• BMB Reports
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.492-501
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• 2006

Since differentiation therapy is one of the promising strategies for treatment of leukemia, universal efforts have been focused on finding new differentiating agents. In that respect, we used guanosine 5'-triphosphate (GTP) to study its effects on K562 cell line. GTP, at concentrations between 25-200 ${\mu}M$, inhibited proliferation (3-90%) and induced 5-78% increase in benzidine-positive cells after 6-days of treatments of K562 cells. Flow cytometric analyses of glycophorine A (GPA) showed that GTP can induce expression of this marker in more mature erythroid cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. These effects of GTP were also accompanied with inhibition of DNA synthesis (measured by [$^3H$]-thymidine incorporation) and early S-phase cell cycle arrest by 96 h of exposure. In contrast, no detectable effects were observed when GTP administered to unstimulated human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). However, GTP induced an increase in proliferation, DNA synthesis and viability of mitogen-stimulated PBL cells. In addition, growth inhibition and differentiating effects of GTP were also induced by its corresponding nucleotides GDP, GMP and guanosine (Guo). In heat-inactivated medium, where rapid degradation of GTP via extracellular nucleotidases is slow, the anti-proliferative and differentiating effects of all type of guanine nucleotides (except Guo) were significantly decreased. Moreover, adenosine, as an inhibitor of Guo transporter system, markedly reduced the GTP effects in K562 cells, suggesting that the extracellulr degradation of GTP or its final conversion to Guo may account for the mechanism of GTP effects. This view is further supported by the fact that GTP and Guo are both capable of impeding the effects of mycophenolic acid. In conclusion, our data will hopefully have important impact on pharmaceutical evaluation of guanine nucleotides for leukemia treatments.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.358-362
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• 2004

In order to develop molecular markers related to stay green phenotype, AFLP analysis was conducted using near-isogenic lines for either stay green or non stay green trait. Both lines have characteristics of multi-ear and tillers (MET). Two out of 64 primer combinations of selective amplification identified three reproducible polymorphic fragments in MET corn with stay green. Both of E+AGC/M+CAC and E+AAG/M+CAA primer combinations produced two and one specific polymorphic fragments linked to stay green trait, respectively. For the conversion of AFLPs to sequence tag sites (STSs), primers were designed form both end sequences of each two polymorphic fragments. One fragment, which was amplified with E+AAG/M+CAA primer combinations, possessed 298 bp long and showed a $91\%$ homology with maize retrotransposon Cinful-l. One out of two polymorphic fragments produced with E+AGC/M+CAC primer combination had 236 bp long and matched a $96\%$ homology with an intron region of 22kDa alpha zein gene cluster in Zea mays. One out of two PCR fragments amplified with MET2 primer set in the stay green MET was not produced in the non-stay green MET. The developed AFLP and STS marker could be used as an efficient tool for selection of the stay green trait in the MET inbred.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.1332-1338
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• 2003

This study was undertaken to examine the influence of soluble non-starch polysaccharides on growth performance, mucin secretion, and endogenous amino acid flows in weaner pigs. Different levels (0, 4 and 7.5%) of purified corn arabinoxylan (AX) or barley $\beta$-glucan extract (BG) were substituted for cellulose in a purified diet based on starch, sucrose and enzymatically hydrolyzed casein. All diets contained titanium oxide as an indigestible marker. Each experimental diet was fed to five, 6-wk old weaner pigs for 21 days. Average daily gain (p<0.05) and feed conversion ratio (p<0.01) were improved with dietary inclusion of 7.5% AX and BG, indicating high degradation rates of AX and BG in pigs. Crude mucin contents and endogenous nitrogen flow were increased (p<0.05) with increased levels of AX, but not with BG. Numerical increases in endogenous amino acid flow (EAAF) were observed with increased levels of AX but no definite trend with BG. Endogenous amino acid flow in pigs fed mixed NSP diets (4% BG and 3.5% cellulose) was significantly higher (p<0.05) than those fed 7.5% BG diets. Among diets containing pure sources of soluble non-starch polysaccharides, endogenous amino acid flows were highest in 7.5% AX (p<0.05), intermediate in BG, and lowest in control diet. Increased flows (p<0.01) of threonine, proline and serine in pigs fed 7.5% AX diets are consistent with the increased flow of crude mucin determined in this treatment. In conclusion, mucin and endogenous amino acid flows were increased with dietary inclusion of AX, which could be related to its physicochemical property, particularly its high water-holding capacity. In contrast, $\beta$-glucan, due to its high degradation rate in pig, may be considered as unimportant factor in inducing mucin and endogenous amino acid secretions, at least at levels such as those used in this study.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.110-116
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• 2008

Blood pressure refers to the force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels, and chronical elevation of blood pressure is known as hypertension. Although hypertension is affected by genetic and environmental factors, the genetic background of hypertension is not fully understood. One of the candidate genetic factors, Prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2), is a membrane-bound enzyme, catalyzing the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandin, and recently SNPs of PTGS2 gene was associated with hypertension in Japanese population. Therefore the association of PTGS2 polymorphisms was investigated with blood pressure in healthy Korean subjects, 470 unrelated individuals randomly selected from Ansung and Ansan cohorts. The 25 SNPs of PTGS2 gene were identified by the sequencing analysis of 24 Korean samples. Among identified polymorphisms, three SNPs (rs689466, -1329A>G; rs5275, +6365T>C; rs4648308, +8806G> A) were selected for further association analysis, and rs689466 located in promoter region was associated with blood pressure as well as triglyceride level in the blood. By in silico analysis, rs689466 locates in v-Myb transcription factor binding site, and the v-Myb site disappears when the SNP is changed from A to G nucleotide. Individuals with A/G and G/G genotype in rs689466 have higher blood pressure than those with A/A genotype, and the regression p-value is 0.008 for systolic and 0.004 for diastolic blood pressure. In summary, the PTGS2 polymorphism (rs689466) is associated with blood pressure in Asian populations based on this and Japanese studies, shedding light on it as a genetic risk marker of hypertension.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2006

A polymorphism was found in the promoter region of porcine adipocyte fatty acid binding protein gene(A-FABP) gene which plays a key role in the binding and transportation of free fatty acid in adipocyte and deposition of intramuscular fat. Mutation was detected a substitution(T406C) using SSCP analysis and subsequently confirmed by sequencing the fragment in Duroc pigs. This T-406C mutation might change the binding activity for transcription factor nuclear factor 1(NF1). In this population, this mutation was genotyped using HinfⅠRFLP, and found three kinds of genotypes(TT, TC, and CC) showing their frequencies of 42.3, 44.3, and 13.4%, respectively. We statistically analyzed the association between the A-FABP genotypes and growth traits and found that the body weights of the pigs containing 406C/(TC or CC) were heavier for the body weight at the age of 20 weeks than those containing genotype TT(P<0.05), but not for those at the age of 0, 3, and 10 weeks. Pigs containing genotype CC had also a higher value for the average daily gain and lower values for the date for 90kg of body weight and food conversion ratio than those of 406T/- genotype. In addition, without the significant difference of back fat thickness, there was a significant association between the existence of allele CC and lean meat and eye muscle area(P<0.05). As a result of this study, we suggest that the allele T406C in the promoter region of A-FABP gene play an important role in deposition of intramuscular fat and weight in the later growth period. This polymorphism will be an useful molecular marker for breeding of Duroc pigs.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.435-441
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• 2020

Background: As a process of aging, skeletal muscle mass and function gradually decrease. It is reported that ginsenoside Rb1 and Rb2 play a role as AMP-activated protein kinase activator, resulting in regulating glucose homeostasis, and Rb1 reduces oxidative stress in aged skeletal muscles through activating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt/Nrf2 pathway. We examined the effects of Rb1 and Rb2 on differentiation of the muscle stem cells and myotube formation. Methods: C2C12 myoblasts treated with Rb1 and/or Rb2 were differentiated and induced to myotube formation, followed by immunoblotting for myogenic marker proteins, such as myosin heavy chain, MyoD, and myogenin, or immunostaining for myosin heavy chain or immunoprecipitation analysis for heterodimerization of MyoD/E-proteins. Results: Rb1 and Rb2 enhanced myoblast differentiation through accelerating MyoD/E-protein heterodimerization and increased myotube hypertrophy, accompanied by activation of Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin signaling. In addition, Rb1 and Rb2 induced the MyoD-mediated transdifferentiation of the rhabdomyosarcoma cells into myoblasts. Furthermore, co-treatment with Rb1 and Rb2 had synergistically enhanced myoblast differentiation through Akt activation. Conclusion: Rb1 and Rb2 upregulate myotube growth and myogenic differentiation through activating Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin signaling and inducing myogenic conversion of fibroblasts. Thus, our first finding indicates that Rb1 and Rb2 have strong potential as a helpful remedy to prevent and treat muscle atrophy, such as age-related muscular dystrophy.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 1995

To evaluate an effect of xanthine oxidase(XO) reaction system on the carbon tetrachloride($CCl_4$) metabolism, $CCl_4$ was given twice at 0.1ml/100g body wt. at intervals of 18 hour to the rats and those pretreated with allopurinol (50mg/kg. body wt.). The influence of XO on the metabolism of $CCl_4$ was focused on the degree of liver damage and the activities of a $CCl_4$ metabolizing marker enzyme, glucose-6-phosphatase. The increasing rate of liver weight per body weight and the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase to the control group were more decreased in allopurinol-pretreated rats than in those treated with $CCl_4$ alone. The liver XO activities were more increased in $CCl_4$-treated rats than the control group and the $CCl_4$-treated rats pretreated with allopurinol showed a decreased activities of XO compared to the $CCl_4$-treated rats. The type conversion (type D --> type O) rate was more decreased tendency in allopurinol pretreated rats than those treated $CCl_4$ alone. In dialyzed liver enzyme preparations, all of the xanthine oxidase activities: $CCl_4$-treated, allopurinol and $CCl_4$-treated rats pretreated with allopurinol showed the more increased Vmax value than the control group, but similar Km value. Moreover, $CCl_4$-treated rats pretreated with allopurinol showed the more increased Vmax value than the group treated with $CCl_4$ alone. In conclusion, it can not be negate the possibility of metabolism of $CCl_4$ by the xanthine oxidase enzyme system.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2017

Regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) phenotype plays an essential role in many cardiovascular diseases. In the present study, we provide evidence that $kr{\ddot{u}}ppel$-like factor 8 (KLF8) is essential for tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$ ($TNF{\alpha}$)-induced phenotypic conversion of VSMC obtained from thoracic aorta from 4-week-old SD rats. Stimulation of the contractile phenotype of VSMCs with $TNF{\alpha}$ significantly reduced the VSMC marker gene expression and KLF8. The gene expression of KLF8 was blocked by $TNF{\alpha}$ stimulation in an ERK-dependent manner. The promoter region of KLF8 contained putative Sp1, KLF4, and $NF{\kappa}B$ binding sites. Myocardin significantly enhanced the promoter activity of KLF4 and KLF8. The ectopic expression of KLF4 strongly enhanced the promoter activity of KLF8. Moreover, silencing of Akt1 significantly attenuated the promoter activity of KLF8; conversely, the overexpression of Akt1 significantly enhanced the promoter activity of KLF8. The promoter activity of SMA, $SM22{\alpha}$, and KLF8 was significantly elevated in the contractile phenotype of VSMCs. The ectopic expression of KLF8 markedly enhanced the expression of SMA and $SM22{\alpha}$ concomitant with morphological changes. The overexpression of KLF8 stimulated the promoter activity of SMA. Stimulation of VSMCs with $TNF{\alpha}$ enhanced the expression of KLF5, and the promoter activity of KLF5 was markedly suppressed by KLF8 ectopic expression. Finally, the overexpression of KLF5 suppressed the promoter activity of SMA and $SM22{\alpha}$, thereby reduced the contractility in response to the stimulation of angiotensin II. These results suggest that cross-regulation of KLF family of transcription factors plays an essential role in the VSMC phenotype.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.75 no.1
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• pp.25-27
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• 2013

Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) is a widely-used tumor marker in patients with pancreatic cancer. However, some patients with respiratory disease also exhibit elevated serum CA 19-9 levels. We report a case of normalization of elevated serum CA 19-9 levels after treatment of the nodular bronchiectatic form of Mycobacterium abscessus lung disease. A 40-year-old man visited our hospital because of chronic cough and sputum. A computed tomography scan revealed severe bronchiectasis in the right upper and right middle lobes. Nontuberculous mycobacteria were repeatedly isolated and identified as M. abscessus. The serum CA 19-9 level was elevated to 142.35 U/mL (normal range, <37 U/mL). Surgical resection was performed because of failure of sputum conversion after antibiotic treatment. The serum CA 19-9 level returned to the normal range after surgery. This case suggested that serum CA 19-9 levels could be elevated in patients with the nodular bronchiectatic form of M. abscessus lung disease.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.116-121
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• 2018

Background: Black ginseng (BG) has greatly enhanced pharmacological activities relative to white or red ginseng. However, the effect and molecular mechanism of BG on muscle growth has not yet been examined. In this study, we investigated whether BG could regulate myoblast differentiation and myotube hypertrophy. Methods: BG-treated C2C12 myoblasts were differentiated, followed by immunoblotting for myogenic regulators, immunostaining for a muscle marker, myosin heavy chain or immunoprecipitation analysis for myogenic transcription factors. Results: BG treatment of C2C12 cells resulted in the activation of Akt, thereby enhancing hetero-dimerization of MyoD and E proteins, which in turn promoted muscle-specific gene expression and myoblast differentiation. BG-treated myoblasts formed larger multinucleated myotubes with increased diameter and thickness, accompanied by enhanced Akt/mTOR/p70S6K activation. Furthermore, the BG treatment of human rhabdomyosarcoma cells restored myogenic differentiation. Conclusion: BG enhances myoblast differentiation and myotube hypertrophy by activating Akt/mTOR/p70S6k axis. Thus, our study demonstrates that BG has promising potential to treat or prevent muscle loss related to aging or other pathological conditions, such as diabetes.