• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.73-82
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• 2008

Dental caries is an infectious disease caused by mutans streptococci, and is a primary etiologic agent of dental caries in humans. The molecular pathogenesis of mutans streptococcal-associated dental caries occurs in three phases. Firstly, S. mutans attaches to tooth surface via a cell surface adhesion termed antigen I/II. In the second phase, the glucosyltransferase(GTFs) synthesize polymers like glucans in the presence of sucrose. In the third phase, the multivalent glucans interacts with glucan binding proteins (GBPs) and they make dental plaque and accumulation of microorganisms. Many studies and clinical trials have indicated that a mucosal immune response to these antigens(Ag I/II, GTFs, GBPs) of S. mutans can influence the pathogenesis of dental caries. So these antigens can be important vaccine candidates for immunologic intervention against dental caries. In this study, we cloned the genes for GTFb, GTFc, GTFd from S. mutans GS-5 and did the nucleotide sequence analysis. And the recombinant proteins of GTFd and N-terminus of GTFd were expressed. Intact GTF which we get from this experiment can be used for antibody production specific for any GTF activity domain through animal experiment.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.85-93
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• 1999

Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in immunologic defense, and influences upon the functioning of secretory tissues and cells. It also exhibits cytotoxic/cytostatic activity as one of major operating effectors of the cellular immunity system. We investigated the effects of serum on the cell damages and NO production in the mouse liver cell line BNL CL.2 to establish the role of NO. We observed that, when BNL CL.2 cells were cultured in serum-free medium, they were induced to cell damage by the stimulation of IFN-$\gamma$ alone or IFN-$\gamma$ plus LPS. Serum-starved cells showed large amount of nitrite accumulation and NO synthase (NOS) expression in response to IFN-$\gamma$ alone in dose- and time- dependent manners, but serum-supplied cells did not The production of NO was blocked by protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitors, genistein and herbimycin. These results suggest that the deprivation of serum in the BNL CL.2 cell culture medium might primed with the cells to produce NO when the cells are triggered by IFN-$\gamma$ and the involvement of PTK signal transduction pathway in the expression of NOS gene in murine hepatocytes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.544-550
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• 1992

This study was investigated on the antitumor effects of protein-polysaccharide fraction(PPF) extracted from seaweeds such as sea-lettuce and gonpi toward sarcoma-180 cells. In the PPF extracted from these seaweeds, the polysaccharide contents of sea-lettrce and gonpi were 52.20% and 48.16%, respectively. The highest levels of constituents monosaccharides found in seaweeds was fructose. The major amino acids were aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine and cystein. The solid tumor growth inhibition showed the highest level of 64.55% when 50mg/kg sea-lettuce was administerated. The life prolongation effect was 18.31% at 50mg/kg of gonpi. In the effects of immunologic activity, when 50mg/kg sea-lettuce was administrated, the number of circulating leucocyte showed the highest level (65.11%). The number of total peritoneal exudate cells of the sea-lettuce administerated group was increased significantly in comparison with the control group. The hematological analysis of the experimental group was similar with that of the control group.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.298-304
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• 2007

Purpose: This study was undertaken to investigate the osteogenic induction potential of PGA & FBS mixture on a calvarial defect in the rabbit. Methods: Twenty New zealand white rabbit, weighing from 3.5-4kg were allocated into each of the three groups. Four 8 mm sized bone defects were made on the parietal bone by drilling. In group I, the bony defects were implanted with $50{\mu}m$ thickness film containing mixture of PGA and FBS. In group II, with PGA only film, & in group III, the bony defects were left with no implants. Results were evaluated by using morphologic change, radiographic study, biochemical study and histologic examination at 1 week (group I n=7, group II n=7, group III n=14), 2 weeks (group I n=6, group II n=6, group III n=12) and 3 weeks (group I n=7, group II n=7, group III n=14) following implantation. Results: In the morphologic & radiographic study, the formation and corticalization of callus were observed earlier in group I than in groups II and III (p < 0.05). In histological examination, group I showed more abundant and faster new bone formation than in group II and III. In biochemical analysis, group I displayed more activity than in group II and III. Group I also showed more abundant osteopontin, osteocalcin than groups II and III. Conclusion: In conclusion, the results demonstrate that the mixture of PGA and FBS has an effect on osteoblastic formation in the rabbit model. It is considered that further evaluation of long term results on resorption, immunologic tissue reaction and response of applied mixture in the human model will be needed.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.303-317
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• 1994

This study was designed to measure the changes in the titer of tooth root antibodies accompanying root resorption associated with orthodontic tooth movement in dogs to explore a role of the specific immune response in root resorption during orthodontic tooth movement. Five adult mongrel dogs, 2 years of age, were used in the study. Six lower incisors were extracted as sources of homologous antigen in the dogs. Tooth root antigen preparations were made from a 6M Guanidine-HCl-10% EDTA(pH5.0) extract of these root dentins. Root resorption was elicited by intrusion of six maxillary incisors with 200-250gm intrusive force. In 9th week, resorbing six maxillary anterior teeth were extracted. Serum samples were taken from each dog prior to intrusion and weekly for 11 consecutive weeks. Serum autoantibody titers were determined with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. As controls for antibody specificity, sera which were previously incubated with tooth root antigen as well as sera to an unrelated bacterial antigen (Porphyromonas gingivalis 33277) for 3 hours at 25 were measured in all runs. Root resorption was monitored monthly using occlusal radiographs. And then root resorption patterns were observed with a zoom stereo microscope (Model SZH-121, Olympus optical Co. Ltd.). Incisors did not show clear radiographic evidence of significant and progressive root resorption, but periodontal ligament space had widened. But root resorption was observed on the apical regions of the maxillary incisors with a zoom stereo microscope. Teeth showed the shallow depression generally accompanying deep resorption. These demonstrate a slight tendency for an immediate decrease followed by rebound to levels above the pre-treatment baseline. A peak titer of autoantibody to dentin antigen occurred on day 28, then steadily decreased during the 9th week period as the roots resorbed and then rapidly spiked in animals when the resorbing teeth were extracted. When sera is incubated with tooth root antigen, serum activity in the ELISA was almost absent. This is because serum activity in the ELISA could be removed by absorption of the serum with dog dentin antigen. Serum ELISA activity to the unrelated bacterial antigen remained essentially unchanged in all animals throughout the experimental period. When the time course of changes in autoantibody to homologous tooth root antigen prepatration and unrelated bacterial antigen was compared, no significant differences were found(${\alpha}=0.05$). In general, the overall pattern of changes in autoantibody was similar to the two antigens. These findings suggest the possibility that these immunologic changes precede a significant development of root resorption lesions rather than merely reflecting their presence. Therefore, this suggests that the changes of antibody levels may have some predictive value for root resorption.