• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제12권3호
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• pp.229-246
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• 1997

Implantation is a most important biological process during pregnancy whereby conceptus establishes its survival as well as maintenance of pregnancy. During the periimplantation period, both uterine endometriurn and conceptus synthesize and secrete a host of growth factors and cytokines which mediate the actions of estrogen and /or progesterone and also exert their steroid-independent actions. Growth factors expressed by the materno-conceptal unit en masse have important roles in cell migration, stimulation or inhibition of cell proliferation, cellular differentiation, maintenance of pregnancy and materno-conceptal communications in an autorcrine /paracrine manner. The present review focuses on the role of the intrauterine IGF system during periimplantation conceptus development. The IGF system comprises of IGF- I and IGF- II ligands, types I and II IGF receptors and six or more IGF-binding proteins(IGFBPs). IGFs and IGFBPs are expressed and secreted by uterine endometrium with tissue, pregnancy stage and species specificities under the influence of estrogen, progesterone and other growth factor(s). Conceptus also synthesizes components of the IGF system beginning from a period between 2-cell and blastocyst stages. Maternal IGFs are utilized by both maternal and conceptal tissues; conceptus-derived growth factors are believed to be taken up primarily by conceptus. IGFs enhance the development of both maternal and conceptal compartments in a wide range of biological processes. They stimulate proliferation and differentiation of endometrial cells and placental precursor cells including decidual transformation from stromal cells, placental formation and the synthesis of some steroid and protein hormones by differentiated endometrial cells or placenta. It is also well-documented in a number of experimental settings that both IGFs stimulate preimplantation embryo development. In slight contrast to these, prenatal mice carrying a null mutation of IGF and /or IGF receptor gene do not exhibit any apparent growth retardation until after implantation. Reason (s) for this discrepancy between the knock-out result and the in vitro ones, however, is not known. IGFBPs, in general, are believed to inhibit IGF action within the materno-conceptal unit, thereby allowing endometrial stromal cell differentiation as well as dampening ex cessive placental invasion into maternal tissue. There is evidence, however, indicating that IGFBP can enhance IGF action depending on environrnental conditions perhaps by directioning IGF ligand to the target cell. There is also a third possibility that certain IGFBPs and their proteolytic fragments may have their own biological activities independent of the IGF. In addition to IGFBPs, IGFBP proteases including those found within the uterine tissue or lumen are thought to enhance IGF bioavailability by degrading their substrates without affecting their bound ligand. In this regard, preliminary results in early pregnant pigs suggest that a partially characterized IGFBP protease activity in uterine luminal fluid enhances intrauterine IGF bioavailability during conceptus morphological development. In summary, a number of in vitro results indicate that IGFs stimulates the development of the rnaterno-conceptal unit during the periimplantation period. IGFBPs appear to inhibit IGF action by sequestering their ligands, whereas IGFBP proteases are thought to enhance intrauterine bioavailability of IGFs. Much is remaining to be clarified, however, regarding the roles of the individual IGF system components. These include in vivo evidence for the role of IGFs in early conceptus development, identification of IGF-regulated genes and their functions, specific roles for individual IGFBPs, identification and characterization of IGFBP proteases. The intrauterine IGF club house thus will be paying a lot of attention to forthcoming results in above and other areas, with its door wide-open!

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.375-381
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• 2005

Phospholipase C-${\beta}$ (PLC-${\beta}$) hydrolyses phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate and generates inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate in response to activation of various G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Using glial cells from knock-out mice lacking either PLC-${\beta}1$ [PLC-${\beta}1$ (-/-)] or PLC-${\beta}3$ [PLC-${\beta}3$ (-/-)], we examined which isotype of PLC-${\beta}$ participated in the cellular signaling events triggered by thrombin. Generation of inositol phosphates (IPs) was enhanced by thrombin in PLC-${\beta}1$ (-/-) cells, but was negligible in PLC-${\beta}3$ (-/-) cells. Expression of PLC-${\beta}3$ in PLC-${\beta}3$ (-/-) cells resulted in an increase in pertussis toxin (PTx)-sensitive IPs in response to thrombin as well as to PAR1-specific peptide, while expression of PLC-${\beta}1$ in PLC-${\beta}1$ (-/-) cells did not have any effect on IP generation. The thrombin-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase was delayed and attenuated in PLC-${\beta}3$ (-/-) cells, but normal in PLC-${\beta}1$ (-/-) cells. Pertussis toxin evoked a delayed $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase in PLC-${\beta}3$ (-/-) cells as well as in PLC-${\beta}1$ (-/-) cells. These results suggest that activation of PLC-${\beta}3$ by pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins is responsible for the transient $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase in response to thrombin, whereas the delayed $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase may be due to activation of some other PLC, such as PLC-${\beta}4$, acting via PTx-insensitive G proteins.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.381-390
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• 2006

Astaxanthine is a pigment that belongs to the family of the xanthophylls, the oxygenated derivatives of carotenoids whose synthesis in plants derives from lycopene. Astaxanthine is also a carotenoid widely used in salmonid and crustacean aquaculture to provide the pink color characteristic of that. Recent study reported that astaxanthine has the role as a detoxicant against the free radicals. On our study, we estimated the genotoxicity in ICR mice and possibility as antioxidant reagents of mutant Phaffia rhodozyma strain over expressing the astaxanthine by gamma-lay and carophyll pink including astaxanthine in apoE knock out mice, respectively. In our study, we administered Phaffia rhodozyma (2 mg and 3 mg) and carophyll pink for 4 and 8 week. The clinical sign and mortality were not detected compared with control groups. In the mutant frequency of hprt gene and chromosome aberration in splenic cells, there was not detected abnormality. There was not critical change in hematological and serum biochemical test compared to control. In expression level of repair enzyme, increase of catalase were detected and increase of expression level of Nrf-2 was detected in Phaffia rhodozyma (3 mg) and carophyll pink in 8 week treated group. In GSH level, the group of treated with Phaffia rhodozyma (3 mg) showed the increase of the GSH. In conclusion, mutant Phaffia rhodozyma and caphyll pink may be applied to the effective food additives to reduce the free radical.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.13.1-13.14
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• 2020

Currently, the systems for culturing buffalo spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in vitro are varied, and their effects are still inconclusive. In this study, we compared the effects of culture systems with undefined (foetal bovine serum) and defined (KnockOut Serum Replacement) materials on the in vitro culture of buffalo SSC-like cells. Significantly more DDX4- and UCHL1-positive cells (cultured for 2 days at passage 2) were observed in the defined materials culture system than in the undefined materials system (p < 0.01), and these cells were maintained for a longer period than those in the culture system with undefined materials (10 days vs. 6 days). Furthermore, NANOS2 (p < 0.05), DDX4 (p < 0.01) and UCHL1 (p < 0.05) were expressed at significantly higher levels in the culture system with defined materials than in that with undefined materials. Induction with retinoic acid was used to verify that the cultured cells maintained SSC characteristics, revealing an SCP3+ subset in the cells cultured in the defined materials system. The expression levels of Stra8 (p < 0.05) and Rec8 (p < 0.01) were significantly increased, and the expression levels of ZBTB16 (p < 0.01) and DDX4 (p < 0.05) were significantly decreased. These findings provided a clearer research platform for exploring the mechanism of buffalo SSCs in vitro.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.503-510
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• 2010

대부분의 알려진 알러젠들은 단백분해효소의 성격을 가지고 있고 이는 알레르기 반응에서 Th2 면역 반응을 일으키는 데 중요한 역할을 하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 이러한 단백분해효소들과 반응하는 것으로 알려진 protease activated receptor (PAR) 는 4가지 종류가 있으며, 이 중 PAR2의 경우 알레르기 질환과 많은 상관관계를 보여 많은 연구가 되고 있다. 본 연구는 Aspergillus protease 알러젠에 의한 초기 및 만성 Th2 면역반응에서 PAR2 의 역할을 규명하기 위해 Aspergillus protease 알러젠으로 정상쥐와 PAR2 유전자 결핍쥐 모두 Th2 반응을 유도한 후 면역세포의 침윤 정도 및 Th2 관련 cytokine 및 chemokine 유전자들의 발현 정도를 비교하였다. 그 결과 Aspergillus protease 알러젠으로 비강내로 1회 처리했을 경우 중성구의 침윤이 두드러지는데, 이때 PAR2 결핍 마우스는 이러한 면역세포의 침윤이 유의적으로 감소하였다. 또한, 이와 관련된 IL-25, TSLP, Eotaxin 유전자들의 발현 역시 PAR2 결핍 마우스에 현저히 감소하였다. 한편, Aspergillus protease 알러젠으로 비강내로 6회 처리했을 경우 중성구 대신 호산구의 침윤이 두드러지지만 PAR2 결핍 마우스에서 그 정도가 유의적으로 낮았다. OVA 특이 IgE와 IgG1 농도 역시 현저하게 PAR2 결핍 마우스에서 낮았고, CCL21의 발현이 PAR2 결핍마우스 MEF cells에서 현저히 감소하였다. Th2 초기 면역반응에서 가장 중요한 IL-25의 발현에 MAKP p38 pathway가 관여한다는 것을 이번 연구에서 알 수 있다. 본 연구를 통해 Aspergillus protease 알러젠으로 유도된 알러지성 기관지 염증 반응에서 초기 반응뿐만 아니라 만성반응에서도 PAR2가 중요한 것을 알 수 있다.

• 한국균학회지
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• 제43권1호
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• pp.33-39
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• 2015

사상성 진균에서 veA 유전자와 연계되어 있는 velvet 복합체는 진균의 분화와 이차 대사산물의 조절에 매우 중요한 기능을 한다. 모델 사상균인 Aspergillus nidulans의 경우 methyltransferase인 VipB와 VipC를 포함한 여러 단백질들이 VeA 단백질과 상호작용하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 본 연구에서는 인간 기회감염 진균인 Aspergillus fumigatus에서 vipB와 vipC 유전자의 상동유전자를 분리하여 각각 AfuvipB와 AfuvipC로 명명하였다. AfuvipB 유전자는 AspGD 데이터베이스에 Afu3g14920으로 등록되어 있으며 1,510 bp 길이에 10개의 인트론을 가지고 있고, 유전자 산물은 336 아미노산 잔기로 구성된 단백질로 methyltransferase 도메인을 가지고 있었다. AfuvipC는 Afu8g01930으로 AfuvipB와 유사하게 10개의 인트론을 가지고 있으며 339개의 아미노산으로 구성된 methyltransferase를 암호화하고 있었다. A. fumigatus에서 각각의 유전자에 대한 기능을 알아보고자 유전자제거 돌연변이 균주들을 제조하고 그들의 표현형을 관찰하였다. AfuvipB 유전자 제거 돌연변이는 점 접종을 하였을 경우 대조군에 비하여 표현형의 차이를 보이지 않았다. 그러나 단일 포자에서 성장한 콜로니를 비교해 보았을 때 대조군에 비하여 그 크기가 작고 분화 속도도 약간 더딘 것을 관찰할 수 있었다. 반면에 AfuvipC 유전자 제거 돌연변이는 대조군과 비교하였을 때 표현형의 차이를 보이지 않았다. 이러한 결과는 두 개의 methyltransferase가 상호 중복적인 역할을 수행하거나 정상적인 실험실 배양조건에서는 중요한 기능을 수행하지 않을 수 있음을 시사한다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제17권2호통권82호
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• pp.248-253
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• 2007

천식이 유발된 Balb/c 마우스와 동일한 조건의 Il-10 KO 마우스에 천식의 원인으로 알려진 DEP와 지하철역내에서 채칩한 PM ($10mg/m^{3}$)을 inhalation chamber에 넣고 하루 4시간씩 5일간 흡입시킨 후 시료를 채취하여 기관지 상피하부의 섬유화정도와 술잔세포의 증식 정도를 살펴 천식증상의 악화에 DEP와 PM이 어떠한 영향을 미치는지 확인하였다. 본 실험의 결과 천식이 유발된 일반 Balb/c 마우스에 있어서는 DEP와 PM의 노출에 의하여 상피하부의 섬유화가 증가하였고, 술잔세포의 수도 증가함을 확인하였다. 그러나, Il-KO 마우스의 경우 상피하부의 섬유화정도와 술잔세포의 수가 거의 증가하지 않았다. 따라서, 본 결과는 IL-10에 대한 항체요법이 천식증상의 완화에 쓰일 수 있는 가능성을 암시하며, 한편 자동차 배기가스와 지하철 미세분진의 발생을 예방할 경우 천식과 관련한 세기관지의 염증을 완화시킬 수 있음을 간접적으로 증명한 것이라 할 수 있다.

• Animal Bioscience
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.172-184
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• 2021

Objective: Vanin1 (VNN1) is a pantetheinase that can catalyze the hydrolysis of pantetheine to produce pantothenic acid and cysteamine. Our previous studies showed that VNN1 is specifically expressed in chicken liver. In this study, we aimed to investigate the roles of peroxisome proliferators activated receptor α (PPARα) and miRNA-181a-5p in regulating VNN1 gene expression in chicken liver. Methods: 5'-RACE was performed to identify the transcription start site of chicken VNN1. JASPAR and TFSEARCH were used to analyze the potential transcription factor binding sites in the promoter region of chicken VNN1 and miRanda was used to search miRNA binding sites in 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of chicken VNN1. We used a knock-down strategy to manipulate PPARα (or miRNA-181a-5p) expression levels in vitro to further investigate its effect on VNN1 gene transcription. Luciferase reporter assays were used to explore the specific regions of VNN1 targeted by PPARα and miRNA-181a-5p. Results: Sequence analysis of the VNN1 promoter region revealed several transcription factor-binding sites, including hepatocyte nuclear factor 1α (HNF1α), PPARα, and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α. GW7647 (a specific agonist of PPARα) increased the expression level of VNN1 mRNA in chicken primary hepatocytes, whereas knockdown of PPARα with siRNA increased VNN1 mRNA expression. Moreover, the predicted PPARα-binding site was confirmed to be necessary for PPARα regulation of VNN1 gene expression. In addition, the VNN1 3'UTR contains a sequence that is completely complementary to nucleotides 1 to 7 of miRNA-181a-5p. Overexpression of miR-181a-5p significantly decreased the expression level of VNN1 mRNA. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that PPARα is an important transcriptional activator of VNN1 gene expression and that miRNA-181a-5p acts as a negative regulator of VNN1 expression in chicken hepatocytes.

• 한국가축번식학회지
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.389-397
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• 2001

CART는 leptin에 의해 조절되는 포식인자이며 섭식과 운동 습성에 관계된 것으로 알려져 있다. 사람의 CART Leu34Phe 돌연변이는 비만의 표현형을 나타내었지만, 생쥐의 CART 돌연변이는 일반사료의 섭취 후 급격한 체중증가를 나타내지는 않았다 생체 내 신경세포에서 CART의 역할을 확인하기 위한 새로운 형질전환 모델을 확립하고자 분화하는 신경세포의 유전자 발현을 조절하는 NF-L promoter와 CART의 재조합 발현 벡터를 구축하였다. 형질전환 생쥐는 유전자 미세 주입법에 의하여 생산되었으며, PCR과 Southern blot의 방법으로 확인하였다. 이러한 형질전환 생쥐에서 CART의 과 발현을 수정 후 13.5일째 초기 배아와 생후 6주째 형질전환 생쥐의 뇌와 척수에서 확인하였다. 본 연구의 결과는 섭식 관련 유전자들이 상호 연관된 섭식행동에서 CART의 역할을 연구하는데 모델 동물로써 이용할 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제39권4호
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• pp.127-132
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• 2015

To overcome the hyperacute immune rejection during pig-to-non-human primates xenotranasplantation, we have produced and bred ${\alpha}$-1,3-galactosyltransferase knock-out ($GalT^{-/-}$) pigs. In this study, the somatic cells and tissues from the $GalT^{-/-}$ pigs were characterized by an analysis of the expression of Gal${\alpha}$-1,3-Gal (${\alpha}-Gal$) epitope. Briefly, ear fibroblast cell lines of 19 homozygous $GalT^{-/-}$ pigs were established and cryopreserved. The expression of ${\alpha}-Gal$ epitope in the cells was measured by fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis using BS-I-B4 lectin. Also, the homozygous ($GalT^{-/-}$) cells and tissues samples were immunostained with BS-I-B4 lectin for analysis of ${\alpha}-Gal$ epitope expression. The results showed that the expression of ${\alpha}-Gal$ epitope in $GalT^{-/-}$ cells (0.2 %) were significantly (p<0.05) down-regulated to the range of cynomolgus monkey fibroblast (0.2 %) cells compared to heterozygous ($GalT^{-/+}$) (9.3 %) and wild type ($GalT^{+/+}$) (93.7 %) fibroblast cells. In the immunostaining results, while the expression of ${\alpha}-Gal$ epitope was detected a partly in $GalT^{-/+}$ cells and mostly in $GalT^{+/+}$ cells, it was almost not detected in the $GalT^{-/-}$ cells. Also, immunostaining results from various tissues of the $GalT^{-/-}$ pig showed that the expression of ${\alpha}-Gal$ epitope was not detectable, whereas various tissues from $GalT^{+/+}$ pig showed a strong expression of ${\alpha}-Gal$ epitope. Our results demonstrated that ${\alpha}-Gal$ epitope expressions from $GalT^{-/-}$ pigs were successfully knocked out to prevent hyperacute immune rejection for further study of xenotransplantation.