jun 암원유전자의 mRNA발현은 E처리 후 1시간 이전부터 증가하기 시작하며, 3시간 이내에 최고치에 도달한 후 급격히 감소하여 기저수준으로 되돌아갔다. 반면에 hsp25 mRNA수준은 E처리 후 3시간 대에서 최고치를 나타내나 증가된 발현량이 서서히 감소하며 12시간이 지난 후 까지도 정상대조군에 비해 높은 수준으로 유지되었다. 이러한 E의 영향이 선별적인지를 검증하기 위하여 E의 길항제인 tamoxifen을 사전처리하고 E을 추가로 처리하여 c-fos, c-jun및 hsp25 mRNA의 발현이 최고치에 이르렀던 3시간대에 자궁조직을 얻어 각각의 유전자 발현량을 조사한 결과 E에 의해 증가되었던 c-fos, c-jun 및 hsp25 mRNA의 수준이 억제됨을 확인하였다. 이러한 결과는 E이 자궁조직에 영향을 미치는데 초기의 일시적인 변화를 보이는 암원유전자인 c-fos 및 c-jun이 중요한 역할을 하리라는 것을 시사하며 hsp25의 경우는 좀더 늦은 반응에 관여하거나 c-fos및 c-jun에 의하여 간접적으로 조절을 받을 수도 있음을 보여 주는 것으로 사료된다.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.43-50
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• 2018

Korean Red Ginseng (RG) are used as a traditional treatment for improve blood circulation. This experimental study was designed to investigate the inhibitory effects of Korean red ginseng on lipid metabolism in high fat/cholesterol diet (HFCD)-induced hypertriglyceridemia. Sprague Dawley rats were fed the HFCD diet with/without fluvastatin (Flu, positive control) 3 mg/kg/day, and RG 125 or 250 mg/kg/day, respectively. All groups received regular diet or HFCD diet, respectively, for 13 weeks. The last three groups treatment of Flu and RG 125, and RG 250 orally for a period of 9 weeks. Group 1, reular diet; group 2, HFCD diet; group 3, Flu + HFCD diet; group 4, RG 125 + HFCD diet; group 5, RG 250 + HFCD diet. As a result, treatment with low or high doses of RG markedly attenuated plasma levels of triglycerides and augmented plasma levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in HFCD-fed rats. RG and Flu also led to an increase in lipoprotein lipase activity in the HFCD group. On the other hand, RG and Flu led to an decrease in fatty acid synthase and free fatty acid activity in the HFCD group. Treatment with RG suppressed increased expressions of $PPAR-{\alpha}$ and AMPK in HFCD rat liver or muscle. In addition, the RG attenuated triglyceridemia by inhibition of $PPAR-{\gamma}$ and FABP protein expression levels and LXR and SREBP-1 gene expression in liver or muscle. The RG significantly prevented the development of the metabolic disturbances such as hypertriglyceridemia and hyperlipidemia. Taken together, the administration of RG improves hypertriglyceridemia through the alteration in suppression of triglyceride synthesis and accentuated of triglyceride decomposition. These results suggested that RG is useful in the prevention or treatment of hypertriglyceridemia.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제33권12호
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• pp.2021-2030
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• 2020

Objective: Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) has been extensively used in the field of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) research to elucidate their characteristics and clinical potential by normalization of target genes against reference genes (RGs), which are believed to be stably expressed irrespective of various experimental conditions. However, the expression of RGs is also variable depending on the experimental conditions, which may lead to false or contradictory conclusions upon normalization. Due to the current lack of information for a clear list of stable RGs in bovine MSCs, we conducted this study to identify suitable RGs in bovine MSCs. Methods: The cycle threshold values of ten traditionally used RGs (18S ribosomal RNA [18S], beta-2-microglobulin [B2M], H2A histone family, member Z [H2A], peptidylprolyl isomerase A [PPIA], ribosomal protein 4 [RPL4], succinate dehydrogenase complex, subunit A [SDHA], beta actin [ACTB], glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase [GAPDH], TATA box binding protein [TBP], and hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltrasnfrase1 [HPRT1]) in bovine bone marrow-derived MSCs (bBMMSCs) were validated for their stabilities using three types of RG evaluation algorithms (geNorm, Normfinder, and Bestkeeper). The effect of validated RGs was then verified by normalization of lineage-specific genes (fatty acid binding protein 4 [FABP4] and osteonectin [ON]) expressions during differentiations of bBMMSCs or POU class 5 homeobox 1 (OCT4) expression between bBMMSCs and dermal skins. Results: Based on the results obtained for the three most stable RGs from geNorm (TBP, RPL4, and H2A), Normfinder (TBP, RPL4, and SDHA), and Bestkeeper (TBP, RPL4, and SDHA), it was comprehensively determined that TBP and RPL4 were the most stable RGs in bBMMSCs. However, traditional RGs were suggested to be the least stable (18S) or moderately stable (GAPDH and ACTB) in bBMMSCs. Normalization of FABP4 or ON against TBP, RPL4, and 18S presented significant differences during differentiation of bBMMSCs. However, although significantly low expression of OCT4 was detected in dermal skins compared to that in bBMMSCs when TBP and RPL4 were used in normalization, normalization against 18S exhibited no significance. Conclusion: This study proposes that TBP and RPL4 were suitable as stable RGs for qPCR study in bovine MSCs.