• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.431-437
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• 2011

Aberrant activation of microglia has been reported to cause neuronal damages by releasing a variety of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Besides where microglia become active, damages have been also observed in remote places, which is considered due to the migration of activated microglia. Therefore, an agent that could suppress abnormal activation of microglia and their subsequent migration might be valuable in activated microglia-related brain pathologies. The objective of the present study was to evaluate anti-inflammatory effects of betulinic acid on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. Pretreatment of betulinic acid significantly attenuated LPS-induced NO production and protein expression of iNOS. Betulinic acid also significantly suppressed LPS-induced release and expression of cytokines such as TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$. Furthermore, betulinic acid significantly uppressed LPS-induced MMP-9 expression, which has been suggested to play an important role in the migration of activated microglia. In order to understand the possible mechanism by which betulinic acid suppresses LPS-induced cytokine production and migration of microglia, the role of NF-kB, a major pro-inflammatory transcription factor, was examined. Betulinic acid significantly suppressed LPS-induced degradation of IKB, which retains NF-kB in the cytoplasm. Therefore, nuclear translocation of NF-kB upon LPS stimulation was significantly suppressed with betulinic acid. Taken together, the present study for the first time demonstrates that betulinic acid possesses anti-inflammatory activity through the suppression of nuclear translocation of NF-kB in BV2 microglial cells.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2014

Essential oils of various plants have been known for potential biological effects such as antibacterial, antifungal, spasmolytic, antiplasmodial activities and insect-repellent property. Recently, the essential oils have attracted considerable interest in oral disease therapy. This essential oil has been known as being effective on easing sick house syndrome, giving forest aroma therapy effect and acting as repellent against pest. The essential oil of Pinus koraiensi, a native plant from Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon-do, was obtained by hydrodistillation. In light of its medicinal importance, in this study its composition, antibacterial activity and the reducing effect of offensive odor have been analyzed. The composition of essential oil was determined by GC and GC-MS. We have identified 14 compounds, of which 1R-${\alpha}$-pinene (19.38 %), 3-carene (10.21 %), camphene (9.82 %), limonene (9.00 %), bicyclo[2,2,1] heptan-2-ol (8.76 %) and ${\beta}$-phellandrene (7.98 %) were the main components. Essential oils from P. koraiensis, Chamaecyparis obtusa, Abies holophylla and Pinus densiflora were compared in terms of alleviating effect of malodors caused from formaldehyde, ammonia, trimethylamine and methylmercaptan. P. koraiensis essential oil was found to decrease the amounts of ammonia and trimethylamine by 75.17 % and 77.36 %, respectively. Antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus, which were known as oral cavity inducer, was investigated using the paper disc agar diffusion method. The inhibition zone was observed against S. mutans (5.97 mm) and S. sobrinus (1.40 mm), respectively. P. koraiensis essential oil shown effective deodorization and inhibitory activity against oral cavity in this study might be potential material in oral sanitary industry.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.193-204
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• 2000

Nowadays, mongolian gerbil is widely utilized in the research of brain and water deprivation because of congenitally incomplete Willis' circle, audiogenic seizure in low noise, and special cholesterol metabolism without water absorption for a long time. In this study, we intended to identify the time lapse changes in the general morphoogy and ultrastructure of the catecholaminergic neurons of mongolian gerbil brain in after long-term water deprivation. Fifteen mongolian gerbils were divided into 3 groups (5, 10, and 20-day water deprivation groups), each with 5 mongolian gerbils. Additional 5 mongolian gerbils which received water without limitation were used as a control. The brain sections were immunostained using tyrosine hysroxylase (TH), $ dopamine-\beta-hydroxylase$ (DBH), and phenylethanolamine-N-methyltrasferase (PMNT) antibodies. And immunoreactive cells were observed by electromicroscopy for the ultrastructural changes . The TH-immunoreactive (TH-IR) nerve cells were observed in the para- and peri-ventricular nucleus of the 3 rd ventricle in the hypothalamus and the substantia nigra. The number of TH-IR neurons in these areas was decreased from the 5th day of the water deprivation to the 10 th day and reincreased until 20 th day water deprivation. The shape and density of the dopamine-secreting cells identified by immunohistochemistry showed changes in the continuous water deprivation. Electron microscopy revealed a round nucleus in the neurons of control group but 5-day water deprivation group showed a dense and irregularly shaped nucleus. Also in the 5-day water-deprived group, mitochondria was decreased in number and junctins were disappered. Endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi complex did not show changes after water-deprivation. In this results, we can conclude that dopamine are involved in the water metabolism in mongolian gerbil, and mongolian gerbil could be used as an animal model for the researches of water deprivation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.1134-1141
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• 2011

Transmembrane protein 21 (TMP21) is a member of the p24 cargo protein family and has been shown to modulate ${\alpha}$-secretase-mediated A${\beta}$ production which was specifically observed in the brains of subjects with Alzheimer's disease (AD). In order to investigate whether TMP21 could affect nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor signaling pathway, the alteration of NGF receptors and their downstream proteins were detected in TMP21 over-expressed cells. CMV/hTMP21 vector used in this study was successfully expressed into TMP21 proteins in B35 cells after lipofectamin transfection. Expressed TMP21 proteins induced the down-regulation of ${\gamma}$-secretase complex components including Presenlin-1 (PS-1), PS-2, Nicastrin (NST), Pen-2 and APH-1. Also, the expression level of NGF receptor $p75^{NTR}$ and RhoA were significantly higher in CMV/hTMP21 transfectants than vehicle transfectants, while their levels returned to vehicle levels after NGF treatment. However, the phosphorylation of NGF receptor TrkA was dramtically decreased in NGF No-treated CMV/hTMP21 transfectants compared with vehicle transfectants, and increased in NGF treated CMV/hTMP21 transfectants. In TrkA downstream signaling pathway, the phosphorylation level of ERK was also decreased in CMV/hTMP21 transfectants, while the phosphorylation of Akt was increased in the same transfectants. Furthermore, NGF treatment induced the increase of phosphorylation level of Akt and ERK in CMV/hTMP21 transfectants. Therefore, these results suggested that over-expression of TMP21may simultaneously induce the up-regulation of $p75^{NTR}$/RhoA expression and the down-regulation of TrkA/ERK phosphorylation through the inhibition of ${\gamma}$-secretase activity.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.84-92
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• 2009

This experiment was investigated the effects of fresh and ginger processed Pinelliae Rhizoma extracts on hair growth activity, and its fractions(chloroform, ethyl acetate and water fractions) obtained from fresh Pinelliae Rhizoma on hair growth activity of the normal and spontaneous alopecia areata model of C57BL/6N mice for 16 days. The results were as follows: In fresh Pinelliae Rhizoma extracts treated group, hair growth effect was observed in whole skin area(100%) all the normal mice in whose hair had been clipped on 16th days. In ginger processed Pinelliae Rhizoma extracts treated group, hair growth effect was observed in whole skin area in 25% of normal mice in whose hair had been clipped on 16th days. But in control group, hair growth effect was observed in a part of whole skin area in 25% of normal mice. In fresh Pinelliae Rhizoma extracts treated group, hair follicles of middle stage of anagen phase was observed and it were grown down to subcutaneous tissue of skin in all the mice on 10th day. But in ginger processed Pinelliae Rhizoma extracts treated group and control group, Most of hair follicles of telogen phase was observed in skin. The treatment of extracts of fresh Pinelliae Rhizoma increased the expression of TGF-$\beta$(146%), IGF(107%), and prolactin(115%) in the skin of normal C57BL/6N mice compared to control group(100%). But expression of placenta lactogen(93%) was decreased in the skin of normal C57BL/6N mice compared to control group(100%). In spontaneous alopecia model, The hair growth activity of fresh Pinelliae Rhizoma extracts treated group(100%) was observed to be strong compared with the control group(20%) on 15th day. Hair growth activity on chloroform fractions of fresh Pinelliae Rhizoma extracts was observed in whole skin area in 75% of normal mice on the 9th day. In water and ethyl acetate fractions, hair growth activity was observed in a part of whole skin in 75% and 25% of normal mice, respectively. but hair growth activity of control group was not observed. After application of fractions of fresh Pinelliae Rhizoma extracts for 10 days, hair follicles of chloroform fraction treated group was observed middle stage of anagen phase and hair follicle were grown down to subcutaneous tissue of skin in all the mice. But hair follicles of initial stage of anagen phase were observed in water and ethyl acetate fractions. Most of hair follicles of telogen phase was observed in skin of control group. These experiments suggest that extracts of fresh Pinelliae Rhizoma may stimulate the topical hair growth activity and its chloroform fractions can be useful for treatment of alopecia areata.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1369-1378
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• 2018

Prunus mume Siebold & Zucc., a member of the Rosaceae family (called Maesil in Korea), has been widely distributed in East Asia, e.g. Korea, Japan and China, and its fruit has been used as a traditional drug and health food. In this study, we evaluated physicochemical properties and physiological activities of condensed Prunus mume juice treated with pectinase (PJ). The values of total acidity, pH, sugar contents, turbidity moisture content of the PJ were 35.81%, 2.73, $54.36^{\circ}Brix$, 2.75 and 51.32%, respectively. The PJ had effective DPPH radical scavenging activity, reducing power effect, $H_2O_2$ scavenging activity and ${\beta}$-carotene bleaching effect. DPPH radical scavenging activities of PJ was 46.31%; their reducing power ($OD_{700}$) was 1.80; $H_2O_2$ scavenging activity of PJ was 91.62%; and ${\beta}$-carotene bleaching effect of PJ was 73.02%. Also, PJ showed effective levels of ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibition activity. The cell viability was measured by SRB assay. The PJ significantly decreased the cell viability of mouse melanoma cells (B16) and human melanoma cells (SK-MEL-2 and SK-MEL-28) in a dose-dependent manner, however, there was no effect on human keratinocyte HaCaT. In morphological study, PJ-treated SK-MEL-2 cells showed distorted and shrunken cell masses. Total polyphenol contents and total flavonoid contents of PJ were 588.31 mg% (gallic acid equivalent) and 860.45 mg% (rutin equivalent). The antiproliferative effect of PJ seems to be associated with the antioxidant activity of its flavonoid and polyphenol contents. In conclusion, PJ may be beneficial in development of a functional food material.

• Korean Journal of Dental Materials
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.207-216
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• 2017

The effect of cooling rate on precipitation hardening of a Pd-Cu-Ga-Zn metal-ceramic alloy during porcelain firing simulation was investigated and the following results were obtained. When the cooling rate was fast (Stage 0), the hardness of the alloy increased at each firing step and the high hardness value was maintained. When the cooling rate was slow (Stage 3), the hardness was the highest at the first stage of the firing, but the final hardness of the alloy after complete firing was lower. The increase in hardness of the specimens cooled at the cooling rate of Stage 0 after each firing step was caused by precipitation hardening. The decrease in hardness of the specimens cooled at the cooling rate of Stage 3 after each firing step was attributed to the coarsening of the spot-like precipitates formed in the matrix and plate-like precipitates. The matrix and the plate-like precipitates were composed of the $Pd_2(Cu,Ga,Zn)$ phase of CsCl-type, and the particle-like structure was composed of the Pd-rich ${\alpha}$-phase of face-centered cubic structure. Through the porcelain firing process, Cu, Ga, and Zn, which were dissolved in Pd-rich ${\alpha}$ particles, precipitated with Pd, resulting in the phase separation of the Pd-rich ${\alpha}$ particles into the Pd-rich ${\alpha}^{\prime}$ particles and ${\beta}^{\prime}$ precipitates composed of $Pd_2(Cu,Ga,Zn)$. These results suggested that the durability of the final prosthesis made of the Pd-Cu-Ga-Zn alloy can be improved when the cooling rate is fast during porcelain firing simulation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 2009

This study investigated the beneficial effects of crude saponins from soybean cake on body weight and glucose tolerance in high-fat (37% calories from fat) diet fed C57BL/6 mice. The mice were supplemented with three doses of saponins (0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5%, wt/wt) and 1.0% Garcinia cambogia (wt/wt), positive control for 9 weeks. The body weight, visceral fat weight and epididymal adipocyte area were significantly reduced in the saponin supplemented groups in a dose dependent manner compared to the high-fat group. Saponins did not significantly affect food intake; however, cambogia significantly lowered food intake compared to the high-fat fed control group. The crude saponins from soybean cake supplement significantly lowered plasma leptin, triglyceride and total cholesterol levels, whereas they significantly elevated the fecal excretion of triglyceide in a dose dependent manner compared to the high-fat group. Cambogia did not affect the fecal excretion of lipid in the diet-induced obese mice. Supplementation of 1.5% saponin reduced the hepatic triglyceride content compared to the high-fat group. High-fat induced glucose intolerance with the elevation of blood glucose levels compared to the normal group; however, the saponins supplement significantly improved postprandial glucose levels. After 9 weeks of being fed a high-fat diet, the mice presented with significantly increased activities of hepatic fatty acid synthase and fatty acid ${\beta}$-oxidation; however, saponins and cambogia normalized these activities. These results indicate that saponins from soybean cake exhibit a potential anti-obesity effect and may prevent glucose intolerance by reducing body weight and plasma lipids, increasing fecal lipid excretion and regulating hepatic lipid metabolism in high-fat fed mice.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.271-278
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• 2022

The detailed mechanism by which cancer upregulated gene 2 (CUG2) overexpression induces cancer stem cell-like phenotypes is not fully understood. The downregulation of FBXW7 E3 ligase, a tumor suppressor known for its proteolytic regulation of oncogenic proteins such as cyclin E, c-Myc, Notch, and Yap1, has been frequently reported in several types of tumor tissues, including those in the large intestine, cervix, and stomach. Therefore, we investigated whether FBXW7 is involved in CUG2-induced oncogenesis. In this study, the decreased expression of FBXW7 was examined in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 (A549-CUG2) and human bronchial BEAS-2B cells (BEAS-CUG2) overexpressing CUG2 and compared with control cells stably expressing an empty vector (A549-Vec or BEAS-Vec). Treatment with MG132 (a proteosome inhibitor) prevented the degradation of FBXW7 and Yap1 proteins, which are substrates of the FBXW7 E3 ligase. To address the role of Fbxw7 in the development of cancer stem cell (CSC) phenotypes, we suppressed Fbxw7 protein levels using its siRNA. We observed that decreased levels of FBXW7 enhanced cell migration, invasion, and spheroid size and number in A549-Vec and BEAS-Vec cells. The enforced expression of FBXW7 produced the opposite results in A549-CUG2 and BEAS-CUG2 cells. Furthermore, the downregulation of FBXW7 elevated the activities of EGFR, Akt, and ERK1/2 and upregulated β-catenin, Yap1, and NEK2, while the enforced expression of FBXW7 generated the opposite results. We thus propose that FBXW7 downregulation induced by CUG2 confers CSC-like phenotypes through the upregulation of both the EGFR-ERK1/2 and β-catenin-Yap1-NEK2 signaling pathways.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.1 s.68
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• pp.38-44
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• 2005

Infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major health problem worldwide. Although a tremendous amount has been known about HBV, there have been obstacles in the study of HBV due to the narrow host range of HBV limited to humans and primates. In the present study, we investigated the susceptibility to HBV infection of mouse hepatoma cell line, Hepa-1c1c7. In addition, based on that human hepatocytes infected by HBV increase the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-a, the inducibility of TNF-a expression by HBV in the cells was determined. HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) secretion was measured by the microparticle enzyme immunoassay and steady state mRNA expression was analyzed by quantitative competitive RT-PCR. Transient transfection of Hepa-1c1c7 cells with HBV expression vector resulted in a dose-dependent induction of TNF-a expression. Infection of Hepa-1c1c7 cells with the serum of HBV carrier also increased TNF-a mRNA expression. Both in the transfected and infected cells, HBV mRNA was expressed and significant HBsAg secretion was detected. There was no significant variation in $\beta-actin$ mRNA expression by HBV. These results demonstrate that HBV is infectious to Hepa-lc1c7 in vitro and the viral infection induces TNF-a expression, which suggests that Hepa-lc1c7, a mouse hepatoma cell line, may be a possible model system for analysis of various molecular aspects of HBV infection.