• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.107-113
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• 2006

Development of placenta is a complex process that is critical for the pregnancy and controlled by many factors including cytokines, hormones, growth factors and apoptotic molecules. Recently, it has been shown that progranulin (PGRN) functions in growth of embryo and trophectoderm as well as cell migration. To initiate understanding the role of PGRN in human placental development, we investigated the expression of PGRN mRNA and protein in early and late gestation human placentas, term cytotrophoblast cells and two choriocarcinoma cell lines, JEG-3 and Jar. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction identified mRNAs derived from the PGRN gene in all samples. Immunoblot analysis showed that PGRN proteins are present in early and late gestation human placentas with decreasing levels over gestation and that PGRN proteins are present in normal and transformed trophoblast cells. Immunohistochemical analysis using paraformaldehyde-fixed tissue sections taken from early and late stages of pregnancy showed that PGRN proteins are present in cytotrophoblast cells, syncytiotrophoblast and extravillous cytotrophoblast cells and that expression pattern of PGRN differed according to the stage of cell differentiation. The results of this study are consistent with the hypothesis that PGRN proteins have critical roles in placental development and suggest that PGRN may function in trophoblast cell growth and differentiation.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.113-121
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• 2008

Objectives In human myeloid leukemia cells, there are no specific features of apoptosis compared with apoptosis in other cell types. Solanum nigrum L.(SNL) is a deciduous tree, which is widely distributed in Korea with reported anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory and non-specific immune-enhancing properties. Although the plant has been clinically used for treating a variety of diseases, its bioactive ingredients are unknown and its mode of action potential has never been investigated. Thus anti-tumor property of methanol extract was investigated. Methods In this study, anti-tumor property of methanol extract was investigated by determining its in vitro growth-inhibitory effects on human myeloid leukemia cells. XTT proliferation assay, DNA fragmentation, immunoblot analysis, densitometric analysis were used. Results 1. The methanol fraction of the extracts of SNL induced mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in human myeloid leukemia cells. 2. The methanol fraction exhibited relatively higher cytotoxic activity in a dose-dependent manner than chloroform, and hexane fraction. 3. Typical ladder profile of Oligonucleosomal fragments were appeared. 4. The secreted cytosolic cytochrome C level was increased by treatment of methanol fraction. Conclusions Methanol fraction of SNL is capable of inducing apoptosis in human myeloid leukemia cells.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.154-159
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• 2006

Interleukin-18 (IL-18), otherwise known as interferon-gamma-inducing factor (IGIF), is one of several well characterized and important cytokines that contribute to host defenses. The complementary DNA (cDNA) of mature human interleukin-18 gene (hIL-18) was fused with the signal peptide of the rice amylase 1A gene (Ramy1A) and introduced into the plant expression vector under the control of a duplicated CaMV 35S promoter. The recombinant plasmid was transformed into tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv Havana) using the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation method. The integration of the hlL-18 gene into the genome of transgenic tobacco plants was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and its expression was observed in the suspension cells that were derived from the transgenic plant callus by using Northern blot analysis. The hlL-18 protein was detected in the extracts of the transgenic callus and in the medium of the transgenic tobacco suspension culture by using immunoblot analysis. Based upon enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) results, the expression level of the hlL-18 protein approximated $166{\mu}g/L$ in the suspension culture medium. Bioassay results from the induction of $interferon-{\gamma}$ from a KG-1 cell line indicated that the hlL-18 secreted into the suspension culture medium was bioactive.

• BMB Reports
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.530-534
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• 1996

Astrocyte are the major glial cell type in the central nervous system (CNS), and analogous to macrophage, mediates the number of immune responses such as production of cytokines including tumor necrosis factor alpha ($TNF-{\alpha}$) upon activation. $TNF-{\alpha}$ has been implicated in neuroimmunological disorders through killing oligodendrocytes and thus causing demyelination. It has been previously demonstrated that mitogen-activated T cells synthesized a 26 kDa precursor form of $TNF-{\alpha}$ which is bound to the surface of a membrane, and is later secreted as a 17 kDa mature version. In order to examine whether astrocytes would produce the transmembrane form of $TNF-{\alpha}$, astrocytes were stimulated with biological stimuli and the membrane form of $TNF-{\alpha}$ was analyzed by Western blot and FACS analysis. When astrocytes are stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), $IFN-{\gamma}/LPS$, or $IFN-{\gamma}/IL-1{\beta}$, they were able to express a membrane-anchored $TNF-{\alpha}$ of approximately 26 kDa protein which was immunoreactive to an $anti-TNF-{\alpha}$ antibody, whereas unstimulated astrocytes or astrocytes treated with $IFN-{\gamma}$ or $IL-1{\beta}$ alone was not. Our FACS data were also consistent with the immunoblot analysis. Our result suggests that the membrane form of $TNF-{\alpha}$ expressed by activated astrocytes may cause local damage to oligodendrocytes by direct cell-cell contact and contribute to demyelination observed in multiple sclerosis (MS) and experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE).

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.342-348
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• 2001

In a course of obtaining more amount of bioactive costunolide and successive phytochemical isolation from Magnolia sieboldii (Magnoliaceae), a novel acyclic monoterpene 1 named deoxygeraniol (2,6(E)-dimethyl-2,6-octadiene) was isolated along with $\beta$-sitosterol 3-O-linoleate (2), trilinolein (3) and high amount of costunolide (4) in the pure state. The structure of compound 1 was determined on the basis of spectroscopic data. Costunolide was found to induce apoptotic cell death in a dose-dependent manner by nucleosomal DNA ladder and flow cytometric analysis. Immunoblot analysis showed that the level of the anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2, was decreased, whereas the cleavage of poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase was, activated furthermore, the N-acetyl-L-cysteine antioxidant effectively prevented costunolide-induced cytotoxicity. These results suggest that costunolide-induced cell death is mediated by reactive oxygen species.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.79-87
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• 2001

Heat shock proteins serve as chaperone by preventing the aggregation of denatured proteins and promote survival of pathogens in harsh environments. In this study, heat shock gene encoding a 84-kDa (p84) protein, which is one of the three major heat shock proteins in S. pneumoniae, was cloned and characterized. PCR with a forward primer derived from N-terminal amino acid sequence of the p84 and a reverse primer derived from the conserved second ATP-binding region of Clp family was used for amplification of the gene encoding the p84 and subsequently the PCR product was used for sequence determination. Sequence analysis of the p84 gene demonstrated that it is a member of ClpL. The deduced amino acid sequence of pneumococcal ClpL shows homology with other members of the Clp family, and particularly, even in variable leader region, with bovine Clp-like protein and L. lactis ClpL. S. pneumoniae clpL is the smallest clop member (701 amono acids) containing the two conserved ATP-binding regions, and hydrophilic N-terminal variable region of pneu-mococcal Clp ATPase is much shorter than any known Clp ATPases. Histidine tagged ClpL was overexpressed and purified from E. coli. Immunoblot analysis employing antisera raised against pneumococcus p84 demonstrated no cross-reactivity with Clp analog in Eschericha coli, Staphylococcus aureus and human HeLa cells. Preimmunization of mice with ClpL extended mice life partially but did not protect them from death.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.183-190
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• 1998

A cDNA expression library of Clonorchis sinensis adult worm was constructed, and screened out immunologically. One clone, pBCs31, was selected ill view of its predominant reactivity with an experimentally infected rabbit serum. Recombinant C. slnensis antigen iIi 28 kDa as a if-falactosidase fusion protein produced in EscherichiG coli was identified by immunoblot analysis. The cloned gene was composed of 16 copies or a 30 base pair repeat and an additional 320 bases. The deduced amino acid seqiLence of the tandem repeat was AQPPKSGDGG. On RNA slot blot analysis, C. sinensis adult worm RNA showed a positive reaction with the cloned gene Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using a purified recombinant antigen of pBCs31 showed higtl specificity for diagnosis of clonorchiasis.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.154-159
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• 2022

Protein S-glutathionylation is a reversible post-translational modification on cysteine residues forming a mixed disulfide with glutathione. S-glutathionylation, not only protects proteins from oxidation but also regulates the functions of proteins involved in various cellular signaling pathways. In this study, we developed a method for the detection of S-glutathionylated proteins (ProSSG) using eosin-glutathione (E-GSH) and mouse glutaredoxin 1 (mGrx1). ProSSG was efficiently and specifically labeled with E-GSH to form ProSSG-E via thiol-disulfide exchange. ProSSG-E was readily luminescent allowing the detection of ProSSG with semi-quantitative determination. In addition, a deglutathionylation enzyme mGrx1 specifically released E-GSH from ProSSG-E, which increased fluorescence allowing a sensitive determination of ProSSG levels. Application of the method to the adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells showed specific detection of ProSSG and its increase upon differentiation induction, which was consistent with the result obtained by conventional immunoblot analysis, but with greater specificity and sensitivity.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.155-163
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• 2022

Objectives : Lonicera japonica is known for anti-inflammation and antibiotic effect in Korean medicine. This study aimed for investigating the cytoprotective effect of Lonicera japonica extract (LJE) for HepG2 cells against arachidonic acid (AA)+iron-induced oxidative stress. Methods : The effect of LJE on cell viability was assessed by MTT assay. ROS assay was selected to assess antioxidant effect of LJE. To assess LJE's effect on mitochondrial function, flow cytometric analysis was operated. And immunoblot analysis was used to establish the underlying mechanism of LJE. Results : LJE protected HepG2 cells against AA+iron-induced oxidative stress by phosphorylation of liver kinase B1 and blocked the decline of procaspase 3. Also, LJE preserved the mitochondrial membrane permeability induced by AA+iron. Conclusion : LJE protected the hepatocyte from AA+iron-induced oxidative stress by activation of LKB1 by the preservation of mitochondrial functions.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.41-51
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• 2023

Objectives : Raphani Semen (Raphanus sativus L.) is known for the various beneficial effects in Korean medicine. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Raphani Semen extract (RSE) against arachidonic acid (AA)+iron-induced oxidative stress in cells. Methods : Ingredients, their target information, oxidative stress liver injury-related proteins was obtained from various network pharmacology databases and software. A hypergeometric test and enrichment analysis were conducted to evaluate associations between protein targets of RSE. The cell viability was assessed by MTT assay, and immunoblot analysis was used to confirm the molecular mechanisms. Results : A compound-target network of RSE was constructed, which consisted of 336 edges between 18 ingredients and 123 protein targets. PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, ErbB signaling pathway, HIF-1 signaling pathway, PPAR signaling pathway, and AMPK signaling pathway was significantly associated with protein targets of RSE. RSE protected HepG2 cells against AA+iron-induced oxidative stress as mediated with AMPK signaling. Conclusion : RSE was found to protect the cells against oxidative stress via the AMPK signaling pathway.