• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• 제40권1호
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• pp.39-44
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• 2010

Purpose: Bone tissues for clinical application can be improved by studies on osteoblast differentiation. Runx2 is known to be an important transcription factor for osteoblast differentiation. However, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2 treatment to stimulate Runx2 is not sufficient to acquire enough bone formation in osteoblasts. Therefore, it is necessary to find other regulatory factors which can improve the transcriptional activity of Runx2. The erythroblast transformation-specific (ETS) transcription factor family is reported to be involved in various aspects of cellular proliferation and differentiation. Methods: We have noticed that the promoters of osteoblast differentiation markers such as alkaline phosphatase (Alp), osteopontin (Opn), and osteocalcin (Oc) contain Ets binding sequences which are also close to Runx2 binding elements. Luciferase assays were performed to measure the promoter activities of these osteoblast differentiation markers after the transfection of Runx2, myeloid Elf-1-like factor (MEF), and Runxs+MEF. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction was also done to check the mRNA levels of Opn after Runx2 and MEF transfection into rat osteoblast (ROS) cells. Results: We have found that MEF, an Ets transcription factor, increased the transcriptional activities of Alp, Opn, and Oc. The addition of Runx2 resulted in the 2- to 6-fold increase of the activities. This means that these two transcription factors have a synergistic effect on the osteoblast differentiation markers. Furthermore, early introduction of these two Runx2 and MEF factors significantly elevated the expression of the Opn mRNA levels in ROS cells. We also showed that Runx2 and MEF proteins physically interact with each other. Conclusions: Runx2 interacts with MEF proteins and binds to the promoters of the osteoblast markers such as Opn nearby MEF to increase its transcriptional activity. Our results also imply that osteoblast differentiation and bone formation can be increased by activating MEF to elicit the synergistic effect of Runx2 and MEF.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제17권
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• pp.97-104
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• 2001

Three types of proteases (MEF-1, MEF-2 and MEF-3) were purified from the egg cases of Ten-odera sinensis using ammonium sulfate fractionation, gel filtration on Bio-Gel P-60 and affinity chromatography on DEAE Affi-Gel blue gel. The proteases were assessed homogeneous by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and have molecular weight of 31,500, 32,900 and 35,600 Da, respectively. The N-terminal regions of the primary structure were compared and they were found to be different each other. MEFs readily digested the $A\alpha$ - and B$\beta$-chains of fibrinogen and more slowly the ${\gamma}$-chain. The action of the enzymes resulted in extensive hydrolysis of fibrinogen and fibrin, releasing a variety of fibrinopeptides. MEF-1 was inactivated by Cu$^{2+}$ and Zn$^{2+}$ and inhibited by PMSF and chymostatin. MEF-2 was inhibited by PMSF, TLCK. soybean trypsin inhibitor. MEF-3 was only inhibited by PMSF and chymostatin. Antiplasmin was not sensitive to MEF-1 but antithrombin III inhibited the enzymatic activity qf MEF-1. MEF-2 specifically bound to anti plasmin Among the chromogenic protease substrates, the most sensitive one to the hydrolysis of MEFs was benzoyl-Phe-Val-Arg-p-nitroanilide with maximal activity at pH 7.0 and 3$0^{\circ}C$. MEF-1 preferentially cleaved the oxidized B-chain of insulin between Leu15 and Tyr16. In contrast, MEF-2 specifically cleaved the peptide bond between Arg23 and Gly24. D-dimer concentrations increased on incubation of cross-linked fibrin with MEF-1, indicating the enzyme has a strong fibrinolytic activity.ity.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제39권4호
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• pp.292-298
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• 2016

Aquaporin 1 (AQP1) is expressed in most microvasculature endothelial cells and forms water channels that play major roles in a variety of physiologic processes. This study aimed to delineate the transcriptional regulation of AQP1 by Mef2c in endothelial cells. Mef2c cooperated with Sp1 to activate human AQP1 transcription by binding to its proximal promoter in human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Over-expression of Mef2c, Sp1, or Mef2c/Sp1 increased HUVEC migration and tube-forming ability, which can be abolished AQP1 knockdown. These data indicate that AQP1 is a direct target of Mef2c in regulating angiogenesis and vasculogenesis of endothelial cells.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.26-37
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• 2006

Determination and differentiation of cells in the skeletal muscle lineage is positively regulated by cell-cell contact. Differentiation proteins proposed to mediate this effect include both classical MyoD and MEF members; potential interactions between the promyogenic activities of these classes of protein, however, are unknown. We show here that MyoD and MEF, two promyogenic family members that relate to each other in a cis fashion, form interactions with MyoD and MEF. These proteins contain myosin-heavy chainsand are enriched at sites of cell-cell contact between myoblasts. Therefore, in differentiation of MyoD and MEF from Chungsimyeonjaeum interact dependently, suggesting that the interactions occur in a cis fashion; consistent with this conclusion, MyoD-mediated differentiation is required for myoblasts to occur by Chungsimyeonjaeum. Inhibition in myoblasts of a MyoD by Staurosporine in its ability to associate with MEF interferes with differentiation as assessed by morphological and transcription levels, suggesting that this interaction is functionally important in myogenesis. Also, some of the differentiation-mediated proteins that are required for myogenesis seem to be based on interdependent activities of the promyogenic classical smad-subfamily.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• 제38권2호
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• pp.61-65
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• 2013

Erythromycin is a macrolide antibiotic and inhibits bacterial protein synthesis by stimulating the dissociation of the peptidyl-tRNA molecule from the ribosomes during elongation. The use of macrolides has increased dramatically over the last few years and has led to an increase in bacterial resistance to these antibiotics. Bacterial resistance to erythromycin is generally conferred by the ribosome methylation and/or transport (efflux) protein genes. Among the identified erythromycin-resistant genes, erm(B) (erythromycin methylation) and mef(A) (macrolide efflux) are generally detectable in erythromycin-resistant streptococcal species. The distribution of these genes in oral streptococcal isolates has been reported in studies from other countries but has not been previously examined in a Korean study. We here examined by PCR the presence of erm(B) and mef(A) in oral streptococci isolated from Korean dental plaques. Among the 57 erythromycin-resistant strains tested, 64.9% harbored erm(B) whereas 40.4% were positive for mef(A). Eleven isolates had both the erm(B) and mef(A) genes. Twenty six isolates had only erm(B) and 12 isolates had only mef(A). Eight of the 57 strains examined were negative for both genes.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.522-529
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• 2008

High-temperature requirement A2(HtrA2)는 대장균에서 42도 노출 시 세포 보호 기능을 하는 단백질인 HtrA의 human homologue로 동정되었다 현재까지 human HtrA2는 미토콘드리아에 존재하는 serine protaese로 세포사멸 기능에 관여하는 것으로 알려져 있으나, 그 생리적 기능 및 mammalian 세포 내에서 heat shock에 대한 보호기능에 대해서 명확히 알려진 바가 없다. 최근 HtrA2 유전자가 결실된 mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF)가 보고되어 세포 내 HtrA2의 기능 연구가 가능해 졌으나, 이 세포에 대한 정보가 많은 부분 밝혀져 있지 않다. 생리기능연구를 위해서는 자체의 특성들에 대한 조사가 선행되어야 차후 기능연구가 가능할 것이다. 본 연구는 $HtrA2^{+/+}$, $HtrA2^{-/-}$ MEF 세포주를 확보하고, 두 세포주의 성장속도, 세포 형태 및, heat shock에 의한 세포사멸 정도를 측정하였다. 우선 $HtrA2^{+/+}$, $HtrA2^{-/-}$ MEF 세포주에서 HtrA2의 발현 유무를 PCR과 IB로 확인하였고, fractionation을 통해 $HtrA2^{+/+}$ 세포주에서만 HtrA2가 미토콘드리아에 위치함을 확인하였다. 두 세포에서 형태학적인 차이가 있음을 Coomassie staining으로 확인하였고, 성장속도 또한 $HtrA2^{-/-}$ 세포주가 1.4배 빠름을 확인하였다. 현재까지 보고되지 않은 HtrA2의 고온에 대한 반응연구를 위해 본 연구에서는 heat shock 자극에서 세포사멸을 측정하여, 기존에 알려진 세포사멸자극에서와 동일하게 heat shock에 의해서도 세포사멸이 야기됨을 확인하였다. $HtrA2^{+/+}$와 $HtrA2^{-/-}$ MEF 세포주를 이용한 연구에 있어, HtrA2 유무에 따른 세포의 생리학적 특징을 제공하였고, 향후 heat shock에 의한 세포사멸에서의 HtrA2 기능연구를 위한 중요한 기본 정보를 제공함으로써 HtrA2의 기능을 심도있게 연구하는데 사용할 수 있는 좋은 자료가 될 것이다.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.119-126
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• 2015

The suitable feeder cell layer is important for culture of embryonic stem (ES) cells. In this study, we investigated the effect of two kinds of the feeder cell, MEF cells and STO cells, layer to mouse ES (mES) cell culture for maintenance of stemness. We compare the colony formations, alkaline phosphatase (AP) activities, expression of pluripotency marker genes and proteins of D3 cell colonies cultured on MEF feeder cell layer (D3/MEF) or STO cell layers (D3/STO) compared to feeder free condition (D3/-) as a control group. Although there were no differences to colony formations and AP activities, interestingly, the transcripts level of pluripotency marker genes, Pou5f1 and Nanog were highly expressed in D3/MEF (79 and 93) than D3/STO (61and 77) or D3/- (65 and 81). Also, pluripotency marker proteins, NANOG and SOX-2, were more synthesized in D3/MEF ($72.8{\pm}7.69$ and $81.2{\pm}3.56$) than D3/STO ($32.0{\pm}4.30$ and $56.0{\pm}4.90$) or D3/- ($55.0{\pm}4.64$ and $62.0{\pm}6.20$). These results suggest that MEF feeder cell layer is more suitable to mES cell culture.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.333-345
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• 2007

Determination and differentiation of cells in the skeletal muscle lineage is positively regulated by cell-cell contact. differentiation proteins proposed to mediate this effect include both classical MyoD and MEF members : potential interactions between the promyogenic activities of these classes of protein, however, are unknown. We show here that MyoD and MEF, two promyogenic family members that determine to each other in a cis fashion, form ineraction with MyoD- and MEF. These proteins contain myosin heavy chains and are enriched at sites of cell-cell contact between myoblasts, Therefore, In differentiation of MyoD MEF from CST (Chungsimyeonjatang) interact dependently, suggesting that the interactions occur in a cis fashio : consistent with this conclusion, MyoD-mediated differentiation is required for myoblast to occur by CST. Inhibition in myoblasts of a MyoD by STP in its ability to associate with MEF interferes with differentiation as assessed by morphological and transcription level, suggesting that this interaction is functionally important in myogenesis. Also, some of the differentiation-mediated proteins that are required for myogenesis seem to be based on interdependent activities of promyogenic classical SMAD-subfamilly.

• 대한한방부인과학회지
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.26-37
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• 2010

Purpose: This experiment is designed to find out anti-oxidant effects of Samultang-Gami which was composed of Rehmanniae Radix(RR), Angelicae Gigantis Radix, Cnidii Rhizoma(CR), Paeoniae Radix(PR), Cortex Moutan Radicis, Hedyotis Diffusa(HD) and Caesalpinia Sappan on MEF cells. Methods: In vitro antioxidant effects were measured by MTT assay, DPPH assay, cell cycle analysis, AnnexinV-FITC/PI assay and DAPI staining using MEF cells treated with various concentrations of 70% ethanol extract of Samultang-Gami. Results: 1. In the scavenging for DPPH radical, the each treated groups of PR, CR and HD showed positive effects. RR and CR increased the viability of oxidative damaged MEF cells in a dose-dependent manner. 2. 70% ethanol extract of Samultang-Gami was shown best antioxidative effect in the concentration of $0.5mg/m{\ell}$. 3. The treatment of Samultang-Gami in oxidative damaged MEF cells didn't have any effect on cell cycle restoration. but it could lower late apoptosis rate a little and be observed the protection of nucleus. Conclusion: It can be concluded that Samultang-Gami, RR and CR have antioxidant effects on MEF cells.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제53권4호
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• pp.431-438
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• 2015

In Trichinella spiralis infection, type 2 helper T (Th2) cell-related and regulatory T ($T_{reg}$) cell-related immune responses are the most important immune events. In order to clarify which Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are closely associated with these responses, we analyzed the expression of mouse TLR genes in the small intestine and muscle tissue during T. spiralis infection. In addition, the expression of several chemokine- and cytokine-encoding genes, which are related to Th2 and $T_{reg}$ cell mediated immune responses, were analyzed in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) isolated from myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)/TIR-associated proteins (TIRAP) and Toll receptor-associated activator of interferons (TRIF) adapter protein deficient and wild type (WT) mice. The results showed significantly increased TLR4 and TLR9 gene expression in the small intestine after 2 weeks of T. spiralis infection. In the muscle, TLR1, TLR2, TLR5, and TLR9 gene expression significantly increased after 4 weeks of infection. Only the expression of the TLR4 and TLR9 genes was significantly elevated in WT MEF cells after treatment with excretory-secretory (ES) proteins. Gene expression for Th2 chemokine genes were highly enhanced by ES proteins in WT MEF cells, while this elevation was slightly reduced in MyD88/$TIRAP^{-/-}$ MEF cells, and quite substantially decreased in $TRIF^{-/-}$ MEF cells. In contrast, IL-10 and $TGF-{\beta}$ expression levels were not elevated in MyD88/$TIRAP^{-/-}$ MEF cells. In conclusion, we suggest that TLR4 and TLR9 might be closely linked to Th2 cell and $T_{reg}$ cell mediated immune responses, although additional data are needed to convincingly prove this observation.