• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.138-146
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• 2023

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan parasite which can infect most warm-blooded animals and humans. Among the different mouse models, C57BL/6 mice are more susceptible to T. gondii infection compared to BALB/c mice, and this increased susceptibility has been attributed to various factors, including T-cell responses. Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most prominent type of antigen-presenting cells and regulate the host immune response, including the response of T-cells. However, differences in the DC responses of these mouse strains to T. gondii infection have yet to be characterized. In this study, we cultured bone marrow-derived DCs (BMDCs) from BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice. These cells were infected with T. gondii. The activation of the BMDCs was assessed based on the expression of cell surface markers and cytokines. In the BMDCs of both mouse strains, we detected significant increases in the expression of cell surface T-cell co-stimulatory molecules (major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II, CD40, CD80, and CD86) and cytokines (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-12p40, IL-1β, and IL-10) from 3 h post-T. gondii infection. The expression of MHC II, CD40, CD80, CD86, IFN-γ, IL-12p40, and IL-1β was significantly higher in the T. gondii-infected BMDCs obtained from the C57BL/6 mice than in those from the BALB/c mice. These findings indicate that differences in the activation status of the BMDCs in the BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice may account for their differential susceptibility to T. gondii.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.529-541
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• 2003

Yukmijihwang-tang has been widely used as an and-aging herbal medicine for hundred years in Asian countries. Numerous studies show that Yukmijihwangtang has anti-oxidative effect both in vivo and in vitro. It has been reported that Moutan Cortex Radicis extract (MCR) was the most effective herb in Yukmijihwang-tang on undifferentiated PC12 cells upon oxidative-stressed with hydrogen peroxide. The purpose of this study is to; 1) evaluate the recovery of neuronal damage by assessing the anti-oxidant effect of MCR on PC12 cells differentiated with nerve growth factor (NGF), 2) identify candidate genes responsible for anti-oxidative effect on differentiated PC12 cells by oligonucleotide chip microarray. PC12 cells, which were differentiated by treating with NGF, were treated without or with hydrogen peroxide in the presence or absence of various concentration of MCR. Cell survival was determined by using MTS assay. Measurement of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was determined using the H2DCFDA assay The viability of cells treated with MCR was significantly recovered from stressed PC12 cell. In addition, wide rage of concentrations of MCR shows dose-dependent inhibitory effect on ROS production in oxidative-stressed cells. Total RNAs of cells without treatment(Control group), only treated with H₂O₂ (stressed group) and treated with both H₂O₂ and of MCR (MCR group) were isolated, and cDNAs was synthesized using oligoT7(dT) primer. The fragmented cRNAs, synthesized from cDNAs, were applied to Affymetrix GeneChip Rat Neurobiology U34 Array. mRNA of Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II delta subunit(CaMKII), neuron glucose transporter (GLUT3) and myelin/oligodendrocyte glycoprotein(MOG) were downregulated in Stressed group comparing to Control group. P2X2-5 receptor (P2X2R-5), P2X2-4 receptor (P2X2R-4), c-fos, 25 kDa synaptosomal attachment protein(SNAP-25a) and GLUT3 were downregulated, whereas A2 adenosine receptor (A2AR), cathechol-O-methyltransferase(COMT), glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), EST223333, heme oxygenase (HO), VGF, UI-R-CO-ja-a-07-0-Ul.s1 and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) were upregulated in MCA group comparing to Control group. Expression of Putative potassium channel subunit protein (ACK4), P2X2A-5, P2X2A-4, Interferon-gamma inducing factor isoform alpha precursor (IL-18α), EST199031, P2XR, P2X2 purinoceptor isoform e (P2X2R-e), Precursor interleukin 18 (IL-18) were downregulated, whereas MOO, EST223333, GLUT-1, MIF, Neuronatin alpha, UI-R-C0-ja-a-07-0-Ul.s1, A2. adenosine receptor, COMT, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), HO, VGF, A rat novel protein which is expressed with nerve injury (E12625) were upregulated in MCR group comparing to Stressed group. The results suggest that decreased viability and AOS production of PC12 cell by H₂O₂ may be, at lease, mediated by impaired glucose transporter expression. It is implicated that the MCR treatment protect PC12 cell from oxidative stress via following mechanisms; improving glucose transport into the cell, enhancing expression of anti-oxidative genes and protecting from dopamine cytotoxicity by increment of COMT and MIF expression. The list of differentially expressed genes may implicate further insight on the action and mechanism behind the anti-oxidative effects of herbal extract Moutan Cortex Radicis.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.213-229
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• 2023

This study aimed to investigate the effects of beak trimming and crossbreeding-combinations on the productive performance and stress response levels of Korean native chickens. The study divided 248 individuals from six crossbreeding-combinations into two groups: one underwent beak trimming, and the other did not. The survival rate, body weight, egg production rate, egg quality, feather damage score, HSP-70 gene expression level, H/L ratio, and intracellular DNA damage rate were measured and analyzed. The results showed that the beak-trimmed group had significantly higher survival rates and hen-housed egg production compared to the non-beak-trimmed group (P<0.05). Feather damage and DNA damage rates were significantly lower in the beak-trimmed group (P<0.05). On the other hand, there were no significant differences between the two groups in adult body weight, hen-day egg production, egg quality, HSP-70 gene expression level, and H/L ratio. Among the crossbreeding-combinations, there were significant differences in survival rate, body weight, feather damage score, egg quality, and DNA damage rate (P<0.05), while egg production rate, HSP-70 gene expression level, and H/L ratio showed no significant differences. There was an interaction between beak trimming and crossbreeding-combinations in some traits. In conclusion, beak trimming in Korean native chickens has a positive impact on productive performance, and in terms of stress response, beak trimming may not act as a stress factor or may even reduce stress after the growing period. Furthermore, there were differences in productive performance and stress response levels among crossbreeding-combinations, but the effects of beak trimming were similar across these combinations.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.20-31
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• 2018

Marine parasitoid Amoebophrya infects and kills various bloom-forming dinoflagellates and strongly influences the harmful algal bloom dynamics. We investigated the effect of temperature on survival, infectivity, generation time of the parasite from the parasitoid Amoebophrya sp. and the harmful dinoflagellate host Akashiwo sanguinea system. Temperature had a significant effect on the parasite generation time and infectivity. While the lower temperature ($15^{\circ}C$) arrested parasite intracellular development and infectivity, resulting in the longer generation time ($115{\pm}0.1h$), the higher temperatures ($25^{\circ}C$ and $20^{\circ}C$) accelerated the parasite development, with the generation times of $58{\pm}0.1h$ and $83{\pm}0.1h$, respectively. Parasite prevalence (percent of host infected) was $71.5{\pm}0.30%$, $54.3{\pm}1.68%$, and $29.6{\pm}1.42%$ at $25^{\circ}C$, $20^{\circ}C$, and $15^{\circ}C$, respectively. These results suggest that biological control by parasitism on A. sanguinea bloom would not be highly effective during low water temperature season. Further, water temperature would be an important factor of bottom-up controls for the host-parasite population dynamics.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.2119-2128
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• 2017

Citrinin (CIT) is a toxic secondary metabolite produced by fungi belonging to the Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Monascus spp. This toxin has been detected in many agricultural products. In this study, a strain Y3 with the ability to eliminate CIT was screened and identified as Cryptococcus podzolicus, based on the sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region. Neither uptake of CIT by cells nor adsorption by cell wall was involved in CIT elimination by Cryptococcus podzolicus Y3. The extracellular metabolites of Cryptococcus podzolicus Y3 stimulated by CIT or not showed no degradation for CIT. It indicated that CIT elimination was attributed to the degradation of intracellular enzyme(s). The degradation of CIT by C. podzolicus Y3 was dependent on the type of media, yeast concentration, temperature, pH, and initial concentration of CIT. Most of the CIT was degraded by C. podzolicus Y3 in NYDB medium at 42 h but not in PDB medium. The degradation rate of CIT was the highest (94%) when the concentration of C. podzolicus Y3 was $1{\times}10^8cells/ml$. The quantity of CIT degradation was highest at $28^{\circ}C$, and there was no degradation observed at 3$5^{\circ}C$. The study also showed that acidic condition (pH 4.0) was the most favorable for CIT degradation by C. podzolicus Y3. The degradation rate of CIT increased to 98% as the concentration of CIT was increased to $20{\mu}g/ml$. The toxicity of CIT degradation product(s) toward HEK293 was much lower than that of CIT.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.65-71
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• 2011

We explored the effect of extracts of dried Platycodon grandiflorum on production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione (GSH) and nitric oxide (NO). To determine antioxidant activity in the presence of $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress, DCFH-DA (dichlorodihydrofluorescin diacetate) assay was employed. Acetone/methylene chloride (A+M) and methanolic (MeOH) extracts of P. grandiflorum reduced intracellular ROS levels. Of the various tested fractions, n-BuOH fraction showed the highest protective effect in terms of lipid peroxide production. Total GSH levels were measured after treatment of HT1080 cells with the A+M and MeOH extracts, and other solvent fractions, at various concentration. The A+M extacts and 85% (v/v) aqueous MeOH fraction significantly increased GSH levels (p<0.05). When lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NO production was evaluated, all tested crude extracts, and fractions thereof, significantly reduced NO production (p<0.05), and the n-BuOH and 85% (v/v) aqueous MeOH fractions (at 0.05 mg/mL) showed the strongest inhibitory effects. The results showed that the n-BuOH fraction inhibited both cellular oxidation and NO production, and this fraction may thus contain valuable active compounds.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.92-97
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• 2009

As nanomaterials might enter into cells and have high reactivity with intracellular structures, it is necessary to assay possible genotoxic risk of them. One of these approaches, we investigated possible genotoxic potential of gold nanoparticle (AuNP) using L5178Y cells. Four different sizes of AuNP (4, 15, 100 or 200 nm) were synthesized and the sizes and structures of AuNP were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and stability was analyzed by a UV/Vis. Spectrophotometer. Cytotoxicity was assessed by direct cell counting, and cellular location was detected by dark field microscope at 6, 24 and 48 h after treatment of AuNP. Comet assay was conducted to examine DNA damage and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ mRNA level was assay by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Synthetic AuNP (4, 50, 100 and 200 nm size) had constant characteristics and stability confirmed by TEM, SEM and spectrophotometer for 10 days, respectively. Dark field microscope revealed the location of AuNP in the cytoplasm at 6, 24 and 48 h. Treatment of 4 nm AuNP induced dose and time dependent cytotoxicity, while other sizes of AuNP did not. However, Comet assay represented that treatment of 100 nm and 200 nm AuNP significantly increased DNA damage compared to vehicle control (p <0.01). Treatment of 100 nm and 200 nm AuNP significantly increased TNF-${\alpha}$ mRNA expression compared to vehicle control (p<0.05, p<0.01, respectively). Taken together, AuNP induced DNA damage in L5178Y cell, associated with induction of oxidative stress.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.335-345
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• 2022

Pyroptosis is an inflammatory form of programmed cell death that is linked with invading intracellular pathogens. Cardiac pyroptosis has a significant role in coronary microembolization (CME), thus causing myocardial injury. Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) has powerful cardioprotective effects. Hence, this study aimed to identify the effect of Tan IIA on CME and its underlying mechanism. Forty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly grouped into sham, CME, CME + low-dose Tan IIA, and CME + high-dose Tan IIA groups. Except for the sham group, polyethylene microspheres (42 ㎛) were injected to establish the CME model. The Tan-L and Tan-H groups received intraperitoneal Tan IIA for 7 days before CME. After CME, cardiac function, myocardial histopathology, and serum myocardial injury markers were assessed. The expression of pyroptosis-associated molecules and TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB/NLRP3 cascade was evaluated by qRT-PCR, Western blotting, ELISA, and IHC. Relative to the sham group, CME group's cardiac functions were significantly reduced, with a high level of serum myocardial injury markers, and microinfarct area. Also, the levels of caspase-1 p20, GSDMD-N, IL-18, IL-1β, TLR4, MyD88, p-NF-κB p65, NLRP3, and ASC expression were increased. Relative to the CME group, the Tan-H and Tan-L groups had considerably improved cardiac functions, with a considerably low level of serum myocardial injury markers and microinfarct area. Tan IIA can reduce the levels of pyroptosis-associated mRNA and protein, which may be caused by inhibiting TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB/NLRP3 cascade. In conclusion, Tanshinone IIA can suppress cardiomyocyte pyroptosis probably through modulating the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB/NLRP3 cascade, lowering cardiac dysfunction, and myocardial damage.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.583-591
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• 1997

The functional derangement of skeletal muscles which may be attributed to chronic hypoxia has been accepted as a possible mechanism of exercise impairment in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The metabolic changes in skeletal muscle in patients with COPD are characterized by impaired oxidative phosphorylation, early activation of anaerobic glycolysis and excessive lactate and hydrogen ion production with exercise. But the cause of exercise limitation in patients with chronic lung disease without hypoxia has not been known. In order to evaluate the change in the skeletal muscle metabolism as a possible cause of the exercise limitation in chronic lung disease patients without hypoxia, we compared the muscular metabolic data of seven male patients which had been derived from noninvasive $^{31}P$ magnetic resonance spectroscopy(MRS) with those of five age-matched normal male control persons. $^{31}P$ MRS was studied during the sustained isometric contraction of the dominant forearm flexor muscles up to the exhaustion state and the recovery period. Maximal voluntary contraction(MVC) force of the muscle was measured before the isometric exercise, and the 30% of MVC force was constantly loaded to each patient during the isometric exercise. There were no differences of intracellular pH (pHi) and inorganic phosphate/phosphocreatine(Pi/PCr) at baseline, exhaustion state and recovery period between two groups. But pHi during the exercise was lower in patients group than the control group (p < 0.05). Pi/PCr during the exercise did not show significant difference between two groups. These results suggest that the exercise limitation in chronic lung disease patients without hypoxia also could be attributed to the abnormalities in the skeletal muscle metabolism.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.123-129
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• 1990

A comparative study of acid-base balance has been made between acidemia-induced hyperkalemia and hyperkalemia-induced acidemia. A group of rabbits was infused 0.1 N hydrochloric acid solution and metabolic acidosis was induced. Another group was administered 20 mM potassium chloride solution and hyperkalemia was induced. The third group was infused 0.1 N hydrochloric acid and 20 mM potassium chloride solution, simultaneously. Acid-base data and plasma potassium ion concentration were monitored every thirty minutes in these three groups of rabbits. Following results were obtained: 1 ) Along with the infusion of hydrochloric acid, acute metabolic acidosis was induced in the rabbits. Plasma bicarbonate ion concentration decreased primarily in this group. As a respiratory compensation, there was a tendency of reduction of arterial $Pco_{2}$. The alteration of data became larger along with the amount of administration and the time elapsed. However, hyperkalemia was not so severe compared with the second group. 2) In potassium chloride infused group, plasma potassium ion concentration increased along with the time elapsed and the amount of infusion. And the alteration of acid-base data was parrallel to the level of potassium ion concentration, above all depression of pH was prominent. 3) Above data suggest that when acute metabolic acidosis was induced, exchange of intracellular potassium ion with extracellular hydrogen ion seems significant for the regulation of extracellular acid-base balance. And when hyperkalemia was induced with the infusion of potassium chloride solution, the exchange of intracellular hydrogen ion with extracellular potassium ion also seems significant for the regulation of extracellular potassium balance. 4) In the group of rabbits infused hydrochloric acid and potassium simultaneously, disturbances of acid-base balance and potassium balance were much more severe than two other groups. In these mixed disturbances, the process of compensatory mechanism might be inhibited and one disturbance might aggregate each other. 5) Through above data it has been postulated that in acid-base disturbance potassium balance can be sacrificed as a compensatory mechanism, and vice versa in disturbance of potassium balance. And our data also suggest that hydrogen ion and potassium ion are compensatory pair, one another.