• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.346-355
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• 2020

Purpose: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) has a key role in hepatic fibrogenesis by virtue of its effect on the hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Although many studies have shown that PPAR-γ agonists inhibit liver fibrosis, the mechanism remains largely unclear, especially regarding the cross-talk between PPAR-γ and other potent fibrogenic factors. Methods: This experimental study involved 25 male Wistar rats. Twenty rats were subjected to bile duct ligation (BDL) to induce liver fibrosis, further divided into an untreated group (BDL; n=10) and a group treated with the PPAR-γ agonist thiazolidinedione (TZD), at 14 days post-operation (BDL+TZD; n=10). The remaining 5 rats had a sham operation (sham; n=5). The effect of PPAR-γ agonist on liver fibrosis was evaluated by histopathology, protein immunohistochemistry, and mRNA expression quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: Histology and immunostaining showed markedly reduced collagen deposition, bile duct proliferation, and HSCs in the BDL+TZD group compared to those in the BDL group (p<0.001). Similarly, significantly lower mRNA expression of collagen α-1(I), matrix metalloproteinase-2, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-B chain, and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) were evident in the BDL+TZD group compared to those in the BDL group (p=0.0002, p<0.035, p<0.0001, and p=0.0123 respectively). Moreover, expression of the transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-β1) was also downregulated in the BDL+TZD group (p=0.0087). Conclusion: The PPAR-γ agonist inhibits HSC activation in vivo and attenuates liver fibrosis through several fibrogenic pathways. Potent fibrogenic factors such as PDGF, CTGF, and TGF-β1 were downregulated by the PPAR-γ agonist. Targeting PPAR-γ activity may be a potential strategy to control liver fibrosis.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제36권2호
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• pp.163-172
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• 2004

Mast cells (MCs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of tissue fibrosis. However, the role of MC in the development of liver fibrosis has not been fully elucidated. Stem cell factor (SCF) is known to recruit MCs to the liver following injury as it induces mast cell proliferation, survival and differentiation from resident tissue precursors. This study examines the interaction between activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and MCs in rat fibrotic liver, and SCF production by HSCs during culture in vitro. Rats were studied 4, 7, 14 and 21 days after bile duct ligation (BDL). Fibrogenesis was assessed by a measurement of collagen stained with sirius red F3B. Activated HSCs and MCs were identified by ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin (${\alpha}-SMA$) immunohistochemical and alcian blue staining and measured by a computerized image analysis system. SCF production was determined in rat HSC cultures using Western blotting. Mild fibrotic changes were noted in BDL rat livers as early as 4 days after induction of cholestasis. Significant expansion and organization of fibrous tissue has occurred in day 14 BDL rats which progressed to bridging fibrosis by day 21. In BDL rats, both a large number of activated HSCs and MCs were detected in portal tracts and fibrous septa. Both area of activated HSCs infiltration and density of MCs were significantly higher in all BDL group compared with Shams. In BDL rats, both areas of activated HSCs infiltration and density of MCs were no significant difference between day 4 and 7 and were significantly higher in day 14. However, the areas of activated HSCs infiltration were significantly lesser in day 21 and the densities of MCs were significantly higher in day 21 compared with day14 BDL. In BDL rats, both areas of activated HSCs infiltration and density of MCs were highly correlated with areas of fibrosis. Western blotting showed that SCF protein was consistently produced in activated HSCs by culture on plastic and freshly isolated HSCs expressed relatively little 30kD SCF compared to late primary culture activated HSCs (day 14) and passaged HSCs. These results suggest that HSCs activated in vitro produce SCF, and may play an important role in recruiting mast cells to the liver during injury and fibrosis.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제31권9호
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• pp.856-861
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• 2021

CD82/KAI1은 분자촉진제로서 암 전이억제자로 역할이 잘 알려져 있으나, 최근 줄기 전구 세포와 혈관 신생, 근육에서 다양한 역할들이 밝혀지고 있다. 이에 본 연구진은 최근에 보고된 CD82의 다양한 기능과 역할에 관하여 총설 하고자 한다. CD82는 4개의 막 통과 도메인을 가진 테트라스파닌의 한 종류로 암의 전이 과정에 관여하는 세포접착분자들과의 상호작용을 통하여 암세포의 이동 능력을 저해한다. 암 전이 억제자로의 기능 외에도 줄기세포 니쉬에서도 그 역할이 밝혀졌다. 골수에서 분화재생능력이 뛰어난 최상위 조혈모세포(LT-HSC)에서 CD82가 발현되며, DARC와의 상호결합으로 줄기세포의 휴면을 유도한다. 줄기세포의 휴면 조절 외에도, CD82는 Rac1 활성 조절을 통해 조혈모세포의 골수로의 귀환 및 생착에도 역할을 한다. 또한, CD82는 근육 줄기 세포의 분화능을 유지시키며, 혈관 내피세포에서 세포 접착 분자와 IL-6, VEGF와 같은 사이토카인의 발현을 저해하여 혈관 신생을 억제한다. CD82는 다양한 조직 및 줄기-전구 세포에서 계급을 구별할 수 있는 핵심 세포막 표면 단백질이며, 세포 자원의 증폭 및 검증에 있어 중요하다. 다양한 기관과 세포에서 CD82의 역할과 추가적인 연구들이 줄기세포치료의 임상적 적용에 있어 큰 도움이 되기를 기대한다.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.469-489
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• 2008

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Chungganhaeju-tang(Qingganjiejiu-tang) on alcoholic liver damaged by applying proteomics. Materials and Methods : Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this experiment the rats were divided into the normal group, the control group(alcohol) and the sample group(CGHJT +alcohol). The ethanol was orally administered twice a day for 6 weeks in the control and sample groups. Water instead of ethanol was orally administered twice a day for 6 weeks in the normal group. CGHJT extract was orally administered once a day for 6 weeks in the sample group. The livers of each group were processed and assessed by histology, Western Blot, $Oxyblot^{TM}$, CBB and 2-dimensional electrophoresis. Results : In the histological findings of the liver, CGHJT inhibited hepatic fibrogenesis induced by alcohol. TIMP-1 decreased in the sample group assessed by western blot and statistical significance was noted by dot blotting(p<0.05). In the $Oxyblot^{TM}$, protein oxidation induced by alcohol treatment decreased with CGHJT. In the 2-dimensional electrophoresis finding, increased proteins alcohol such as HSP 60, 60kDa heat shock protein, 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase were normalized by CGHJT. CGHJT was considered to normalize the anti-oxidation activity elevated by alcohol. In the 2-dimensional electrophoresis finding, increased oxidized proteins such as actin, prolyl 4-hydroxylase beta polypeptide, 94kDa glucose regulated protein(GRP94), heat shock protein 90-alpha(HSC86), calreticulin precursor(CRP55), ATP synthase beta chain mitochondrial precursor, caspase-8 precursor, and dihydrolipoamide succinyltransferase(E2) decreased with CGHJT. CGHJT was considered to reduce the oxidative stress of alcohol. Conclusion : Chungganhaeju-tang(Qingganjiejiu-tang) exerts an inhibitory effect against the fibrosis and protein oxidation induced by alcohol treatment of rat liver. CGHJT was considered to normalize the elevated anti-oxidation activity by alcohol and to reduce the level of oxidative stress due to alcohol.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제11권6호
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• pp.470-478
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Orostachys japonicus A. Berger (Crassulaceae) has been used in traditional herbal medicines in Korea and other Asian countries to treat various diseases, including liver disorders. In the present study, the anti-fibrotic effects of O. japonicus extract (OJE) in cellular and experimental hepatofibrotic rat models were investigated. MATERIALS/METHODS: An in vitro hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) system was used to estimate cell viability, cell cycle and apoptosis by MTT assay, flow cytometry, and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining techniques, respectively. In addition, thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver fibrosis was established in Sprague Dawley rats. Briefly, animals were divided into five groups (n = 8): Control, TAA, OJE 10 (TAA with OJE 10 mg/kg), OJE 100 (TAA with OJE 100 mg/kg) and silymarin (TAA with Silymarin 50 mg/kg). Fibrosis was induced by treatment with TAA (200 mg/kg, i.p.) twice per week for 13 weeks, while OJE and silymarin were administered orally two times per week from week 7 to 13. The fibrotic related gene expression serum biomarkers glutathione and hydroxyproline were estimated by RT-PCR and spectrophotometry, respectively, using commercial kits. RESULTS: OJE (0.5 and 0.1 mg/ mL) and silymarin (0.05 mg/mL) treatment significantly (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001) induced apoptosis (16.95% and 27.48% for OJE and 25.87% for silymarin, respectively) in HSC-T6 cells when compared with the control group (9.09%). Further, rat primary HSCs showed changes in morphology in response to OJE 0.1 mg/mL treatment. In in vivo studies, OJE (10 and 100 mg/kg) treatment significantly ameliorated TAA-induced alterations in levels of serum biomarkers, fibrotic related gene expression, glutathione, and hydroxyproline (P < 0.05-P < 0.001) and rescued the histopathological changes. CONCLUSIONS: OJE can be developed as a potential agent for the treatment of hepatofibrosis.

• 천문학회보
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• 제43권2호
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• pp.36.2-36.2
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• 2018

Cosmic reionization era in the early universe was playing a leading part on making the present universe we know. However, we have not been able to reveal the main contributor to the cosmic reionization to date. Faint quasars have been mentioned as the alternative due to the uncertainty of the faint end slope of the quasars luminosity function. With the availability of the deep (~25mag) images from Subaru Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) Strategic Program survey, we have tried to find more quasar with low luminosity in the ELAIS-N1 field. Faint quasar candidates were selected from several multi-band color cut criteria based on the track of the simulated quasar at z ~ 5. The Infrared Medium-deep Survey (IMS) and The UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS) - Deep Extragalactic Survey (DXS) provide J band information which is used to cover the relatively long wavelength range of quasar spectra. To search the reliable candidates with possible Lyman break, medium-band observation was performed by the SED camera for QUasars in EArly uNiverse(SQUEAN) in the McDonald observatory and Seoul National University 4k Camera(SNUCAM) in the Maidanak observatory. Photometric redshifts of the observed candidates were estimated from chi-square minimization. Also, we predicted the importance of the faint quasar to the cosmic reionization from the expected number density of the faint quasar.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제3권4호
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• pp.287-294
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• 2003

Background: In kidney transplantation, donor specific transfusion may induce tolerance as a result of some immune regulatory cells against the graft. In organ transplantation, the immune state arises from a relationship between the immunocompromised graft and the immunocompetent host. However, a reverse immunological situation exists between the graft and the host in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). In addition, early IL-2 injections after an allogeneic murine HSCT have been shown to prevent lethal graft versus host disease (GVHD) due to CD4+ cells. We investigated the induction of the regulatory CD4+CD25+ cells after a transfusion of irradiated recipient cells with IL-2 into a donor. Methods: The splenocytes (SP) were obtained from 6 week-old BALB/c mice ($H-2^d$) and irradiated as a single cell suspension. The donor mice (C3H/He, $H-2^k$) received $5{\times}10^6$ irradiated SP, and 5,000 IU IL-2 injected intraperitoneally on the day prior to HSCT. The CD4+CD25+ cell populations in SP treated C3H/He were analyzed. In order to determine the in vivo effect of CD4+CD25+ cells, the lethally irradiated BALB/c were transplanted with $1{\times}10^7$ donor BM and $5{\times}10^6$ CD4+CD25+ cells. The other recipient mice received either $1{\times}10^7$ donor BM with $5{\times}10^6$ CD4+ CD25- cells or the untreated SP. The survival and GVHD was assessed daily by a clinical scoring system. Results: In the MLR assay, BALB/c SP was used as a stimulator with C3H/He SP, as a responder, with or without treatment. The inhibition of proliferation was $30.0{\pm}13%$ compared to the control. In addition, the MLR with either the CD4+CD25+ or CD4+CD25- cells, which were isolated by MidiMacs, from the C3H/He SP treated with the recipient SP and IL-2 was evaluated. The donor SP treated with the recipient cells and IL-2 contained more CD4+CD25+ cells ($5.4{\pm}1.5%$) than the untreated mice SP ($1.4{\pm}0.3%$)(P<0.01). There was a profound inhibition in the CD4+CD25+ cells ($61.1{\pm}6.1%$), but a marked proliferation in the CD4+CD25- cells ($129.8{\pm}65.2%$). Mice in the CD4+CD25+ group showed low GVHD scores and a slow progression from the post-HSCT day 4 to day 9, but those in the control and CD4+CD25- groups had a high score and rapid progression (P<0.001). The probability of survival was 83.3% in the CD4+CD25+ group until post-HSC day 35 and all mice in the control and CD4+CD25- groups died on post-HSCT day 8 or 9 (P=0.0105). Conclusion: Donor graft engineering with irradiated recipient SP and IL-2 (recipient specific transfusion) can induce abundant regulatory CD4+CD25+ cells to prevent GVHD.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제23권5호
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• pp.710-720
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• 2013

방사선 치료는 가장 일반적으로 사용되고 있는 항암치료로, 암 환자의 수 증가와 동반하여 방사선 활용도는 더욱 증가하고 있다. 방사선치료에 대한 환자들의 심리적 거부감과 산화적 스트레스, 저산소증, DNA 손상을 포함하여, 치료 후 나타나는 간 섬유화는 방사선 치료의 가장 큰 문제점으로 대두되고 있다. 간암의 경우 대부분의 환자들이 섬유화를 동반하고 있어서, 방사선에 의해 암세포가 제거된다 하더라도, 기존에 남아있는 손상 부위에서의 섬유화와 방사선 조사에 의한 정상조직의 섬유화는 간경변 유발 확률을 높이고 있다. 간 섬유화는 여러 간질환에서 흔히 관찰되는 증상으로, 간 섬유화 진행 기작의 규명은 만성질환으로의 진행을 억제할 수 있는 치료책 개발로 연계될 수 있지만, 아직까지 명확히 규명되지 않음에 따라, 섬유화를 억제할 수 있는 효과적인 방법이 없는 실정이다. 최근 간 섬유화 생성 및 진행에 대한 헤지호그의 역할이 밝혀지면서, 간암 및 만성질환으로의 진행을 이해하기 위한 연구대상으로 대두되고 있다. 헤지호그는 손상된 간에서 발현되어 보수과정에 기여하게 된다. 헤지호그의 발현은 간 손상 정도에 비례하여 발현되어, 간 줄기세포 및 간 성상세포의 증식을 조절한다. 또한, TGF-${\beta}1$와, EMT를 유도하고 근섬유화세포의 활성을 조절하여, 간 섬유화 진행에 중심적 역할을 한다. 방사선이 조사된 생쥐의 간에서도 헤지호그의 발현증가가 관찰되었고, 이에 따른 간 줄기세포의 증식 및 EMT 유도, 콜라겐의 축적이 관찰되었다. 또한, 방사선이 조사된 암컷 생쥐의 간에서 헤지호그의 차별적 증가는 줄기세포 및 섬유화 증대로 연결되었고, 이는 방사선 민감성에 대한 성별차이를 설명할 수 있는 생물학적 근거가 될 수 있다. 그러나, 방사선에 의해 유도된 간 섬유화에 대한 연구결과들이 헤지호그를 비롯하여, 표면적인 결과보고만 있을 뿐, 섬유화 진행에 대한 구체적 기작을 밝히지 못하고 있다. 여러 간 질환진행에서 규명된 헤지호그 작용에 대한 지식을 방사선에 의해 유도된 간 섬유화를 이해하기 위한 기초자료로 활용하고, 사람에서의 방사선 부작용과 유사한 동물모델의 정립 및 헤지호그 역할을 직접적으로 규명할 수 있는 추가적 연구을 통해서, 간 섬유화 형성 기작을 이해할 수 있는 연구결과가 기대된다.

• 천문학논총
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.225-230
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• 2017

The extragalactic background suggests half the energy generated by stars was reprocessed into the infrared (IR) by dust. At z~1.3, 90% of star formation is obscured by dust. To fully understand the cosmic star formation history, it is critical to investigate infrared emission. AKARI has made deep mid-IR observation using its continuous 9-band filters in the NEP field ($5.4deg^2$), using ~10% of the entire pointed observations available throughout its lifetime. However, there remain 11,000 AKARI infrared sources undetected with the previous CFHT/Megacam imaging (r ~25.9ABmag). Redshift and IR luminosity of these sources are unknown. These sources may contribute significantly to the cosmic star-formation rate density (CSFRD). For example, if they all lie at 1< z <2, the CSFRD will be twice as high at the epoch. We are carrying out deep imaging of the NEP field in 5 broad bands (g, r, i, z, and y) using Hyper Suprime-Camera (HSC), which has 1.5 deg field of view in diameter on Subaru 8m telescope. This will provide photometric redshift information, and thereby IR luminosity for the previously-undetected 11,000 faint AKARI IR sources. Combined with AKARI's mid-IR AGN/SF diagnosis, and accurate midIR luminosity measurement, this will allow a complete census of cosmic star-formation/AGN accretion history obscured by dust.