• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.166-174
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• 2002

Background: Human umbilical cord bloods, which could be taken during the delivery are utilized as a source of hematopoietic stem cells. Also in cord blood, there are several kinds of stem cells such as endothelial and mesenchymal stem cells. Methods: We isolated the mesenchymal stem cells from human umbilical cord bloods and confirmed the differentiation of these cells into osteoblast progenitor cells. The mesenchymal stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood have the ability to differentiate into specific tissue cells, which is one of characteristics of stem cells. These cells were originated from the multipolar shaped cells out of adherent cells of the umbilical cord blood mononuclear cell culture. Results: The mesenchymal stem cells expressed cell surface antigen CD13, CD90, CD102, CD105, ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin and cytoplasmic antigen vimentine. Having cultrued these cells in bone formation media, we observed the formation of extracellular matrix and the expression of alkaline phosphatase and of mRNA of cbfa-1, ostoecalcin and type I collagen. Conclusion: From these results we concluded that the cells isolated from the umbilical cord blood were mesenchymal stem cells, which we could differentiate into osteoblast when cultured in bone formation media. In short, it is suggested that these cells could be used as a new source of stem cells, which has the probability to alternate the embryonic stem cells.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.289-295
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• 2002

This study was conducted to quantify of micronucleus frequencies in human umbilical cord blood by supravital staining method with acridine orange, and to find some factors that affected on micronucleus frequncies in humans. In this study, we used umbilical cord blood of new born infants that have sufficient reticulocytes compared with adult peripheral blood. The cord bloods were taken after childbirth from 60 normal infants in industrial and coastal region in Korea. The total of 3 ${mu}ell$ cord blood was applied to slide coated with acridine orange, and micronuclei were observed under fluorescent microscopy. Demographic factors and independent variables were collected from mothers by questionnaire. The frequencies of micronuclei in umbilical cord blood of new born infants were 0-5 per 2,000 reticulocytes by supravital staining method, and mean value and standard deviation were 1.75$\pm$0.97. There were no significant difference by the regions, smoking habits of father or mother. However, age of mother showed significant positive correlation with frequencies of micronuclei (p<0.05). Smoking at home by fathers also was found as a significant variable by muliple regression analysis. Therefore, further studies would be needed for genotoxicological evaluation of new born infants by microneuli test using supravital staining method.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.187-195
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• 2007

The cord blood serves as a vehicle for the transportation of oxygen and nutrients to the fetus. In the past, the human cord blood has generally been discarded after birth. However, numerous studies have described the regenerative ability of the cord blood cells in various incurable diseases. The umbilical cord blood (UCB)-derived stem cells are obtained through non-invasive methods that are not harmful to both the mother and the fetus. Furthermore, the cord blood stem cells are more immature than the adult stem cells and expand readily in vitro. The mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the capacity to differentiate in vitro into various mesodermal (bone, cartilage, tendon, muscle, and adipose), endodermal (hepatocyte), and ectodermal (neurons) tissues. This review describes the immunological properties of the human UCB-MSCs to assess their potential usefulness in the allogeneic transplantation for the regenerative medicine.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.426-432
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• 2001

Vitamin B(sub)12(cobalamin) is an essential nutrient in human and it is particularly important during pregnancy. Nevertheless very few studies have reported, concerning vitamin B(sub)12 in relation with reproduction. This study was conducted to evaluate the vitamin B(sub)12 nutrition status of Korean pregnant women and to investigate the relationship between serum vitamin B(sub)12 levels of maternal-umbilical cord blood and pregnancy outcomes. Dietary vitamin B(sub)12 intakes of the pregnants were estimated by semiquantitative frequency questionnaire. Serum vitamin B(sub)12 levels in both maternal blood and umbilical cord blood of 30 pregnant women at delivery were measured by radioimmunoassay. Mean vitamin B(sub)12 intake was 3.3$\pm$1.4$\mu\textrm{g}$/d which was 125.8% of the Korean RDA(2.6$\mu\textrm{g}$) for vitamin B(sub)12 level of umbilical cord blood was 607.8$\pm$282.9pg/ml, more than two fold of maternal vitamin B(sub)12 level 268.6$\pm$97.8pg/ml. This finding indicates that fetal uptake of vitamin B(sub)12 in the fetus may be due to an active transport mchanism across the placenta. Umbilical cord blood vitamin B(sub)12 levels were highly correlated with maternal levels($r^2$=0.548, p<0.001), showing that fetal vitamin B(sub)12 level is affected by maternal status. However there was no significant correlation between the serum vitamin B(sub)12 levels in maternal-umbilical cord blood and the pregnancy outcomes except for the birth weight. Maternal-umbilical serum vitamin B(sub)12 levels were the highest in the group of birth weight 3.0-3.5kg, and the lowest in the group of birthweight below 3.0kg. (Korean J Nutrition 34(4) : 426~432, 2001)

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.55 no.7
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• pp.219-223
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• 2012

Since the first umbilical cord blood transplantation (CBT) in 1998, cord blood (CB) has now become one of the most commonly used sources of hematopoietic stem cells for transplantation. CBT has advantages of easy procurement, no risk to donor, low risk of transmitting infections, immediate availability and immune tolerance allowing successful transplantation despite human leukocyte antigen disparity. Several studies have shown that the number of cells transplanted is the most important factor for engraftment in CBT, and it limits the wide use of CB in adult patients. New strategies for facilitating engraftment and reducing transplantation-related mortality are ongoing in the field of CBT and include the use of a reduced-intensity conditioning regimen, double-unit CBT, ex vivo expansion of CB, and co-transplantation of CB and mesenchymal stem cells. Recently, the results of two international studies with large sample sizes showed that CB is an acceptable alternative source of hematopoietic stem cells for adult recipients who lack human leukocyte antigen-matched adult donors. Along with the intensive researches, development in banking process of CB will amplify the use of CB and offer the chance for cure in more patients.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.36-43
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• 2006

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are promising candidates for cell therapy and tissue engineering, but their application has been impeded by lack of knowledge of their core biological properties. In order to identify MSC-specific proteins, the hydrophobic protein fraction was individually prepared from two different umbilical cord blood (UCB)-derived MSC populations; these were then subjected to two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis and peptide mass fingerprinting matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)-time of flight (TOF)-mass spectrometry (MS). Although the 2D gel patterns differed somewhat between the two samples, computer-assisted image analysis identified shared protein spots. 35 spots were reliably identified corresponding to 32 different proteins, many of which were chaperones. Based on their primary sub-cellular locations the proteins could be grouped into 6 categories: extracellular, cell surface, endoplasmic reticular, mitochondrial, cytoplasmic and cytoskeletal proteins. This map of the water-insoluble proteome may provide valuable insights into the biology of the cell surface and other compartments of human MSCs.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2002

It was proposed that the substance of Kyungrak is a new anatomic-histological system in the living body and entirely different either from the nervous system or blood and lyphatic vessels. This system is covering the whole body, regulating and coordinating the biological processes that lie at the bottom of the vital activity. One of the substance of Kyungrak is acublast. The aim of this study was to isolate and culture the acublast from human placenta or blood of umbilical cord. It was found that particular cell organism isolate from placenta and cultured with RPMI 1640 contaning 10% FBS and hormones was grown for four weeks. Although this organism was different from blood cells morphologically, biochemical study of the organism is required to identify as the acublast.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.71-71
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• 2003

Human umbilical cord blood cells(HUCBC) are rich in mesenchymal progenitor cells, endothelial cell precursors and hematopoietic cells. HUCBC have been used as a source of transplantable stem and progenitor cells. However, little is known about survival and development of HUCBC transplantation in the CNS. Estrogen has a neuroprotective potential against oxidative stress-induced cell death so has an effect on reducing infarct size of ischemic brain. We investigated the potential use of HUCBC as donor cells and tested whether estrogen mediates intravenously infused HUCBC enter and survive in ischemic brain. PKH26 labeled mononuclear fraction of HUCBC were injected into the tail vein of ischemic OVX rat brain with or without $17\beta$-estradiol valerate(EV). Under fluorescence microscopy, labeled cells were observed in the brain section. Significantly more cells were found in the ischemic brain than in the non-ischemic brain. HUCBC transplanted into ischemic brain could migrate and survive. Some of cells have shown neuronal like cells in hippocampus, striatum and cortex tissues. These result suggest that estrogen reduces ischemic damage and increases the migration of human umbilical cord blood cells. This Study was supported by the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation(KOSEF) though the Biohealth Products Research Center(BPRC), Inje University, Korea.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.963-969
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• 2001

Objectives : Cord blood stem cells have been widely used as donor cells for bone marrow transplantation recently. These cells can give rise to a variety of hematopoietic lineages to repopulate the blood. Recent observations reveal that some bone marrow cells and bone marrow stromal cells(MSCs) can grow to become either neurons or glial cells. It is, however, unclear whether or not there exists stems cells which can differentiate into neurons in the blood during the early stages of postnatal life. Methods : Human cord blood stem cells were prepared from human placenta after full term delivery. To induce neuronal differentiation of stem cells, ${\beta}$-mercaptoethanol was treated. To confirm the neuro-glial characteristics of differentiated stem cells, immunocytochemical stain for NeuN, neurofilament, glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP), microtubule associated protein2(MAP2) was performed. RT-PCR was performed for detecting nestin mRNA and MAP2 mRNA. Results : We showed in this experiment that neuro-glial markers(NeuN, neurofilament, MAP2, GFAP) were expressed and axon-like cytoplasmic processes are elaborated in the cultured human cord blood stem cells prepared from new born placenta after full term delivery. Nestin mRNA was also detected in fresh cord blood monocytes. Conclusions : These results suggest that human cord blood derived stem cells may be potential sources of neurons in early postnatal life.

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.139-139
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• 2005