• Toxicological Research
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.343-357
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• 1992

Tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$(TNF), a polypeptide hormone secreted primarily by activated macrophages, was originally identified on the basis of its ability to cause hemorrhagic necrosis and tumor regression in vivo. Subsequently, TNF has been shown to be an important component of the host responses to infection and cancer and may mediate the wasting syndrome known as cachexia. These systemic actions of TNF are reflected in its diverse effects on target cells in vitro. TNF initiates its diverse cellular actions by binding to specific cell surface receptors. Although TNF receptors have been identified on most of animal cells, regulation of these receptors and the mechanisms which transduce TNF receptor binding into cellular responses are not well understood. Therefore, in the present study, the mechanisms how TNF receptors are being regulated and how TNF receptor binding is being transduced into cellular responses were investigated in rat liver plasma membranes (PM) and ME-180 human cervical carcinoma cell lines. $^{125}I$-TNF bound to high ($K_d=1.51{\pm}0.35nM$)affinity receptors in rat liver PM. Solubilization of PM with 1% Triton X-100 increased both high affinity (from $0.33{\pm}0.04\;to\;1.67{\pm}0.05$ pmoles/mg protein) and low affinity (from $1.92{\pm}0.16\;to\;7.57{\pm}0.50$ pmoles/mg protein) TNF binding without affecting the affinities for TNF, suggesting the presence of a large latent pool of TNF receptors. Affinity labeling of receptors whether from PM or solubilized PM resulted in cross-linking of $^{125}I$-TNF into $M_r$ 130 kDa, 90 kDa and 66kDa complexes. Thus, the properties of the latent TNF receptors were similar to those initially accessible to TNF. To determine if exposure of latent receptors is regulated by TNF, $^{125}I$-TNF binding to control and TNF-pretreated membranes were assayed. Specific binding was increased by pretreatment with TNF (P<0.05), demonstrating that hepatic PM contains latent TNF receptors whose exposure is promoted by TNF. Homologous up-regulation of TNF receptors may, in part, be responsible for sustained hepatic responsiveness during chronic exposure to TNF. As a next step, the post-receptor events induced by TNF were examined. Although the signal transduction pathways for TNF have not been delineated clearly, the actions of many other hormones are mediated by the reversible phosphorylation of specific enzymes or target proteins. The present study demonstrated that TNF induces phosphorylation of 28 kDa protein (p28). Two dimensional soidum dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(SDS-PAGE) resolved the 28kDa phosphoprotein into two isoforms having pIs of 6.2 and 6.1. The pIs and relative molecular weight of p28 were consistent with those of a previously characterized mRNA cap binding protein. mRNA cap binding proteins are a class of translation initiation factors that recognize the 7-methylguanosine cap structure found on the 5' end of eukaryotic mRNAs. In vitro, these proteins are defined by their specific elution from affinity columns composed of 7-methylguanosine 5'-triphosphate($m^7$GTP)-Sepharose. Affinity purification of mRNA cap binding proteins from control and TNF treated ME-180 cells proved that TNF rapidly stimulates phosphorylation of an mRNA cap binding protein. Phosphorylation occurred in several cell types that are important in vitro models of TNF action. The mRNA cap binding protein phosphorylated in response to TNF treatment was purifice, sequenced, and identified as the proto-oncogene product eukaryotic initiation factor-4E(eIF-4E). These data show that phosphorylation of a key component of the cellular translational machinery is a common early event in the diverse cellular actions of TNF.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.52-60
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• 2009

This study was conducted to quantify the soil respiratory $CO_2$ emission (SR) in an apple orchard and to determine its relationship with key environmental factors such as air temperature, soil temperature and soil moisture content. Experiment was made over the period from 23 April 2007 to 31 March 2008 in 'Fuji' apple orchard of National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science in Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, Korea. The SR was measured by using the automatic opening/closing chamber system based on a closed method. Diurnal variations in SR showed an increase around 0700 hours with increasing soil temperature, its peak between 1400 and 1500 hours, and then a gradual decrease thereafter. Daily variations in SR depended largely on soil and air temperatures over the year, ranging from 0.8 to 13.7 g $CO_2$ $m^{-2}d^{-1}$. During the rainy spell in summer (July$\sim$Autumn) with higher temperature and more precipitation, the SR was lower than that in the spring (May$\sim$June) with moderate temperature. The SR showed a significant exponential relationship with soil temperature ($r^2=0.800$) and air temperature ($r^2=0.805$), but not with soil moisture content ($r^2=0.160$). The $Q_{10}$ values of SR with annual soil temperature and air temperature were 2.0 and 1.9, respectively. The annually integrated SR was 19.6 ton $CO_2$ $ha^{-1}$.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.171-181
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• 2001

Background : Angiogenesis is an essential process for the growth and metastatic ability of solid tumors. One of the key factors known to be capable of stimulating tumor angiogenesis is the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The serum VEGF concentration has been shown to be a useful parameter related to the clinical features and prognosis of lung cancer and has been recently applied to a the malignant pleural effusion showing a correlation with the biochemical parameters. The VEGF has been shown to play a role in the inflammatory diseases, but rarely in the tuberculosis (TB). The serum and pleural fluid VEGF levels were measured in patients with lung cancer and TB. Their relationship with the clinical and laboratory parameters and repeated measurement 3 months after various anticancer treatments were evaluated to assess the utility of the VEGF as a tumor marker. Methods : Using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the VEGF conoentration was measured in both sera and pleural effusions collected from a total of 85 patients with lung cancer, 13 patients with TB and 20 healthy individuals. Results : The serum VEGF levels in patients with lung cancer ($619.9{\pm}722.8pg/ml$) were significantly higher than those of healthy controls ($215.9{\pm}191.1pg/ml$), However, there was no significant difference between the VEGF levels in the lung cancer and TB patients. The serum VEGF levels were higher in large cell and undifferentiated carcinoma than in squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. The serum VEGF levels of lung cancer patients revealed no significant relationship with the various clinical parameters. The VEGF concentrations in the malignant effusion ($2,228.1{\pm}2,103.0pg/ml$) were significantly higher than those in the TB effusion ($897.6{\pm}978.8pg/ml$). In the malignant pleural effusion, the VEGF levels revealed significant correlation with the number of red blood cells (r=0.75), the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)(r=0.70), and glucose concentration (r=-0.55) in the pleural fluid. Conclusion : The serum VEGF levels were higher in the lung cancer patients. The VEGF levels were more elevated in the malignant pleural effusion than in the tuberculous effusion. In addition, the VEGF levels in the pleural fluid were several times higher than the matched serum values suggesting a local activation and possible etiologic role of VEGF in the formation of malignant effusions. The pleural VEGF levels showed a significant correlation with the numbers of red blood cells, LDH and glucose concentrations in the pleural fluid, which may represent the tumor burden.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.71 no.3
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• pp.195-201
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• 2011

Background: Osteopontin (Opn) is recognized as an important adhesive bone matrix protein and a key cytokine involved in immune cell recruitment and tissue repair and remolding. However, serum levels of osteopontin have not been evaluated in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the serum levels of osteopontin in patients experiencing COPD exacerbations and in patients with stable COPD. Methods: Serum samples were obtained from 22 healthy control subjects, 18 stable COPD patients, and 15 COPD with exacerbation patients. Serum concentrations of osteopontin were measured by the ELISA method. Results: Serum levels of osteopontin were higher in patients with acute exacerbation than with stable COPD and in healthy control subjects ($62.4{\pm}51.9ng/mL$, $36.9{\pm}11.1ng/mL$, $30{\pm}11ng/mL$, test for trend p=0.003). In the patients with COPD exacerbation, the osteopontin levels when the patient was discharged from the hospital tended to decrease compared to those at admission ($45{\pm}52.1ng/mL$, $62.4{\pm}51.9ng/mL$, p=0.160). Osteopontin levels significantly increased according to patient factors, including never-smoker, ex-smoker and current smoker ($23{\pm}5.7ng/mL$, $35.5{\pm}17.6ng/mL$, $58.6{\pm}47.8ng/mL$, test for trend p=0.006). Also, osteopontin levels showed a significantly negative correlation with forced expiratory volume in one second ($FEV_1$%) predicted in healthy controls and stable COPD patients (r=-0.389; p=0.013). C-reactive protein (CRP) was positively correlated with osteopontin levels in patients with COPD exacerbation (r=0.775; p=0.002). Conclusion: The serum levels of osteopontin increased in patients with COPD exacerbation and tended to decrease after clinical improvement. These results suggest the possible role of osteopontin as a biomarker of acute exacerbation of COPD.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.249-268
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• 2005

Drug metabolizing enzymes (DMEs) play central roles in the metabolism, elimination and detoxification of xenobiotics and drugs introduced into the human body. Most of the tissues and organs in our body are well equipped with diverse and various DMEs including phase I, phase II metabolizing enzymes and phase III transporters, which are present in abundance either at the basal unstimulated level, and/or are inducible at elevated level after exposure to xenobiotics. Recently, many important advances have been made in the mechanisms that regulate the expression of these drug metabolism genes. Various nuclear receptors including the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), orphan nuclear receptors, and nuclear factor-erythoroid 2 p45-related factor 2 (Nrf2) have been shown to be the key mediators of drug-induced changes in phase I, phase II metabolizing enzymes as well as phase III transporters involved in efflux mechanisms. For instance, the expression of CYP1 genes can be induced by AhR, which dimerizes with the AhR nuclear translocator (Arnt) , in response to many polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs). Similarly, the steroid family of orphan nuclear receptors, the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) and pregnane X receptor (PXR), both heterodimerize with the ret-inoid X receptor (RXR), are shown to transcriptionally activate the promoters of CYP2B and CYP3A gene expression by xenobiotics such as phenobarbital-like compounds (CAR) and dexamethasone and rifampin-type of agents (PXR). The peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR), which is one of the first characterized members of the nuclear hormone receptor, also dimerizes with RXR and has been shown to be activated by lipid lowering agent fib rate-type of compounds leading to transcriptional activation of the promoters on CYP4A gene. CYP7A was recognized as the first target gene of the liver X receptor (LXR), in which the elimination of cholesterol depends on CYP7A. Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) was identified as a bile acid receptor, and its activation results in the inhibition of hepatic acid biosynthesis and increased transport of bile acids from intestinal lumen to the liver, and CYP7A is one of its target genes. The transcriptional activation by these receptors upon binding to the promoters located at the 5-flanking region of these GYP genes generally leads to the induction of their mRNA gene expression. The physiological and the pharmacological implications of common partner of RXR for CAR, PXR, PPAR, LXR and FXR receptors largely remain unknown and are under intense investigations. For the phase II DMEs, phase II gene inducers such as the phenolic compounds butylated hydroxyanisol (BHA), tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ), green tea polyphenol (GTP), (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and the isothiocyanates (PEITC, sul­foraphane) generally appear to be electrophiles. They generally possess electrophilic-medi­ated stress response, resulting in the activation of bZIP transcription factors Nrf2 which dimerizes with Mafs and binds to the antioxidant/electrophile response element (ARE/EpRE) promoter, which is located in many phase II DMEs as well as many cellular defensive enzymes such as heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), with the subsequent induction of the expression of these genes. Phase III transporters, for example, P-glycoprotein (P-gp), multidrug resistance-associated proteins (MRPs), and organic anion transporting polypeptide 2 (OATP2) are expressed in many tissues such as the liver, intestine, kidney, and brain, and play crucial roles in drug absorption, distribution, and excretion. The orphan nuclear receptors PXR and GAR have been shown to be involved in the regulation of these transporters. Along with phase I and phase II enzyme induction, pretreatment with several kinds of inducers has been shown to alter the expression of phase III transporters, and alter the excretion of xenobiotics, which implies that phase III transporters may also be similarly regulated in a coordinated fashion, and provides an important mean to protect the body from xenobiotics insults. It appears that in general, exposure to phase I, phase II and phase III gene inducers may trigger cellular 'stress' response leading to the increase in their gene expression, which ultimately enhance the elimination and clearance of these xenobiotics and/or other 'cellular stresses' including harmful reactive intermediates such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), so that the body will remove the 'stress' expeditiously. Consequently, this homeostatic response of the body plays a central role in the protection of the body against 'environmental' insults such as those elicited by exposure to xenobiotics.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.358-364
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• 2011

To examine the possibility of natural regeneration of six Acer species in broadleaved mixed forest in Korean peninsula, samples of six Acer species' samaras were collected at several seed sources from September to October 2009 and 2010, and seed morphological characteristics and viability were studied using cutting method. Inflorescense type of Acer mandshuricum(AM), A. pseudosieboldianum(APS) and A. palmatum(AP) is corymb, that of A. pictum subsp. mono(APSM) and A. okamotoanum(AO) is flat-topped panicle, and that of A. ukurunduense(AU) is raceme. Number of seed-set per inflorescense proves the highest value 38.5 sets in AU and the lowest value 2.4 sets in APS. Diameter of the seeds proves highest value 13.5mm in AO, and the lowest value 4.7mm in APS. Angles between the wings proves the highest values $130.05^{\circ}$ in APS, and the lowest value $48.60^{\circ}$ in AU. Air dry weight of 20 seed-sets proves highest value 3,900mg, in AO, and the lowest value 404mg in AU. Viable seed ratio of AP proves 50%, and that of AU does 43.2%. Those of other four species ranges 8.6~22.2%. Considering postdispersal seed predators and disturbance of litter, viable seeds of APSM, AO, AM, and APS supplied in the natural forest in Korea might be insufficient for seedling establishment. This study showed that sound viable seed supply might be key factors of natural regeneration of major Acer species in Korea. The openings made by insect pests were observed on the seed-coat of APSM, AM, AU, and APS samara, and Bradybatus sharpi were observed in the samaras of APSM and AO. Further study on the seed insect fauna, pre- and post-dispersal seed viability, and annual variation on these factor should be needed.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.139-146
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• 2010

The survey was done in order to find what kinds of birds visit Taeanhaean National Park during breeding season, where we fixed up 10 coastal areas and islands within the National Park. Three groups concurrently performed the field research from 5th to 9th of July in 2009. Total 58 species and 7,323 individuals were recorded in Taeanhaean National Park. 48 species including 6,187 individuals were observed in coastal areas and 33 species including 1,136 individuals in island areas. The most dominant species in the National Park are Larus crassirostris which accounts for 60% of the birds inhabiting there, and they seem to have been bred in the islands near the National Park. The birds observed only around the coastal areas include Anas poecilorhyncha, Fulica atra, Egretta intermedia and the others which consist of 25 species and amount to 318 individuals, and the birds found exclusively in island areas include Phalacrocorax filamentosus, Apus pacificus¸ Locustella pleskei and other birds, which consist of 10 species and the number of those individuals observed was 308. The inhabited islands areas such as Gauido were characterized by high ratio of waterbird population, which seems to be correlated with the factors such as the extent of island, the richness of water resources, and the diversity of habitats. Based on the data collected during the research and other data from the previous observations, the kinds of dominant species remain nearly unchanged. And in spite of the oil spill accident in 2007, the increase in the number of waterbirds compared to 2004 may be the evidence that the area is recovering from the environmental pollution. At present, the tidal power plants are being built or scheduled to be built and large-scale reclamation is also under way. What is worse, those areas are seeing the increase of pension construction, which is likely to be the potential cause of damage and disturbance against some key habitats for the waterbirds. Therefore, it is a major priority that we build the bird information system to efficiently manage the knowledge-based asset collected from bird-watching groups and to better monitor the areas that need enhanced database through which the National Park can be appropriately administered.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.703-708
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• 2015

Hox genes encode a highly conserved family of homeodomain-containing transcription factors controlling vertebrate pattern formation along the anteroposterior body axis during embryogenesis. Retinoic acid (RA) is a key morphogen in embryogenesis and a critical regulator of both adult and embryonic cellular activity. Specifically, RA regulates Hox gene expression in mouse- or human-derived embryonic carcinoma (EC) cells. Histone modification has been reported to play a pivotal role in the process of RA-induced gene expression and cell differentiation. As histone modification is thought to play an essential role in RA-induced Hox gene expression, we examined RA-induced initiation of collinear expression of Hox genes and the corresponding histone modifications in F9 murine embryonic teratocarcinoma (EC) cells. Hox expression patterns and histone modifications were analyzed by semiquantitative RT-PCR, RNA-sequencing, and chromatin immuno-precipitation (ChIP)-PCR analyses. The Hoxc4 gene (D0) was initiated earlier than the Hoxc5 to –c10 genes (D3) upon RA treatment (day 0 [D0], day 1 [D1], and day 3 [D3]). The Hox nonexpressing D0 sample had a strong repressive marker, H3K27me3, than the D1 and D3 samples. In the D1 and D3 samples, reduced enrichment of the H3K27me3 marker was observed in the whole cluster. The active H3K4me3 marker was closely associated with the collinear expression of Hoxc genes. Thus, the Hoxc4 gene (D1) and all Hoxc genes (D3) expressed H3K4me3 upon transcription activation. In conclusion, these data indicated that removing H3K27me3 and acquiring H3K4me3 regulated RA-induced Hoxc gene collinearity in F9 cells.

• Korean Security Journal
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• no.53
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• pp.63-79
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• 2017

Defence Security Command is the only military intelligence and investigation agency which is in charge of safeguarding military information and investigating specific crimes such as subversion and disloyalty in military. While the presidential security provided by Defence Security Command, along with Presidential Security Service(PSS) and the police, forms one of three pillars sustaining presidential security, its works and activities have been rarely known to the public due to the military confidentiality. This study looks into some data specialized into the presidential security among works of Defense Security Command by using various resources such as biographies of key people, media reports, and public materials. It reviews the presidential security works in a historical sense that the works have developed and changed in accordance with the historical changes of Defense Security Command, which was rooted in Counter-Intelligence Corps (Teukmubudae in Korean) in 1948 and leads to the present. The study findings are as follows. First, when the Korean War broke out in 1950 and since then the South Korea was under the threat of the North Korean armed forces and left wing forces, Counter-Intelligence Corps(Bangcheopdudae in Korean) took the lead in presidential security more than the police who was in charge of it. Secondly, even after the Presidential Security Office has founded in 1963, the role of the military on presidential security has been extended by changing its titles from Counter-Intelligence Corps to Army Security corps to Armed Forces Security Command. It has developed their provision of presidential security based on the experience at the president Rhee regime when they could successfully guard the president Rhee and the important government members. Third, since the re-establishment into Defence Security Command in 1990, it has added more security services and strengthened its legal basis. With the excellent expertise, it played a pivotal role in the G20 and other state-level events. After the establishment of the Moon Jaeinin government, its function has been reduced or abolished by the National Defense Reform Act. However, the presidential security field has been strengthening by improving security capabilities through reinforcing the organization. This strengthening of the security capacity is not only effective in coping with the current confrontation situation with the hostile North Korean regime, but also is important and necessary in conducting constant monitoring of the military movement and security-threat factors within military during the national security events.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.35-82
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• 2014

It was main objectives to find the learners characteristics and educational effects of cyber agricultural technology courses in RDA. For the research, it was followed by literature reviews and internet based survey methods. In internet based survey, two staged stratified sampling method was adopted from cyber training members database in RDA along with some key word as open course or certificate course, and enrollment years. Instrument was composed through literature reviews about cyber education effects and educational effect factors. And learner characteristics items were added in survey documents. It was sent to sampled persons by e-mail and 316 data was returned via google survey systems. Through the data cleaning, 303 data were analysed by chi-square, t-test and F-test. It's significance level was .05. The results of the research were as followed; First, the respondent was composed of mainly man(77.9%), and monthly income group was mainly 2,000,000 or 3,000,000 won(24%), bachelor degree(48%), fifty or forty age group was shared to 75%, and their job was changed after learning(12.2%). So major respondents' job was not changed. Their major was not mainly agriculture. Learners' learning style were composed of two or more types as concrete-sequential, mixing, abstract-random, so e-learning course should be developed for the students' type. Second, it was attended at 3.2 days a week, 53.53 minutes a class, totally 172.63 minutes a week. They were very eager or generally eager to study, and attended two or more subjects. The cyber education motives was for farming knowledge, personal competency development, job performance enlarging. They selected subjects along with their interest. A subject person couldn't choose more subjects for little time, others, non interesting subject, but more subject persons were for job performance benefits and previous subjects effectiveness. Most learner was finished their subject, but a fourth was not finished for busy (26.7%). And their entrying behavior was not enough to learn e-course and computer or internet using ability was middle level as software using. And they thought RDA cyber course was comfort in non time or space limit, knowledge acquisition, and personal competency development. Cyber learning group was composed of open course only (12.5%), certificate only(25.7%), both(36.3%). Third, satisfaction and academic achievement of e-learning learners were good, and educational service offering for doing job in learning application category was good, but effect of cyber education was not good, especially, agricultural income increasing was not good because major learner group was not farmer, so they couldn't apply their knowledge to farming. And content structure and design, content comprehension, content amount were good. The more learning subject group responded to good in effects, and both open course and certificate course group satisfied more than open course only group. Based on the results, recommendation was offered as cyber course specialization before main course in RDA training system, support staff and faculty enlargement, building blended learning system with local RDA office, introducing cyber tutor system.