• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.43 no.6
• /
• pp.945-953
• /
• 1996

Background : Many acute and chronic lung diseases including pneumoconiosis are characterized by the presence of increased numbers of activated macrophages. These macrophages generate several inflammatory cell chemoattractants, by which neutrophil migrate from vascular compartment to the alveolar space. Recruited neutrophils secrete toxic oxygen radicals or proteolytic enzymes and induce inflammatory response. Continuing inflammatory response results in alteration of the pulmonary structure and irreversible fibrosis. Recently, a polypeptide with specific neutrophil chemotactic activity, interleukin-8(IL-8), has been cloned and isolated from a number of cells including : monocytes, macrophages and fibroblasts. IL-1 and/or TNF-${\alpha}$ preceded for the synthesis of IL-8, and we already observed high level of IL-1 and TNF-${\alpha}$ in the pneumoconioses. So we hypothesized that IL-8 may be a central role in the pathogenesis of pneumoconiosis. In order to evaluate the clinical utility of IL-8 as a biomarker in the early diagnosis of pneumoconiosis, we investigated the increase of IL-8 in the pneumoconiotic patient and the correlation between IL-8 level and progression of pneumoconiosis. Method : We measured IL-8 in the serum of 48 patients with pneumoconiosis and 16 persons without dust exposure history as a control group. Pneumoconiotic cases were divided into 3 groups according to ILO Classification : suspicious group(n=16), small opacity group(n=16) and large opacity group(n=16). IL-8 was measured by a sandwich enzytne immunoassay technique. All data were expressed as the $mean{\pm}standard$ deviation. Results: 1) The mean value of age was higher in the small opacity and large opacity group than comparison group, but smoking history was even. Duration of dust exposure was not different among 3 pneumoconiosis groups. 2) IL-8 level was $70.50{\pm}53.63pg/m{\ell}$ in the suspicious group, $107.50{\pm}45.88pg/m{\ell}$ in the small opacity group, $132.50{\pm}73.47pg/m{\ell}$ in the large opacity group and $17.85{\pm}33.85pg/m{\ell}$ in the comparison group. IL-8 concentration in all pneumoconiosis group was significant higher than that in the comparison group(p<0.001). 3) IL-8 level tended to increase with the progression of pneumoconiosis. Multiple comparison test using Anova/Scheffe analysis showed a significant difference between suspicious group and large opacity group(p<0.05). 4) The level of IL-8 was correlated with the progression of pneumoconiosis(r=0.4199, p<0.05). Conclusion : IL-8 is thought to be a good biomarker for the early diagnosis of pneumoconiosis.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.45 no.1
• /
• pp.12-19
• /
• 2012

The present study was performed to investigate antioxidant, anticancer, and antimicrobial activities of four Korean sweet potato variaties and to identify the changes in these biological activities under different cooking conditions. Total polyphenol content was 3.8-73.6 mg/g in 80% ethanol extracts of sweet potatoes. The polyphenol content was highest Sinjami variety (p < 0.05). Radical scavenging activity against DPPH and $ABTS^{{\cdot}+}$ was high in Sinjami (p < 0.05) and the ethanol extract from Sinjami also showed effective superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity, which decreased significantly by steaming and roasting (p < 0.05). Ethanol extracts from the four sweet potato variaties did not inhibit cancer cell growth in MCF-7 or HepG2 cells at concentrations of 1, 10, and $100\;{\mu}g$/mL. Of the investigated sweet potato variaties, only Sinjami exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella typhimurium. The antimicrobial activity of Sinjami against E. coli, St. aureus, and S. typhimurium decreased following steaming and roasting (p < 0.05). These results indicate that the Sinjami Korean sweet potato had higher polyphenol content, radical scavenging activity, SOD-like activity, and antimicrobial activity than those of the other variaties and consuming raw Sinjami might be beneficial for maintenance of biological activities.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.24-29
• /
• 2003

In the previous reports, the authors isolated two strains of marine bacteria, Shewanella sp. SR-14, which has Chaetonros sp. growth inhibition activity, and Vibrio alginolyticus, that did not affect growth of the alga. In the present study, fatty acid compositions of diatoms, Chaetoceros calcitrans and Skeletonema costatum, and marine bacteria, Shewanella sp. SR-14 and V. alginolyticus, were analyzed. Changes of fatty acid composition in the diatoms grown with the marine bacteria were also determined. Major fatty acids of Sbewanella sp. SR-14 were 16:1n-7 $(29.4\%)$ and 16:0 $(19.2\%)$ during incubation in peptone broth at $20^{\circ}C$ for 3 days. The compositions of V. alginolyticus detected were 16:0 $(23.7\%),$ 16:1n-7 $(27.7\%)$ and 18:1n-7 $(21.0\%).$ C. calcitrans consisted of 16:1n-7 $(33.3\%),$ 16:0 $(27.1\%)$ and 14:0 $(12.1\%).$ S. costatum mainly contained 16:1n-7 $(28.9\%),$ 16:0 $(21.6\%)$ and 20:5 $(19.8\%).$ When halves of cell numbers of C. calcitrans were moribund cells by Shewanella sp. SR-14, the C. calcitrans and S. costatum simultaneously cultured with the bacteria were harvested by filtration with GE/D glass microfibre filter. In the fatty acid composition of both diatoms, saturated fatty acid contents in both diatoms grown with Shewanella sp. SR-14 were decreased, but unsaturated fatty acid contents were increased. The differences were greater in C. calcitrans than those in S. costatum. During the growth of diatoms with V. alginolyticus, C. calcitrans showed increase of saturated fatty acid contents and decrease of unsaturated fatty acid contents; however, S. costatum did not show sharp difference in fatty acid content. In this study, Shewanella sp. SR-14, which showed growth inhibition activity against C. calcitrans, influenced on the changes of fatty acid contents in the diatom. It was suggested that increased unsaturated fatty acid was synergistically activated algal growth inhibition activity of Shewanella sp. SR-14.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.57 no.1
• /
• pp.53-64
• /
• 2024

Purpose: Mitochondria play a crucial role in preserving skeletal muscle mass, and damage to mitochondria leads to muscle mass loss. This study investigated the effects of oxypeucedanin hydrate, a furanocoumarin isolated from Angelica dahurica radix, on myogenesis and mitochondrial function in vitro and in zebrafish models. Methods: C2C12 myotubes cultured in media containing 0.1, 1, 10, or 100 ng/mL oxypeucedanin hydrate were immunostained with myosin heavy chain (MHC), and then multinucleated MHC-positive cells were counted. The expressions of markers related to muscle differentiation, muscle protein degradation, and mitochondrial function were determined by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. To investigate the effects of oxypeucedanin hydrate on mitochondrial dysfunction, Tg(Xla.Eef1a1:mito-EGFP) zebrafish embryos were treated with 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) with or without oxypeucedanin hydrate and analyzed for mito-EGFP intensity and mitochondrial length. Results: Oxypeucedanin hydrate significantly increased MHC-positive multinucleated myotubes (≥ 3 nuclei) and increased the expression of the myogenic marker myosin heavy chain 4. However, it decreased the expressions of muscle-specific RING finger protein 1 and muscle atrophy f-box (markers of muscle protein degradation). Furthermore, oxypeucedanin hydrate enhanced the expressions of markers of mitochondrial biogenesis (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1 alpha, transcription factor a mitochondrial, succinate dehydrogenase complex flavoprotein subunit A, and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1) and mitochondrial fusion (optic atrophy 1). However, it reduced the expression of dynamin-related protein 1 (a mitochondrial fission regulator). Consistently, oxypeucedanin hydrate reduced FOLFIRI-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in the skeletal muscles of zebrafish embryos. Conclusion: The study indicates that oxypeucedanin hydrate promotes myogenesis by improving mitochondrial function, and thus, suggests oxypeucedanin hydrate has potential use as a nutritional supplement that improves muscle mass and function.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.43 no.6
• /
• pp.954-964
• /
• 1996

Background : The type of the infiltrating cells in al veolitis may be determined by the chemokines in the lesion. MIP-1 ${\alpha}$, a C-C type chemokine, stimulates proliferation and cytokine secretion from macrophages and induces early neutrophilic and later monocytic inflammation in vi vo. IL-8, a C-X-C type chemokine is known to attract neutrophils and T-lymphocytes. This study is performed to find out the relative role of two different chemokines in diffuse interstitial lung disease. Subject and Method : We measured the secretion of MIP- 1 ${\alpha}$ and IL-8 from alveolar macrophages(AM), and their level in BAL fluid of 26 patients with DILD (10 IPF, 4 collagen disease, 10 sarcoidosis, and 2 hypersensitivity pneumonitis) and 7 normal control. Result: IL-8 secretion was significantly increased in patients with DILD ($8.15{\pm}4.58$ ng/ml) than in normal ($1.10{\pm}0.93$ ng/ml, p=0.0003). Significant correlation was found between IL-8 secretion and total cell number in BAL fluid (r=0.484, p=0.0068), %(r=0.592, p=0.0004) and No. (r=0.516, p=0.0042) of lymphocyte, and % of AM (r=-0.505, 0.0032). MIP- 1 ${\alpha}$ secretion was also increased in DILD ($2.41{\pm}1.45$ ng/ml) compared to control ($0.63{\pm}0.30$ ng/ml, p=0.0031), and showed a tendency of correlation with total cell number (r=0.368, p=0.0456) and No. of alveolar macrophages (r=0.356, p=0.0579) in BAL fluid. The concentration of IL-8 in BAL fluid was significantly increased in the patients with DILD ($40.4{\pm}34.5$ pg/ml) compared to control ($3.90{\pm}2.47$ pg/ml, p=0.0094) and it showed a significant correlation with the total cell number (r=0.484, p=0.0068), %(r=-0.505, p=0.0032) of AM, and % (r=0.592, p=0.0004) and No. (r=0.516, p=0.0042) of lymphocyte in BAL fluid. But there was a no significant difference in MIP- 1 ${\alpha}$ concentration in BAL fluid between normal control group and the patients with DILD. Conclusion : From the above results, we concluded that AM of DILD releases increased amount of both IL-8 and MIP- 1 ${\alpha}$ but IL-8 has better correlation with the type of alveolitis.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.1-32
• /
• 1977

This study has been made to find out more effective way of vegetation establishment on severely denuded forest land from the viewpoint of soil moisture regimes. Various environmental factors were measured to estimate soil moisture conditions of different sites. Soil moisture influence on growth of over vegetations, water requirement and drought resistance were analyzed. The efficiency of water use was also reckoned at different fertility levels and different soil moisture conditions. This research is composed of field experiment and green house experiment. Field experiment includes height growth, survival and coverage analysis of cover vegetations (Robinia pseudoacacia L., Lespedeza bicolor Turcz, Arundinella hirta Tanaka var. ciliare Koidzumi.) with 4 fertility level treatments on 3 slopes (Steep: $37^{\circ}$, Moderate: $25^{\circ}$, Gentle; $17^{\circ}$) during dry season (1 April-30 June) and wet season (1 July-10 September). At the same time temperature, relative humidity and precipitation were measured to understand the environmental changes. Soil moisture conditions were measured with soil moisture meter with 24 soil cells. Green house experiment comprised height, fresh weight and dry weight measurements of cover vegetations with 4 fertility levels and 3 moisture conditions for 70 days. The results extracted from experiments are as follews. 1. Cover vegtations have 3 patterns of water requirement at the early stage of growth. a) Robinia type has high water requirement and weaker drought resistance. b) Lespedeza type has low water requirement and stronger drought resistance. c) Arundinella type has moderate water requirement and weaker drought resistance. 2. The vegetations have different optimum fertility levels in different soil moisture supply condition. a) Robinia needs a low fertility level in dry condition and a high level in wet condition. b) Lespedeza needs only low fertility level in all conditions. c) Arundinella needs a low fertility level in dry condition and a high level in wet condition. 3. The efficiency of water use (Water/1g dry weight) by fertility levels is different from one another. Robinia and Arundinella have a good efficiency at low fertility level in dry condition and at high fertility level in wet condition. Lespedeza has a good efficiency at low fertility level in all conditions. 4. $P_2O_5$ requirement of Robinia and Lespedeza is high, but that of Arundinella is low. Soil moisture condition has a great influence on $P_2O_5$ absorption in dendued forest land. Once Vegetations are established on suitable sites with optimum fertitity level according to different moisture condition, even the small amount of soil water in denuded land can he used with high efficiency and the effect of fertility treatment can be maximized.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.45 no.4
• /
• pp.823-834
• /
• 1998

Background: Chronic inhalation of silica induces the lung fiborsis. The alveolar macrophages ingest the inhaled silica; they liberate the pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1$\beta$, IL-6, TNF-$\alpha$ and fibrogenic cytokines, TGF-$\beta$ and PDGF. Cytokines liberated from macrophage have pivotal role in pulmonary fibrosis. There is a complex cytokine network toward fibrosis. However, the exact roles and the interaction among the proinflammatory cytokines and TGF-$\beta$, a fibrogenic cytokine, have not been defined, yet. In this study, we investigated silica induced IL-1$\beta$, IL-6, TNF-$\alpha$ and TGF-$\beta$ production and the effect of IL-1$\beta$, IL-6, TNF-$\alpha$ on the production of TGF-$\beta$ from lung macrophages of Balb/C mice. Method: We extracted the lung of Balb/C mice and purified monocytes by Percoll gradient method. Macrphages were stimulated by silica ($SiO_2$) in the various concentration for 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 hours. The supernatants were used for the measurement of protein levels by bioassay, and cells for the levels of mRNA by in situ hybridization. Results: The production of IL-6 was not observed till 4 hours, and reached the peak levels at 8 hours after stimulation of silica. The production of TNF-$\alpha$ increased from 2 hours and reached the peak levels at 4 hours after stimulation of silica. The spontaneous TGF-$\beta$ production reached the peak levels at 24 hours. TNF-$\alpha$ upregulated the silica induced TGF-$\beta$ production. Silica induced TGF-$\beta$ production was blocked by pretreated anti-TNF-$\alpha$ antibody. In situ hybridization revealed the increased positive signals at 4 hours in IL-6, at 4 hours TNF-$\alpha$ and 12 hours in TGF-$\beta$. Conclusion: The results above suggest that silica induced the sequential production of IL-6, 1NF-$\alpha$ and TGF-$\beta$ from macrophages and TNF-$\alpha$ upregultaes the production of TGF-$\beta$ from silica-induced macrophages.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.22 no.7
• /
• pp.889-896
• /
• 2012

Melanin synthesis is catalyzed by tyrosinase. To investigate the whitening effect of Hizikia fusiformis, fractions from ethanol extract of H. fusiformis were prepared by a systematic fractionation procedure with solvents such as methanol, hexane, butanol, and $H_2O$. The ethanol extract and its fractions were then subjected to evaluate the inhibitory effects on the tyrosinase activity and melanin synthesis in murine B16F10 melanoma cells. The ethanol extract and aqueous fraction exhibited a whitening effect with no cytotoxicity. The ethanol extract showed the highest whitening effect among the samples. The inhibitory effect of $100{\mu}g/ml$ of ethanol extract was higher than that of $10{\mu}g/ml$ of arbutin, but it was lower than that of $10{\mu}g/ml$ of kojic acid. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects of $100{\mu}g/ml$ of methanol, hexane, butanol, and aqueous fractions were similar to those of $10{\mu}g/ml$ of arbutin. The antioxidant activities were examined by comparing the results with that of ascorbic acid as a positive control. The ethanol extract and aqueous fraction showed relatively higher DPPH radical-scavenging activities compared with the other samples. Furthermore, $500{\mu}g/ml$ of ethanol extract and aqueous fraction diminished LPS-induced iNOS expression to 82 and 80%, respectively. These results suggest that ethanol extract and aqueous fraction of H. fusiformis could be used as cosmetic ingredients for whitening and skin protection effects.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.24 no.2 s.62
• /
• pp.102-111
• /
• 2006

The increased occurrence of hyperglycemia and oxidative stress in streptozotocin (STZ) induced type I diabetes has been implicated in the etiology and pathology of disease complication. STZ has known to be genotoxic in a variety of assays including tests for microbial mutagenesis and unscheduled DNA synthesis in rat kidney. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a pathologic condition, resulting in severe metabolic imbalances and non-physiologic changes in many tissues. We examined the effect of gamma radiation and KWNP on preventing the development of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus using streptozotocin-induced Fisher 344 diabetic rats. The hematological values (red blood cell and white blood cell), serum biochemical constituents-alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total cholesterol, triglycerides and insulin-were checked and the organs (testis, spleen and kidney) were weighed. The gonad indices of the STZ treated groups were much lower than the value of the control group. But the gonad indices of the KWNP treated groups were higher than those of the treated groups. The ratio of the weight of kidney to the body weight of the STZ treated groups was higher than that of the control group. The value of the diabetic group treated with KWNP after irradiation (F group) was lower than the other STZ treated groups. The white blood cell and ALP values of the F group were lower than the other STZ groups, as well. The cholesterol and triglyceride values of all the KWNP treated groups were significantly lower than the other groups. A significant increase (about 10 times) of insulin was detected in the F group. The results of hematological assay showed the distinctive damage in the irradiated and STZ treated groups. The quantity of apoptotic cells in seminiferous tubule of testis confirmed a serious damage as assessed in the STZ treated groups. These experimental results have revealed that treatment of the products of KWNP after irradiation has the antidiabetic effect in the STZ-induced diabetic rats. But the F group showed higher recuperative power. These experimental results have revealed that treatment of the gamma irradiation and KWNP have the recovering effect in the STZ-induced diabetic rats.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.98-105
• /
• 1994

The search for tumor-avid agents for use in nuclear medicine imaging or therapy is a field of ongoing importance. Metallothionein (MT) is an intracellular protein that binds many metals with isotopes having imaging or radiotherapeutic potential. The purpose of the study was to determine whether uptake of radioisotopes that bind to MT is increased in tumor. We measured the uptake of Cd-109 and Ga-67 in tumor and normal tissues of sarcoma-bearing mice. Tumors were grown subcutaneously in female Balb/C mice from cultured Balb/3T3 cells transformed by the Moloney murine sarcoma virus (MMSV). When the tumors reached about 1 cm in diameter, mice were injected subcutaneously with Cd-109 and Ga-67. Eighteen and seventy-two hours later, the mice were sacrified. Organs and tissues were removed, weighed, and activity per mg tissue determined by gamma well-counting. Uptake of Cd-109 by MMSV tumors exceeded that by normal tissues examined, with the exception of liver and kidney (the organs known to be richest in MT). The tumor-to-tissue ratios of uptake for Cd-109 were far greater than those for Ga-67 for many normal tissues of great importance in terms of background activity (bone, intestine, fat, muscle, and blood). We concluded that metals that bind to MT may be useful for oncologic imaging or rediotherapy of cancer.