• BMB Reports
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• v.54 no.7
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• pp.344-355
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• 2021

Mucins are high molecular-weight epithelial glycoproteins and are implicated in many physiological processes, including epithelial cell protection, signaling transduction, and tissue homeostasis. Abnormality of mucus expression and structure contributes to biological properties related to human cancer progression. Tumor growth sites induce inhospitable conditions. Many kinds of research suggest that mucins provide a microenvironment to avoid hypoxia, acidic, and other biological conditions that promote cancer progression. Given that the mucus layer captures growth factors or cytokines, we propose that mucin helps to ameliorate inhospitable conditions in tumor-growing sites. Additionally, the composition and structure of mucins enable them to mimic the surface of normal epithelial cells, allowing tumor cells to escape from immune surveillance. Indeed, human cancers such as mucinous carcinoma, show a higher incidence of invasion to adjacent organs and lymph node metastasis than do non-mucinous carcinoma. In this mini-review, we discuss how mucin provides a tumor-friendly environment and contributes to increased cancer malignancy in mucinous carcinoma.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.111.1-111.1
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• 2003

Bacterial infection is a very complex process in which both pathogens and host cells play crucial roles, and the host cells undergo drastic changes in their physiology, releasing various proteins in response to the pathogenic infection. Human airway epithelial surface serves as a first line of defense against microorganisms and the external environment. It is well known that bronchial epithelial cells secrete various chemokines and cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-8 to cope with various respiratory pathogens. (omitted)

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.517-524
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• 2022

Over production of methylglyoxal (MGO) a highly reactive dicarbonyl compound, has been associated in progressive diabetes with vascular complication. Therefore, we investigated whether hot water extract of Loliolus beka meat (LBM-HWE) presents a preserve effect against MGO-induced cellular damage in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The LBM-HWE extract showed to inhibit MGO-induced cytotoxicity. Additionally, the LBM-HWE reduced mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and reduced MGO-induced advanced glycation end product (AGEs) formation. Furthermore, LBM-HWE induced glyoxalase-1 mRNA expression and reduced MGO-induced carbonyl protein formation in HUVECs. The results implicate that LBM-HWE has protective ability against MGO-induced HUVECs toxicity by preventing AGEs formation. In conclusion, LBM-HWE could be used as a potential treatment material for the prevention of vascular complications of diabetes.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.271-280
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• 2016

Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) are ectopic lymphoid tissues involved in chronic inflammation, autoimmune diseases, transplant rejection and cancer. They exhibit almost all the characteristics of secondary lymphoid organs (SLO), which are associated with adaptive immune responses; as such, they contain organized B-cell follicles with germinal centers, distinct areas containing T cells and dendritic cells, high endothelial venules, and lymphatics. In this review, we briefly describe the formation of SLO, and describe the cellular subsets and molecular cues involved in the formation and maintenance of TLS. Finally, we discuss the associations of TLS with human diseases, especially autoimmune diseases, and the potential for therapeutic targeting.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.369-378
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• 2018

Purpose: Obesity is associated with a dysregulation of metabolic balance and is regarded as a low grade chronic inflammation. Western-style diet and physical inactivity are leading causes of obesity. This study examined the profiles of forty plasma cytokines and chemokines at the same time in the early stages of high-fat diet-induced obesity using a mouse model. Methods: A total of 30 male CD1 mice, 12 ~ 14 weeks of age, were enrolled. The mice were fed a high-fat diet for 6 weeks to induce obesity. The plasma glucose and triglyceride concentrations were measured using a hexokinase colorimetric assay kit and a serum triglyceride determination kit, respectively. The relative levels of multiple cytokines and chemokines in the plasma were determined using a mouse cytokine array kit. Results: The mice exhibited significant weight gain after 6 weeks of a high-fat diet. The genital fat depot was enlarged along with an increase in the number and the mean size of white adipocytes as early as 4 weeks after a high-fat diet. In addition, the plasma glucose and triglyceride levels increased significantly after 4 weeks of a high-fat diet. Cytokine array analysis revealed a remarkable increase in the expression of both CXCL12 and CXCL13, whereas the proinflammatory cytokines remained low after 4 weeks of a high-fat diet. Conclusion: A significant increase in plasma levels of CXCL12 and CXCL13 was observed after 4 weeks of a high-fat diet, which might induce the migration of B lymphocytes, T lymphocytes, and monocytes from the blood to expanding adipose tissue or fat associated lymphoid clusters, playing a key role in adipose tissue remodeling and local immunity during the early stages of high-fat diet-induced obesity.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.338-348
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• 1997

Background : Endotoxin, the component of outermembrane of gram negative organism, plays an important role in the initiation and amplification of inflammatory reaction by its effects on inflammatory cells. Until recently, there have been continuing efforts to delinate the mechanisms of the signal trasduction pathway of endotoxin stimuli on inflammatory cells. By uncovering the mechanisms of signal transduction pathway of endotoxin stimuli, we can expect to have tools to control the excessive inflammatory responses which sometimes may be fatal to the involved host. It was generally accepted that endotoxin exerts its inflammatory effects through inflammatory cytokines that are produced by endotoxin-stimulated inflammatory cells and there were some reports on the importance of protein kinase C and protein tyrosine kinase activation in the production of inflammatory cytokines by endotoxin So we evaluated the effect of pretreatment of protein kinase C inhibitors (H7, Staurosporin) and protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors(Herbimycin, Genistein) on the endotoxin-stimulated cytokines(IL-8 & TNF-$\alpha$) mRNA expression. Method : Peripheral blood monocytes were isolated from healthy volunteers by Ficoll-Hypaque density gradient method and purified by adhesion to 60mm Petri dishes. Endotoxin(LPS 100ng/ml) was added to each dishes except one control dish, and each endotoxin-stimulated dishes was preincubated with H7, Staurosporin(protein kinase C inhibitor), Herbimycin or Genistein(protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor) respectively except one dish. Four hours later the endotoxin stimulation, total RNA was extracted and Northern blot analysis for IL-8 mRNA and TNF-$\alpha$ mRNA was done. Result : Endotoxin stimulation increased the expression of IL-8 mRNA and TNF-$\alpha$ mRNA expression in human peripheral blood monocyte as expected and the stimulatory effect of endotoxin on TNF-$\alpha$ mRNA expression was inhibited by protein kinase C inhibitors(H7, Staurosporin) and protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors (Herbimycin, Genistein). The inhibitory effect of each drugs was increased with increasing concentration. The stimulatory effect of endotoxin on IL-8 mRNA was also inhibited by H7 and protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors (Herbimycin, Genistein) dose-dependently but not by Staurosporin. Conclusion : Protein kinase C and protein tyrosine kinase are involved in the endotoxin induced signal transduction pathway in human peripheral blood monocyte.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.78 no.2
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• pp.99-105
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• 2015

Background: Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a ligand-dependent transcription factor, binds to a wide variety of synthetic and naturally occurring compounds. AhR is involved in the regulation of inflammatory response during acute and chronic respiratory diseases. We investigated whether nuclear receptor coactivator 7 (NCOA7) could regulate transcriptional levels of AhR target genes and inflammatory cytokines in 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-treated human bronchial epithelial cells. This study was based on our previous study that NCOA7 was differentially expressed between normal and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease lung tissues. Methods: BEAS-2B and A549 cells grown under serum-free conditions were treated with or without TCDD (0.15 nM and 6.5 nM) for 24 hours after transfection of pCMV-NCOA7 isoform 4. Expression levels of cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1), IL-6, and IL-8 were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: The transcriptional activities of CYP1A1 and inflammatory cytokines were strongly induced by TCDD treatment in both BEAS-2B and A549 cell lines. The NCOA7 isoform 4 oppositely regulated the transcriptional activities of CYP1A1 and inflammatory cytokines between BEAS-2B and A549 cell lines. Conclusion: Our results suggest that NCOA7 could act as a regulator in the TCDD-AhR signaling pathway with dual roles in normal and abnormal physiological conditions.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.413-421
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• 2014

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) is involved in the stress response and there is increasing evidence that stress influences skin disease such as hair loss. In cultured human hair follicles, CRF inhibits hair shaft elongation, induces premature regression and promotes the apoptosis of hair matrix keratinocytes. We investigated whether CRF influences the dermal papilla cells (DPC) that play pivotal roles in hair growth and cycling. Human DPCs were treated with CRF, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol, key stress hormones along the hypothalamic-pituitary -adrenal (HPA) axis for 1-24 h. Interestingly, CRF modulated the expression of cytokines related to hair growth (KGF, Wnt5a, $TGF{\beta}-2$, Nexin) and increased cAMP production in cultured DPCs. CRF receptors were down-regulated by negative feedback systems. Pretreatment of CRF receptor antagonists or protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor prevented the CRF-induced modulation. Since the CRF induces proopiomelanocortin (POMC) expression through the cAMP/PKA pathway, we analyzed POMC mRNA. CRF stimulated POMC expression in cultured human DPCs, yet we were unable to detect ACTH levels by western blot. These results indicate that CRF operates within DPCs through CRF receptors along the classical CRF signaling pathway and CRF receptor antagonists could serve as potential therapeutic and cosmetic agents for stress-induced hair loss.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.267-278
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• 1995

Human polymorphonuclear leukocytes(PMN) are the most numerous host cell in periodontal pockets and their presumed role is to form a protective barrier between the bacteria and periodontal tissues. Microbial component LPS activates macrophages to produce $IL-1{\beta}$, $MIP-1{\alpha}$, $-1{\beta}$, $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6, etc. These cytokines have autocrine function to the macrophages, and paracrine function to other cell such as PMN and affect them to produce some biological functions. In the present study, human PMN were tested for the expression of $IL-1{\beta}$ and $MIP-1{\alpha}$ mRNA. Also we performed the receptor binding assay and in vitro assay for the antimicrobial action of HL-60 cell to determine whether HL-60 can replace the peripheral PMN in analyzing the biological functions. PMN were stimulated with $IL-1{\beta}$, TPA, $MIP-1{\alpha}$, LPS, IL-2 and total cytoplasmic RNA were extracted for the northern blot analysis. In order to determine the induction kinetics of $IL-1{\beta}$ or $MIP-1{\alpha}$ mRNA expression, cells were stimulated for 0,1,2,3 hours. We found peak expression of $IL-1{\beta}$ mRNA after 1hr of induction with $IL-1{\beta}$, LPS and after 2hr of induction with TPA. $MIP-l{\alpha}$ also induced but a scarce $IL-l{\beta}$ message from PMN. In contrast to the $IL-l{\beta}$ mRNA expression, $MIP-1{\alpha}$ were not induced from PMN in any culture conditions. Receptors for $MIP-1{\alpha}$ were identified on dibutyryl cyclic AMP(dbcAMP)-treated HL-60 as well as peripheral PMN. dbcAMP treatment significantly enhanced antimicrobial action of undifferentiated HL-60 cell. MIP-1 further increased enhancing effect of dbcAMP. $IL-1{\beta}$, to a lesser extent, also increased dbcAMP-induced enhancing effect of antimicrobial action of HL-60 cell.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.99 no.1
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• pp.16-23
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• 2010

Experiments were performed for investigate the immune activities on human B and T cell growth and secretion of their cytokines. Also, antibodies in serum were investigated in female ICR mouse by feeding the extracts of Acer mono at dose of 30 and 100 mg/mL of one day orally for 15 days. The cytotoxicity of the samples on normal human cell (HEL299) was below 24.15% in adding the all extracts. Both human immune B and T cells were increased up to about 40% by the high pressure extraction process. The secretion of cytokines (IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$) on human B and T cells were increased up to 20-50% by adding the high pressure extraction process compare to the hot water extraction process. Also, total serum IgG levels increased by feeding Acer mono extacts. It can be conclude that optimum condition for efficient extraction of Acer mono as functional materials is solvent extraction process using water with high pressure at below $100^{\circ}CA$ than typical process.