• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.751-754
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• 2013

Neurognathostomiasis is a severe form of human gnathostomiasis which can lead to disease and death. Diagnosis of neurognathostomiasis is made presumptively by using clinical manifestations. Immunoblotting, which recognizes antigenic components of molecular mass 21 kDa and 24 kDa in larval extracts of Gnathostoma spinigerum (Gs 21/24), has high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of neurognathostomiasis. However, only very small amounts of the Gs 21/24 antigens can be prepared from parasites harvested from natural or experimental animals. To overcome this problem, we recently produced a recombinant matrix metalloproteinase (rMMP) protein from G. spinigerum. In this study, we evaluated this rMMP alongside the Gs 21/24 antigens for serodiagnosis of human neurognathostomiasis. We studied sera from 40 patients from Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University, Thailand, with clinical criteria consistent with those of neurognathostomiasis, and sera from 30 healthy control adults from Thailand. All sera were tested for specific IgG antibodies against both G. spinigerum crude larval extract and rMMP protein using immunoblot analysis. The sensitivity and specificity for both antigenic preparations were all 100%. These results show that G. spinigerum rMMP protein can be used as an alternative diagnostic antigen, in place of larval extract, for serodiagnosis of neurognathostomiasis.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.201-206
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• 2010

In order to develop procedures for the rapid isolation of recombinant sugar transporter in functional form from away from the endogenous insect cell transporter, gene fusion techniques were exploited. Briefly, BamH1-digested human HepG2 type glucose transport protein cDNA was first cloned into a transfer vector pBlueBacHis, containing a tract of six histidine residues. Recombinant baculoviruses including the human cDNA were then generated by allelic exchange following transfection of insect cells with wild-type BaculoGold virus DNA and the recombinant transfer vector. Plaque assay was then performed to obtain and purify recombinant viruses expressing the human transport protein. All the cell samples that had been infected with viruses from the several blue plaques exhibited a positive reaction in the immnuassay, demonstrating expression of the glucose transport protein. In contrast, no color development in the immunoassay was observed for cells infected with the wild-type virus or no virus. Immunoblot analysis showed that a major immunoreactive band of apparent Mr 43,000~44,000 was evident in the lysate from cells infected with the recombinant baculovirus. Following expression of the recombinant fusion protein with the metal-binding domain and enterokinase cleavage site, the fusion protein was recovered by competition with imidizole using immobilized metal charged resin. The leader peptide was then removed from the fusion protein by cleavage with porcine enterokinase. Final separation of the recombinant protein of the interest was achieved by passage over $Ni^{2+}$-charged resin under binding conditions. The expressed transport protein bound cytochalasin B and demonstrated a functional similarity to its human counterpart.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.731-751
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• 2010

Objectives : The present study aimed to find out the effect of Sagunja-tang on the prevention and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease using mice with TNBS-induced inflammatory bowel disease. Methods : Mice with TNBS-induced inflammatory bowel disease were medicated with Sagunja-tang, and the weight changes, colon length, lipid peroxidation, and myeloperoxidase activity were observed. Levels of the inflammatory markers interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), its transcription factor activation, phospho-NF-${\kappa}$B (pp65), in the colon by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblot analysis were also measured. Finally, the activation of fecal bacterial enzyme, ${\beta}$-glucuronidase and degradation activation of fecal glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and hyaluronic acid were observed. Results : We found that oral administration of Sagunja-tang inhibited TNBS-induced colon shortening and also inhibited myeloperoxidase activity in the colon of mice as well as IL-$1{\beta}$ and COX-2 expression. Sagunja-tang also inhibited TNBSinduced lipid peroxidation and pp65 activation in the colon of mice. In addition, Sagunja-tang inhibited ${\beta}$-glucuronidase activation and fecal hyaluronic acid degradation activation. Conclusions : It is supposed that Sagunja-tang has a potential therapeutic effect on inflammatory bowel disease through the inhibition of both NF-${\kappa}$B activation and lipid peroxidation, and the improvement of intestinal conditions.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.341-344
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• 2005

The expression of the glutathione S-transferase (GST), whose induction accounts for antioxidant defense system, is regulated by activation of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein ${\beta}$ ($C/EBP{\beta}$), Sick house syndrome (SHS) presents healthy damage owing to the indoor environment of a building. Toluene has been implicated in one of the important causes of SHS. The present study investigated the effects of toluene treatment on the induction of GSTA2 gene and its mechanism. H411E cells treated with toluene, and GSTA2 expression was determined by immunoblot analysis. The translocation of $C/EBP{\beta}$ was assessed by immunocytochemical assays. $C/EBP{\beta}$ DNA binding activity was determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assays. The role of the C/EBP binding site in the induction of the GSTA2 gene was assessed by luciferase reporter-gene activity. Toluene induced GSTA2 protein expression. In toluene-treated cells, $C/EBP{\beta}$ translocated to the nucleus and bound to the consensus sequence of C/EBP (TTGCGCAA). Toluene treatment increased luciferase reporter-gene activity in cells transfected with the C/EBP-containing regulatory region of the GSTA2 gene. Oxidative stress is believed to play an important role in the induction of GSTA2 gene by toluene This study shows that toluene-induced GSTA2 gene expression is dependent upon nuclear translocation and binding of $C/EBP{\beta}$ to the C/EBP response element in the GSTA2 gene promoter.

• BMB Reports
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.390-396
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• 1997

A sandwich-type enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the quantification of human apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) was developed using monoclonal antibodies. For this assay, we used three monoclonal antibodies to trap and detect apo A-I. HDAI16 and HDA15 monoclonal antibodies were used for trapping apoA-I and HDAI8 monoclonal antibody was for detecting apoA-I. These three monoclonal antibodies were produced by immunizing mice with high density lipoprotein (HDL) isolated from human plasma. By immunoblot analysis, these three monoclonal antibodies were specific to apoA-I and showed no cross-reactivities with other plasma proteins. The results of competition assays for epitope cross-reactivity test also verified that these monoclonal antibodies identified separate and distinct epitopes on HDL and apoA-I. Affinity constants of monoclonal antibodies were measured by ELISA. Their association constants ranged from $10^7$ to $10^8$ $M^{-1}$. For this assay, pure apoA-I was isolated by affinity chromatography using monoclonal antibodies. In this sandwich assay, the amount of HRP-labeled HDAI8 bound to apoA-I trapped by HDAI16 and HDAI5 was proportional to apoA-I concentration in the range of 0 to 500ng/ml. ApoA-I concentration in plasma was calculated from the linear regression equation of standard curve. The precision and reliability of the assays are reflected in the low intra-and interassay coefficients of variation that averaged 3.25% and 4.30%, respectively. This assay is sensitive, simple, reproducible, convenient in incubation interval, and does not use radioisotope: thus it can be widely applied in clinical laboratories.

• BMB Reports
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• v.53 no.9
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• pp.484-489
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• 2020

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by unpredictable seizures, which are bursts of electrical activity that temporarily affect the brain. Cereblon (CRBN), a DCAFs (DDB1 and CUL4-associated factors), is a well-established protein associated with human mental retardation. Being a substrate receptor of the cullin-RING E3 ubiquitin ligase (CRL) 4 complex, CRBN mediates ubiquitination of several substrates and conducts multiple biological processes. In the central nervous system, the large-conductance Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ (BK_Ca) channel, which is the substrate of CRBN, is an important regulator of epilepsy. Despite the functional role and importance of CRBN in the brain, direct injection of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) to induce seizures in CRBN knock-out mice has not been challenged. In this study, we investigated the effect of PTZ in CRBN knock-out mice. Here, we demonstrate that, compared with WT mice, CRBN knock-out mice do not show the intensification of seizures by PTZ induction. Moreover, electroencephalography recordings were also performed in the brains of both WT and CRBN knockout mice to identify the absence of significant differences in the pattern of seizure activities. Consistently, immunoblot analysis for validating the protein level of the CRL4 complex containing CRBN (CRL4^Crbn) in the mouse brain was carried out. Taken together, we found that the deficiency of CRBN does not affect PTZ-induced seizure.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.764-770
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• 2013

Stevia rebaudiana is a traditional herb used as a sweetener in Brazil and Paraguay as well as Korea and China. This study investigated the efficacy of Stevia rebaudiana methanol extract (SRE) to protect cells against the mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis in hepatocyte. To determine the effects of SRE on oxidative stress, we used the human derived hepatocyte cell line, HepG2 cell. Treatment of arachidonic acid (AA)+iron in HepG2 cells synergistically amplified cytotoxicity, as indicated by the excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial permeability transition by fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) and immunoblot analysis. Treatment with SRE protected hepatocytes from AA+iron-induced cellular toxicity, as shown by alterations in the protein levels related with cell viability such as procaspase-3. SRE also prevented the mitochondrial dysfunction induced by AA+iron, and showed anti-oxidant effects as inhibition of $H_2O_2$ production and GSH depletion. Moreover, we measured the effects of SRE on AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a key regulator in determining cell survival or death. Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase (ACC), a direct downstream target of AMPK. SRE increased phosphorylation of ACC, and prevented the inhibition of ACC phosphorylation by AA+iron. These results indicated that SRE has the ability to protect cells against AA+iron-induced $H_2O_2$ production and mitochondrial impairment, which may be mediated with AMPK-ACC pathway.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.959-963
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• 2000

Soy bean is one of the most common food material to cause food hypersensitivity reactions in Korea. In this study we have investigated the effect of heating on antigenicity and allergenicity change of soybeans by using immunoblotting and ELISA methods with serum of soybean allergic patients and polyclonal antibody against soybean proteins. Soybean proteins were extracted by one-hour heating in boiling waterbath and separated by SDS-PAGE. After heat treatment, no significant changes of soy protein patterns were observed in SDS-PAGE analysis. Furthermore, the heat treatment had no effect on the results in immunoblotting with polyclonal antibody as well as in ELISA with soybean allergic patients' serum. With these results it may be concluded that allergenicity and antigenicity of soybeans do not reduce by thermal treatment.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.169-179
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• 2010

The pistil of nelumbo nucifera (PNN) is used in the treatment of nocturnal pollution, hematemesis, epistaxis, metrorrhagia and diarrhoea in traditional medicine. The present study was examined to evaluate the effects of PNN on the production of pro-inflammatory mediators in vitro. After the treatment of PNN, cell viability was measured by MTT assay, nitric oxide (NO) production was monitored by measuring the nitrite content in culture medium. The protein bands were determined by immunoblot analysis and levels of cytokines were analyzed by sandwich immunoassays. In the MTT assay, the doses of PNN extract (0.03, 0.10 mg/ml) had no significant cytotoxicity. The increases of NO production and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression were detected in lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-activated Raw 264.7 cells compared with control, in contrast, these increases were significantly attenuated by pre-treatment with PNN. In cytokine assay, the massive pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor-$\alpha$, interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 were induced in LPS-activated Raw 264.7 cells, but pre-treatment of Raw 264.7 cells with PNN caused inhibition (TNF-$\alpha$=14.17%, IL-$1{\beta}$=107.43%, IL-6=46.27%) the production of cytokines by LPS. In addition, PNN reduced prostaglandin E2 productions in a dose-dependent manner (0.03mg/ml=37.52%, 0.10 mg/ml=83.77%) as a consequence of the inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 expression. Taken together, our data indicates that PNN can regulate the inflammatory response in macrophage cells activated by Gram-negative infection.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.71-76
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• 2009

Salivary lipocalin (SAL1) is a member of the lipocalin protein family that has a property to associate with many lipophilic molecules. The importance of SAL1 during pregnancy in pigs has been suggested by our previous study which has shown that SAL1 is expressed in the uterine endometrium in a cell type- and implantation stage-specific manner and secreted into the uterine lumen. However, function of SAL1 in the uterus during pregnancy in pigs is not known. To understand SAL1 function in the uterus during pregnancy, we generated recombinant porcine SAL1 protein in an insect cell line. Porcine SAL1 cDNA was cloned into a baculovirus expression vector using RT-PCR and total RNA from uterine endometrium on day 12 of pregnancy, and the expression vector was used to generate recombinant Bacmid containing the SAL1 gene. The recombinant Bacmid was then transfected Sf9 cell to produce recombinant baculovirus. By infecting Sf9 cell with recombinant baculovirus, we established a SAL1-expressing insect cell expression system. Immunoblot analysis confirmed SAL1 expression in the infected cells. Recombinant SAL1 produced by the Sf9 cell line will be useful for understanding physiological function of SAL1 during pregnancy in pigs.