• 전기학회논문지
• /
• 제63권8호
• /
• pp.1064-1069
• /
• 2014

The railway signalling system plays an essential role in the headway and routing control for a safe and efficient train operation. The reliable and safe operation of the system is very important because the failure of the railway signalling system can lead to the collision, derailment, or unexpected stop of a train. So far, the conventional wayside signal mode (ATS: Automatic Train Stop) has been generally used as the railway signalling system. However, this system is highly linked to a risk of major accidents resulted from human mistakes such as missing a signal or careless control of train speed. Accordingly, the onboard signal mode (ATC: Automatic Train Control) as an alternative of ATS has been recently introduced and applied to transmit effectively the information on speed control of a train by using computers and communication equipment. In the process of replacing the obsolete signal system, it is necessary to switch over the system while providing passengers with normal services. Therefore, the integration of a railway signaling system compatible for both ATS and ATC and its interface is discussed in this study. In particular, the implementation scenario required for operation planning of the integrated system was designed, and the results as well as effects of its applicability test were also presented.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제43권3호
• /
• pp.251-263
• /
• 2020

Flagellin, a major structural protein of the flagellum found in all motile bacteria, activates the TLR5- or NLRC4 inflammasome-dependent signaling pathway to induce innate immune responses. Flagellin can also serve as a specific antigen for the adaptive immune system and stimulate anti-flagellin antibody responses. Failure to recognize commensal-derived flagellin in TLR5-deficient mice leads to the reduction in anti-flagellin IgA antibodies at steady state and causes microbial dysbiosis and mucosal barrier breach by flagellated bacteria to promote chronic intestinal inflammation. Despite the important role of anti-flagellin antibodies in maintaining the intestinal homeostasis, regulatory mechanisms underlying the flagellin-specific antibody responses are not well understood. In this study, we show that flagellin induces interferon-β (IFN-β) production and subsequently activates type I IFN receptor signaling in a TLR5- and MyD88-dependent manner in vitro and in vivo. Internalization of TLR5 from the plasma membrane to the acidic environment of endolysosomes was required for the production of IFN-β, but not for other pro-inflammatory cytokines. In addition, we found that anti-flagellin IgG2c and IgA responses were severely impaired in interferon-alpha receptor 1 (IFNAR1)-deficient mice, suggesting that IFN-β produced by the flagellin stimulation regulates anti-flagellin antibody class switching. Our findings shed a new light on the regulation of flagellin-mediated immune activation and may help find new strategies to promote the intestinal health and develop mucosal vaccines.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
• /
• 제45권4호
• /
• pp.169-178
• /
• 2020

L-ascorbic acid (L-AA; vitamin C) induces apoptosis in cancer cells. This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of L-AA-induced apoptosis in human laryngeal epidermoid carcinoma Hep-2 cells. L-AA suppressed the viability of Hep-2 cells and induced apoptosis, as shown by the cleavage and condensation of nuclear chromatin and increased number of Annexin V-positive cells. L-AA decreased Bcl-2 protein expression but upregulated Bax protein levels. In addition, cytochrome c release from the mitochondria into the cytosol and activation of caspase-9, -8, and -3 were enhanced by L-AA treatment. Furthermore, apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) and endonuclease G (EndoG) were translocated into the nucleus during apoptosis of L-AA-treated Hep-2 cells. L-AA effectively inhibited the constitutive nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation and attenuated the nuclear expression of the p65 subunit of NF-κB. Interestingly, L-AA treatment of Hep-2 cells markedly activated Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK; extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase [JNK]) and and LY294002 (Akt inhibitor), SB203580 (p38 inhibitor) or SP600125 (a JNK inhibitor) decreased the levels of Annexin V-positive cells. These results suggested that L-AA induces the apoptosis of Hep-2 cells via the nuclear translocation of AIF and EndoG by modulating the Bcl-2 family and MAPK/Akt signaling pathways.

• BMB Reports
• /
• 제54권11호
• /
• pp.557-562
• /
• 2021

Microglial activation is closely associated with neuroinflammatory pathologies. The nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain-like receptor containing a pyrin domain 3 (NLRP3) inflammasomes are highly organized intracellular sensors of neuronal alarm signaling. NLRP3 inflammasomes activate nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), which induce inflammatory responses. Moreover, NLRP3 dysfunction is a common feature of chronic inflammatory diseases. The present study investigated the effect of a novel thiazol derivative, N-cyclooctyl-5-methylthiazol-2-amine hydrobromide (KHG26700), on inflammatory responses in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated BV-2 microglial cells. KHG26700 significantly attenuated the expression of several pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6, in these cells, as well as the LPS-induced increases in NLRP3, NF-κB, and phospho-IkBα levels. KHG26700 also suppressed the LPS-induced increases in protein levels of autophagy protein 5 (ATG5), microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3), and beclin-1, as well as downregulating the LPS-enhanced levels of ROS, lipid peroxidation, and nitric oxide. These results suggest that the anti-inflammatory effects of KHG26700 may be due, at least in part, to the regulation of the NLRP3-mediated signaling pathway during microglial activation.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• 제47권2호
• /
• pp.183-192
• /
• 2023

Viral infections are known as one of the major factors causing death. Ginseng is a medicinal plant that demonstrated a wide range of antiviral potential, and saponins are the major bioactive ingredients in the genus Panax with vast therapeutic potential. Studies focusing on the antiviral activity of the genus Panax plant-derived agents (extracts and saponins) and their mechanisms were identified and summarized, including contributions mainly from January 2016 until January 2022. P. ginseng, P. notoginseng, and P. quinquefolius were included in the review as valuable medicinal herbs against infections with 14 types of viruses. Reports from 9 extracts and 12 bioactive saponins were included, with 6 types of protopanaxadiol (PPD) ginsenosides and 6 types of protopanaxatriol (PPT) ginsenosides. The mechanisms mainly involved the inhibition of viral attachment and replication, the modulation of immune response by regulating signaling pathways, including the Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway, cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE)/hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) pathway, phosphoinositide-dependent kinase-1 (PDK1)/ protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/activator protein-1 (AP-1) pathway, and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) pathway. This review includes detailed information about the mentioned antiviral effects of the genus Panax extracts and saponins in vitro and in vivo, and in human clinical trials, which provides a scientific basis for ginseng as an adjunctive therapeutic drug or nutraceutical.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• 제5권4호
• /
• pp.287-297
• /
• 2001

Contraction of smooth muscle is initiated by an increase in cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ leading to activation of $Ca^{2+}$/ calmodulin-dependnet myosin light chain (MLC) kinase and phosphorylation of MLC. The types of contraction and signaling mechanisms mediating contraction differ depending on the region. The involvement of these different mechanisms varies depending on the source of $Ca^{2+}$ and the kinetic of $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization. $Ca^{2+}$ mobilizing agonists stimulate different phospholipases $(PLC-{\beta},\;PLD\;and\;PLA_2)$ to generate one or more $Ca^{2+}$ mobilizing messengers $(IP_3\;and\;AA),$ and diacylglycerol (DAG), an activator of protein kinase C (PKC). The relative contributions of $PLC-{\beta},\;PLA_2$ and PLD to generate second messengers vary greatly between cells and types of contraction. In smooth muscle cell derived form the circular muscle layer of the intestine, preferential hydrolysis of $PIP_2$ and generation of $IP_3$ and $IP_3-dependent\;Ca^{2+}$ release initiate the contraction. In smooth muscle cells derived from longitudinal muscle layer of the intestine, preferential hydrolysis of PC by PLA2, generation of AA and AA-mediated $Ca^{2+}$ influx, cADP ribose formation and $Ca^{2+}-induced\;Ca^{2+}$ release initiate the contraction. Sustained contraction, however, in both cell types is mediated by $Ca^{2+}-independent$ mechanism involving activation of $PKC-{\varepsilon}$ by DAG derived form PLD. A functional linkage between $G_{13},$ RhoA, ROCK, $PKC-{\varepsilon},$ CPI-17 and MLC phosphorylation in sustained contraction has been implicated. Contraction of normal esophageal circular muscle (ESO) in response to acetylcholine (ACh) is linked to $M_2$ muscarinic receptors activating at least three intracellular phospholipases, i.e. phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC), phospholipase D (PLD) and the high molecular weight (85 kDa) cytosolic phospholipase $A_2\;(cPLA_2)$ to induce phosphatidylcholine (PC) metabolism, production of diacylglycerol (DAG) and arachidonic acid (AA), resulting in activation of a protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent pathway. In contrast, lower esophageal sphincter (LES) contraction induced by maximally effective doses of ACh is mediated by muscarinic $M_3$ receptors, linked to pertussis toxin-insensitive GTP-binding proteins of the $G_{q/11}$ type. They activate phospholipase C, which hydrolyzes phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate $(PIP_2),$ producing inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate $(IP_3)$ and DAG. $IP_3$ causes release of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ and formation of a $Ca^{2+}$-calmodulin complex, resulting in activation of myosin light chain kinase and contraction through a calmodulin-dependent pathway.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• 제61권4호
• /
• pp.417-421
• /
• 2018

자외선은 가시 광선보다 파장이 짧은 전자기파이며, 오존층을 통과하는 자외선이 피부 노화의 주요 원인이다. 피부 조직을 자외선에 만성적으로 노출 시키면 인간 각질 형성 세포에서 Mitogen-activated Protein Kinases (MAPKs) 신호 전달 경로가 활성화되어 매트릭스 metalloproteinases (MMPs) 생성이 증가한다. 본 연구에서는 제주도의 초본 추출물을 대상으로 자외선 자극을 통해 인간 각질 형성 세포(HaCaTs)의 항 노화 효과에 대해 조사 하였다. 우리는 자외선 유도 된 각질 형성 세포에서 MMP-1 유전자와 단백질 발현 수준을 측정 하였으며 그 결과, Thymus quinquecostatus 추출물(TQE)은 자외선 조사된 HaCaT 세포에서 의해 농도 의존적으로 MMP-1의 발현을 유의하게 감소시키는 것으로 확인되었다. 또한, TQE는 MAPK 신호 전달요소 인 ERK1/2, JNK1/2 및 p38 단백질의 자외선 유도에 따른 인산화를 유의 적으로 감소시켰다. 이러한 결과는 MAPKs 경로가 인간 각질 세포에서 UV 유도 MMP-1 생산에 대한 TQE의 억제 효과에 기여할 수 있음을 시사한다. 우리의 결과는 아마도 인간 각질형성 세포에서 TQE가 자외선 유도된 MMP-1 생산을 억제하는 피부 노화 소재로 활용될 수 있음을 시사한다.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• 제1권3호
• /
• pp.230-235
• /
• 2001

Background: Finding of the regulation of various gene expression by cytokine including $IFN-{\gamma}$ in hematopoietic stem cell will light up the understanding of pathogenesis of aplastic anemia in various aspects. To study on aplastic anemia, however, we have to circumvent the difficulty of directly obtaining bone marrow stem cells from the patient. Therefore, we tried to find out a cell can replace the bone marrow stem cells for study on cell signaling pathway and regulation of gene expression by $IFN-{\gamma}$. Materials and Methods: HL-60 cells, of 20 ng/mL of $IFN-{\gamma}$. Total RNA was isolated from the cells and RT-PCR of the indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), $IFN-{\gamma}$, TNF-${\alpha}$, $MIP-1{\alpha}$, and $TGF-{\beta}2$ was carried out for the estimation of the gene expression. Results: $IFN-{\gamma}$ induced IDO gene expression of mononuclear cells from umbilical cord blood showed similar pattern as compared to that of bone marrow. Whether $INF-{\gamma}$ was treated or not, $TNF-{\alpha}$ was expressed in both mononuclear cells from umbilical cord blood and bone marrow. However, HL-60 cells showed different expression patterns. HL-60 cells would express neither IDO nor $TNF-{\alpha}$ even under the culture with 20ng/mL of $IFN-{\gamma}$. Conclusion: Our results showed bone marrow can be replaced with mononuclear cells from umbilical cord blood in the study on the relation between aplastic anemia and $IFN-{\gamma}$ including $IFN-{\gamma}$ cell signaling pathway.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• 제48권3호
• /
• pp.124-130
• /
• 2021

질산염은 많은 유전자의 발현을 조절하고 생장과 발육과정에서 매우 중요한 영양소이자 시그널 분자이다. 본 연구는 고등식물에서 질산 신호에 의한 유전자발현제어 관련 전사인자의 연구현황을 소개하고자 한다. 질산 환원 효소는 질소 동화 경로상의 효소이며, 질산이온을 아질산이온으로 환원하는 과정을 촉매한다. 질산이온, 빛, 대사산물, 식물호르몬, 저온, 가뭄 등의 여러 요인이 질산환원효소 유전자의 발현 수준과 생리적 역할과 같은 질산환원효소 활성을 조절한다. 최근 질산 환원 효소 유전자의 발현제어에 관여하고 있는 몇몇 전사인자들이 식물에서 분리되었다. NODULE-INCEPTION-like proteins (NLPs)는 질산 환원 효소 유전자의 질산 유도성 발현에 관여하는 전사인자이다. NLPs는 질산 수송체, 아질산 수송체, 아질산 환원 효소에 관련된 유전자의 질산 유도성 발현을 제어한다. 질산 환원 경로와 관련된 유전자의 발현 수준은 질산에 반응하여 NLPs에 의해 협조적으로 조절된다. 따라서 식물에서 질산염의 기능을 이해하면 질소 사용량이 적은 작물을 육성할 수 있다.

• Journal of Photoscience
• /
• 제9권2호
• /
• pp.485-487
• /
• 2002

Cells receive signals for survival as well as death, and the balance between the two ultimately determines the fate of the cells. UV-triggered apoptotic signaling has been well documented, whereas UV-induced survival effects have received little attention. We have reported previously that UVB irradiation prevented apoptosis, which was partly dependent on activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase)/ Akt pathway. In this study, anti-apoptotic effects of UV with different wavelength ranges, UVA, UVB and UVC, were examined. NIH3T3 cells showed apoptotic cell death by detachment from the extracellular matrix under serum-free conditions, which was prevented by all wavelengths. However, the effect of UVA was less than those of UVB and UVC. Reduction of mitochondrial transmembrane potential and activation of caspase-9 and -3 were suppressed by all three wavelengths of UV, showing wavelength-dependent effects as mentioned above. The PI3-kinase inhibitor wortmannin partially inhibittrl the UVB and UVC-induced suppression of apoptosis, but not the inhibitoty effect of UVA. The Akt phosphotylation by UVB and UVC was completely inhibittrl by addition of wortmannin, but that by UVA was not P38 MAP kinase inhibitor SB203580 partially inhibited the UVB and UVC-induced suppression of apoptosis and Akt phosphotylation, and completely inhibited UVA-induced those. These results suggested the existence of two different survival pathways leading to suppression of apoptosis, one for UVA that is independent of the PI3-kinase/Akt pathway and dependent on p38 MAP kinase, and the other for UVB and UVC that is dependent on both pathways.