• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제33권6호
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• pp.1983-1988
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• 2012

Stem cell transplantation is emerging as a possible new treatment for liver cirrhosis, and recent animal studies have documented the benefits of stem cell therapy in a hepatic fibrosis model. However, the underlying mechanism of stem cell therapy is still unclear. Among the proposed mechanisms, the cell replacement mechanism is the oldest and most important, in which permanently damaged tissue can be replaced by normal tissue to restore function. In the present study, Cy5.5-labeled superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) was used to label human mesenchymal stem cells. The uptake of fluorescently labeled nanoparticles enabled the detection and monitoring of the transplanted stem cells; therefore, we confirmed the direct incorporation and differentiation of SPIO into the hepatocyte-like transplanted stem cells by detecting human tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT), well-known enzymatic marker for hepatocyte-specific differentiation.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제39권6호
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• pp.593-599
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• 2012

Background This study aimed to investigate the possibility of isolating mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from human thigh adipose tissue and the ability of human thigh adipose stem cells (HTASCs) to differentiate into hepatocytes. Methods The adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) were isolated from thigh adipose tissue. Growth factors, cytokines, and hormones were added to the collagen coated dishes to induce the undifferentiated HTASCs to differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells. To confirm the experimental results, the expression of hepatocyte-specific markers on undifferentiated and differentiated HTASCs was analyzed using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunocytochemical staining. Differentiation efficiency was evaluated using functional tests such as periodic acid schiff (PAS) staining and detection of the albumin secretion level using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results The majority of the undifferentiated HTASCs were changed into a more polygonal shape showing tight interactions between the cells. The differentiated HTASCs up-regulated mRNA of hepatocyte markers. Immunocytochemical analysis showed that they were intensely stained with anti-albumin antibody compared with undifferentiated HTASCs. PAS staining showed that HTASCs submitted to the hepatocyte differentiation protocol were able to more specifically store glycogen than undifferentiated HTASCs, displaying a purple color in the cytoplasm of the differentiated HTASCs. ELISA analyses showed that differentiated HTASCs could secrete albumin, which is one of the hepatocyte markers. Conclusions MSCs were islolated from human thigh adipose tissue differentiate to heapatocytes. The source of ADSCs is not only abundant abdominal adipose tissue, but also thigh adipose tissue for cell therapy in liver regeneration and tissue regeneration.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.99-105
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• 2000

Cell-Cell interaction and the extracellular matrix (ECM) are belisved to play essential roles during in vitro culturing of primary hepatocytes in the control of differentiation and in the maintenance of tissue spcific functions. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of degree of cell-cell contact (DCC) on liver sperific function of rat promary hepatocytes. Hepatocyte aggregates with various with various degrees of cell-cell contantact, I. e., dispersed cell, longish aggregate, rugged aggregate, and smooth spheroid were obtained at 1, 5-6, 15-20, and 36-48 hrs, respectively in suspension cultures grown in spinner flasks embedded in Caalginate bead and collagen gel in order. The may result from mass transfer limitation and shear damage caused by agitation during aggregation. The rugged aggregate showed a higer viability and albumin secretion rate than the dispersed cells or the other aggregates. This result indicates the possible enhancement of a bioartificial liver's (BAL) performance using primary hepatocytes and the reduction in time to prepare a BAL through optimization of the immobilization time.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.247-265
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• 2008

목 적: 사람의 제대유래 줄기세포 (HUC)와 양막유래 줄기세포 (HAM)를 간유사세포로 분화 시키고자 하였다. 연구방법: 산모의 동의아래 만삭 정상 산모로부터 양막 및 제대를 얻고 줄기세포를 분리, 배양하였다. 분리된 세포의 줄기세포로서의 특성을 규명하기 위하여 RT-PCR, 세포면역화학 분석 그리고 중배엽성세포로의 분화능 실험을 하였다. 또한 이들 줄기세포를 분화 배양액에서 간유사세포로 분화 유도 후, 간세포 특이 유전자 발현, 알부민 ELISA, 알부민에 대한 면역블로팅 및 세포면역화학염색 그리고 PAS 염색을 시행하였다. 결 과: 사람의 양막 및 제대로부터 세포를 분리하여 줄기세포로서의 특성을 조사하고, 이들 세포의 지방세포, 연골세포, 골아세포로의 분화능력을 확인하였다. 동일한 분화 배양액에서 HUC과 HAM을 간유사세포로 분화시킨 결과 HUC이 모든 조건에서 HAM보다 알부민과 요소를 더 많이 합성 분비하였다. 간유사세포로의 분화능력이 더 좋은 것으로 나타난 HUC을 가지고 최적의 분화를 유도한 결과 $1.2{\pm}0.8\;{\mu}g/mL$의 알부민을 합성 분비하였고, $8.9{\pm}1.2\;mg/dL$의 요소를 합성 분비하였다. 결 론: HUC과 HAM 모두 알부민을 분비하는 간유사세포로 분화할 수 있었으며, HUC이 더 잘 유도되는 것으로 관찰되었다. 이러한 결과로써 HUC과 HAM을 간질환 환자의 간세포 이식 치료에 필요한 세포치료제로써 이용할 수 있을 것으로 생각된다.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제30권5호
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• pp.391-398
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• 2022

Polyploidization is a process by which cells are induced to possess more than two sets of chromosomes. Although polyploidization is not frequent in mammals, it is closely associated with development and differentiation of specific tissues and organs. The liver is one of the mammalian organs that displays ploidy dynamics in physiological homeostasis during its development. The ratio of polyploid hepatocytes increases significantly in response to hepatic injury from aging, viral infection, iron overload, surgical resection, or metabolic overload, such as that from non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLDs). One of the unique features of NAFLD is the marked heterogeneity of hepatocyte nuclear size, which is strongly associated with an adverse liver-related outcome, such as hepatocellular carcinoma, liver transplantation, and liver-related death. Thus, hepatic polyploidization has been suggested as a potential driver in the progression of NAFLDs that are involved in the control of the multiple pathogenicity of the diseases. However, the importance of polyploidy in diverse pathophysiological contexts remains elusive. Recently, several studies reported successful improvement of symptoms of NAFLDs by reducing pathological polyploidy or by controlling cell cycle progression in animal models, suggesting that better understanding the mechanisms of pathological hepatic polyploidy may provide insights into the treatment of hepatic disorders.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제43권3호
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• pp.264-275
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• 2020

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a significant role in intracellular signaling and regulation, particularly when they are maintained at physiologic levels. However, excess ROS can cause cell damage and induce cell death. We recently reported that eIF2α phosphorylation protects hepatocytes from oxidative stress and liver fibrosis induced by fructose metabolism. Here, we found that hepatocyte-specific eIF2α phosphorylation-deficient mice have significantly reduced expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and altered EGFR-mediated signaling pathways. EGFR-mediated signaling pathways are important for cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival in many tissues and cell types. Therefore, we studied whether the reduced amount of EGFR is responsible for the eIF2α phosphorylation-deficient hepatocytes' vulnerability to oxidative stress. ROS such as hydrogen peroxide and superoxides induce both EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation and eIF2α phosphorylation. eIF2α phosphorylation-deficient primary hepatocytes, or EGFR knockdown cells, have decreased ROS scavenging ability compared to normal cells. Therefore, these cells are particularly susceptible to oxidative stress. However, overexpression of EGFR in these eIF2α phosphorylation-deficient primary hepatocytes increased ROS scavenging ability and alleviated ROS-mediated cell death. Therefore, we hypothesize that the reduced EGFR level in eIF2α phosphorylation-deficient hepatocytes is one of critical factors responsible for their susceptibility to oxidative stress.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• 제1권2호
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• pp.92-99
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• 2001

Purpose: E-cadherin is an adhesion molecule essential for tight connection between cells, forming the cadherin/catenin complex. Truncated $\beta$-catenin disrupts the interaction between E-cadherin and $\alpha$-catenin, leading to the loss of intercellular adhesion. Met protein, the hepatocyte growth factor receptor, plays important roles in signal transduction. We investigated the relationships between the expressions of E-cadherin, $\beta$-catenin, and c-met protein and the clinicopathological and prognostic parameters in gastric adenocarcinomas. Materials and Methods: The patterns of E-cadherin, $\beta$-catenin, and c-met protein expression were studied using immunohistochemistry in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded archival tissues from 76 surgically resected gastric adenocarcinomas. Results: Increased expressions of E-cadherin, $\beta$-catenin, and c-met were more significantly correlated in early gastric cancers (EGC) than in advanced gastric cancers (AGC) (P=0.002, P=0.003 and P=0.026). The positive immunoreactivities of all three markers were markedly lower in signet ring-cell type and poorly differentiated type lesions than in intestinal-type lesions. Decreased expression of the $\beta$-catenin protein correlated well with increased tumor invasion depth (P=0.039), and increased lymph node metastasis correlated well with reduced expression of c-met (P=0.046). Conclusion: In gastric cancers, reduced expressions of the E-cadherin, $\beta$-catenin, and c-met proteins may play some role in poorer tumor differentiation, deeper tumor invasion, and increased lymph node metastasis. Also, the c-met gene is thought to play a specific role in the mechanism of the yet unknown catenin action.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.181-189
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• 2001

목적 : 피부나 폐, 간, 신장 등의 섬유화가 방사선 조사 후 주요한 부작용 중의 하나이나 아직까지 이 과정에서 $TGF-\beta$가 주요한 역할을 하는 것 이외에는 밝혀진 것이 거의 없는 상태이다. 또 matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 및 tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP) 유전자 활성 및 발현이 조직의 재구성과 손상, 암세포의 침윤과 전이에 관여하고 있고, 방사선이 종양의 치료에 널리 이용되고 있음에도 방사선에 의한 MMP와 TIMP 유전자의 발현에 대한 연구는 거의 없는 상태이다. 이에 저자들은 방사선 조사가 TIMP-1, TIMP-2의 발현에 어떤 영향을 끼치는지 알아보고자 본 연구를 시작하였다. 대상 및 방법 : C57BL/6 생쥐를 Varian CL4/100을 사용하여 각각 0, 2, 10 Gy의 조사량으로 전신조사를 하였다. 방사선 조사 후 24, 48 시간에 생쥐를 희생하여 폐, 간, 신장을 얻어 paraffin 포매 조직 절편을 만들어 Avidin-Biotin Complex 방법으로 면역 염색을 한 후 광학 현미경으로 관찰하여 염색의 강도와 면적에 따라 점수화 하였다. 결과 : TIMP-1은 대조군에 비해 방사선 조사 후 폐조직에서는 변화가 없는 것으로 나타났다. 간조직에서는 간세포와 Kupffer 세포에서 발현이 증가하였고, 신장조직에서는 주로 세뇨관 세포에서 발현이 증가하였고 방사선 조사 후 경과 시간에 따른 변화는 거의 없었다. 방사선량에 따른 발현의 정도는 신장을 제외하고는 변화가 거의 없었다. TIMP-2는 폐조직에서는 2 Gy 조사 후 발현이 증가되었고, 간조직에서도 2 Gy 24 시간에는 활성이 증가했으나 10 Gy에서는 대조군 수준이었다. 신장조직에서는 10 Gy에서는 발현의 정도의 변화는 없었고 2 Gy에서는 발현이 감소하였다. 결론 : 각 장기에서 TIMP-1과 TIMP-2의 발현의 정도는 차이가 있었으며, 각 장기의 특정한 세포에서만 발현이 되었다. TIMP-1의 경우 간과 신장에서는 방사선에 의해 발현이 증가되었으나 폐에서는 발현이 증가되지 않았다. TIMP-2의 경우 폐에서는 방사선에 의해 발현이 증가하였으나 간과 폐에서는 방사선에 의한 발현의 변화는 불규칙적이었다. 방사선 조사 후 경과 시간과 방사선량에 따른 발현의 변화도 일정하지 않았다.