• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제44권5호
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• pp.690-696
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• 2020

Background: As the main metabolites of ginsenosides, 20(S, R)-protopanaxadiol [PPD(S, R)] and 20(S, R)-protopanaxatriol [PPT(S, R)] are the structural basis response to a series of pharmacological effects of their parent components. Although the estrogenicity of several ginsenosides has been confirmed, however, the underlying mechanisms of their estrogenic effects are still largely unclear. In this work, PPD(S, R) and PPT(S, R) were assessed for their ability to bind and activate human estrogen receptor α (hERα) by a combination of in vitro and in silico analysis. Methods: The recombinant hERα ligand-binding domain (hERα-LBD) was expressed in E. coli strain. The direct binding interactions of ginsenosides with hERα-LBD and their ERα agonistic potency were investigated by fluorescence polarization and reporter gene assays, respectively. Then, molecular dynamics simulations were carried out to simulate the binding modes between ginsenosides and hERα-LBD to reveal the structural basis for their agonist activities toward receptor. Results: Fluorescence polarization assay revealed that PPD(S, R) and PPT(S, R) could bind to hERα-LBD with moderate affinities. In the dual luciferase reporter assay using transiently transfected MCF-7 cells, PPD(S, R) and PPT(S, R) acted as agonists of hERα. Molecular docking results showed that these ginsenosides adopted an agonist conformation in the flexible hydrophobic ligand-binding pocket. The stereostructure of C-20 hydroxyl group and the presence of C-6 hydroxyl group exerted significant influence on the hydrogen bond network and steric hindrance, respectively. Conclusion: This work may provide insight into the chemical and pharmacological screening of novel therapeutic agents from ginsenosides.

• KSBB Journal
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.418-423
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• 1998

Cellular transfections with cationic liposomes are widely empolyed for gene and oligonucleotide transfer in vitro because of their safety and ease of use. However, they still suffer from the low transfection efficiency comparing with viral vectors. Substantial effort shave been focused on increasing transfection efficiency by supplementing the liposome/DNA complexes(lipoplex) with various components. In this work, we tired three kinds of supplements, Poly-L-lysine(PLL), transferrin and a mixture of anionic lipids(PS/PE/PC), to study their effects on gene transfer yield and gene expression efficiency. PLL, a polycationic polymer, enhanced gene transfer yield by 3 times but the gene expression efficiency was increased only by 1.5 times. this result implies that PLL can enhance the transfection efficiency mainly by increasing the rate of outermembrane transport of lipoplex into the cells. On the other hand, transferrin which can facilitate the gene transfer via ligand-receptor interaction gave not only increased gene transfer yield but also enhanced gen expression efficiency by 2.8 times. Transferrin seems to contribute to the escape of plasmid from endosomes through ligand-receptor recycle mechanism. When the cells were treated with a mixture of anionic lipids for 3 hours before the transfection, gene transfer yield was slightly decreased but the gene expression efficiency was enhanced by 1.9 times. This is presumably due to the accelerated liposome-plasmid dissociation by the anionic lipids, and the increased delivery of plasmid to the nucleus. According to these results, it is clear that the supplementation to ameliorate transfection efficiency with cationic liposomes should be contrived in the direction of increasing delivery of plasmid.

• 한국재료학회지
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.20-26
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• 2001

(hfac)Cu(1, 5-DMCOD)(1, 1, 1, 5, 5, 5-Hexafluoro-2, 4-pentanedionato Cu(I) 1, 5-dimethyl-cyclooctadine) 전구체와 He 운반기체를 이용하여 MOCVD(Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition) 방법으로 Cu 박막을 형성하였으며, He 운반기체와 함께 $H_2$ gas 및 H(hfac) Ligand의 첨가가 Cu 박막 형성에 미치는 영향에 대하여 조사하였다. He운반기체만을 사용한 경우, Cu 박막의 증착율은 기판온도 180~$230^{\circ}C$에서 20~$125{\AA}/min$ 정도로 낮은 값을 보였으며, 특히 기판온도 $190^{\circ}C$에서는 매우 얇은 두께 ($700{\AA}$)이면서 낮은 비저항($2.8{\mu}{\Omega}cm$)을 갖는 Cu 박막이 형성됨을 알 수 있었다 He 운반기체와 함께 환원가스(H$_2$) 및 화학첨가제 (H (hfac) ligand)의 첨가 실험에서는 낮은 기판온도 ($180~190^{\circ}C$) 구간에서 현저하게 증착율이 증가하였으며 얇은 두께 (~$500{\AA}$)의 Cu 박막이 낮은 비저항(3.6~$2.86{\mu}{\Omega}cm$)을 갖는 것으로 나타났다. 또한 얇은 두께의 MOCVD Cu박막들의 표면 반사도(reflectance)는 $300^{\circ}C$에서 열처리한 sputter Cu의 반사도에 근접하는 우수한 surface morphology를 보였다 결국, (hfac)Cu(1,6-DMCOD) 전구체를 이용하여 얻어진 MOCVD Cu박막은 얇은 두께에서 낮은 비저항을 갖는 우수한 막질을 보였으며, Electrochemical deposition공정에서 conformal seed layer로써의 적용이 가능할 것으로 기대된다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제32권8호
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• pp.1017-1025
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• 2022

Bone homeostasis is regulated by constant remodeling through osteogenesis by osteoblasts and osteolysis by osteoclasts and osteoporosis can be provoked when this balance is broken. Present pharmaceutical treatments for osteoporosis have harmful side effects and thus, our goal was to develop therapeutics from intrisincally safe natural products. Fucoidan is a polysaccharide extracted from many species of brown seaweed, with valuable pharmaceutical activities. To intensify the effect of fucoidan on bone homeostasis, we hydrolyzed fucoidan using AMG, Pectinex and Viscozyme. Of these, fucoidan biotransformed by Pectinex (Fu/Pec) powerfully inhibited the induction of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity in osteoclasts differentiated from bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) by the receptor for activation of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL). To investigate potential of lower molecular weight fucoidan it was separated into >300 kDa, 50-300 kDa, and <50 kDa Fu/Pec fractions by ultrafiltration system. The effects of these fractions on TRAP and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities were then examined in differentiated osteoclasts and MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts, respectively. Interestingly, 50-300 kDa Fu/Pec suppressed RANKL-induced osteoclasts differentiation from BMMs but did not synergistically enhance osteoblasts differentiation induced by osteogenic agents. In addition, this fraction inhibited the expressions of NFATc1, TRAP, OSCAR, and RANK, which are all key transcriptional factors involved in osteoclast differentiation, and those of Src, c-Fos and Mitf, as determined by RT-PCR. In conclusion, enzymatically low-molecularized 50-300 kDa Fu/Pec suppressed TRAP by downregulating RANKL-related signaling, contributing to the inhibition of osteoclasts differentiation, and represented a potential means of inducing bone remodeling in the background of osteoporosis.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.1-9
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• 2014

Objectives: This study was designed to find the effect of Phragmitis Rhizoma (PR) herbal-acupuncture solution on the inflammatory cytokine and chemokine secretion in human mast cell (HMC) and human alveolar epithelial cell 549 (A549) lines. Methods: Histamine levels in HMC after PR herbal-acupuncture solution treatment were measured with ELISA. Other cytokines and chemokines levels such as interleukin 8 (IL-8), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 5 (Ccl5, RANTES) in A549 were measured with flow cytometry CBA system. Results: In the PR herbal-acupuncture solution treatment group, the expression of histamine, IL-8, MPC-1, Ccl5, and RANTES decreased significantly. Conclusions: The results support that PR herbal-acupuncture solution had a suppressive effect on cytokine-induced inflammation.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제41권4호
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• pp.534-539
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• 2017

Background: Ginsenosides are the main ingredients of ginseng, which, in traditional Eastern medicine, has been claimed to have therapeutic values for many diseases. In order to verify the effects of ginseng that have been empirically observed, we utilized the reverse docking method to screen for target proteins that are linked to specific diseases. Methods: We constructed a target protein database including 1,078 proteins associated with various kinds of diseases, based on the Potential Drug Target Database, with an added list of kinase proteins. We screened 26 kinds of ginsenosides of this target protein database using docking. Results: We found four potential target proteins for ginsenosides, based on docking scores. Implications of these "hit" targets are discussed. From this screening, we also found four targets linked to possible side effects and toxicities, based on docking scores. Conclusion: Our method and results can be helpful for finding new targets and developing new drugs from natural products.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.138-148
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• 2018

Objective: Fusarium mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN), common contaminants in the feed of farm animals, cause immune function impairment and organ inflammation. Consequently, the main objective of this study was to elucidate DON and ZEN effects on the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and other immune related genes in the kidneys of piglets. Methods: Fifteen 6-week-old piglets were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments for 4 weeks: control diet, and diets contaminated with either 8 mg DON/kg feed or 0.8 mg ZEN/kg feed. Kidney samples were collected after treatment, and RNA-seq was used to investigate the effects on immune-related genes and gene networks. Results: A total of 186 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened (120 upregulated and 66 downregulated). Gene ontology analysis revealed that the immune response, and cellular and metabolic processes were significantly controlled by these DEGs. The inflammatory stimulation might be an effect of the following enriched Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway analysis found related to immune and disease responses: cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, chemokine signaling pathway, toll-like receptor signaling pathway, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), tuberculosis, Epstein-Barr virus infection, and chemical carcinogenesis. The effects of DON and ZEN on genome-wide expression were assessed, and it was found that the DEGs associated with inflammatory cytokines (interleukin 10 receptor, beta, chemokine [C-X-C motif] ligand 9, CXCL10, chemokine [C-C motif] ligand 4), proliferation (insulin like growth factor binding protein 4, IgG heavy chain, receptor-type tyrosine-protein phosphatase C, cytochrome P450 1A1, ATP-binding cassette sub-family 8), and other immune response networks (lysozyme, complement component 4 binding protein alpha, oligoadenylate synthetase 2, signaling lymphocytic activation molecule-9, ${\alpha}$-aminoadipic semialdehyde dehydrogenase, Ig lambda chain c region, pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase, isozyme 4, carboxylesterase 1), were suppressed by DON and ZEN. Conclusion: In summary, our results indicate that high concentrations of DON and ZEN suppress the inflammatory response in kidneys, leading to potential effects on immune homeostasis.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제10권2호
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• pp.233-239
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• 1997

A mammary epithelial cell line (MAC-T) established as a model for lactation was utilized to identify and characterize effects of various hormones upon insulin-like growth factor binding protein secretion. Ligand and immunoblot analyses of conditioned media indicated that insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 was secreted by MAC-T cells. Insulin-like growth factor-I stimulated insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 secretion in a dose-dependent manner, but prolactin and bovine somatotropin did not alter insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 secretion. Insulin increased and cortisol decreased insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 secretion. Effects of insulin-like growth factor-I on insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 secretion support previous studies using primary cultures of bovine mammary cells and bovine fibroblasts. Effects of cortisol and insulin on insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 secretion may be explained by changes in protein synthesis. In addition, supraphysiological doses of insulin can cross-react with the insulin-like growth factor-I receptor and stimulate insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 secretion. MAC-T cells provide a model system to study mechanisms that regulate local insulin-like growth factor-I bioactivity.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제38권6호
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• pp.1035-1048
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• 2017

Objectives: This study was performed to investigate the effects of Gardenia jasminoides extract (GJ) on osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption in vitro. Methods: To investigate the effect of GJ on osteoclast differentiation, the mouse leukemic myeloid cell line RAW 264.7 was stimulated by RANKL (receptor activator of nuclear factor kB ligand). Osteoclast differentiation was measured by counting TRAP (+) MNC in the presence of RANKL. To elucidate the mechanism of the inhibitory effect of GJ on osteoclast differentiation, gene expression of TRAP, Cathepsin K, MMP-9, NFATc1, c-Fos, MITF, DC-STAMP, CTR, OC-STAMP and Atp6v0d2 was measured using reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR). Bone resorption was measured using the bone pit formation assay. Results: GJ decreased the number of TRAP (+) MNCs in the presence of RANKL. GJ inhibited the expression of cathepsin K, MMP-9, TRAP, MITF, NFATc1, c-Fos, iNON, OC-STAMP, Atp6v0d2, and DC-STAMP in the osteoclast, and inhibited bone pit formation in vitro. Conclusions: The results suggest that GJ has inhibitory effects on bone resorption resulting from inhibition of osteoclast differentiation and gene expression.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제17권
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• pp.289-292
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• 2001

Gene targeting allows precise, predetermined changes to be made in a chosen gene in the mouse genome. To date, targeting has been used most often for generation of animals completely lacking the product of a gene of interest. Models of essential hypertension have been produced by mutated genes relating renin angiotensin system. The most significant contribution to understanding the genetic etiology of essential hypertension is probably the demonstration that discrete alterations in the expression of a variety of different genes can individually cause changes in the blood pressures of mice, even when the mice have all their compensatory mechanisms intact. These effects are readily detected in animals having moderate decreases in gene function due to heterozygosity for gene disruptions or modest increases due to gene duplication. As a species the mouse is highly resistant to atherosclerosis. However. through induced mutations it has been possible to develop lines oj mice that are deficient in apolipoprotein E, a ligand important in lipoprotein clearance, develop atherosclerotic lesions resembling those observed in humans. The atherosclerotic lesions in apoE-deficient mice have been well characterized, and they resemble human lesions in their sites of predilection and progression to the fibroproliferative stage. Other promising models are mice that are deficient in the low-density lipoprotein receptor. Considerable work still remains to be done in dissecting out in a rigorous manner the effects of alterations in single genes on the induction or progression of atherosclerosis and on the control of blood pressures. Perhaps even more exciting is the opportunity now becoming available to breed animals in which the effects oj precise differences in more than one gene can be studied in combination.