• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.247-268
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• 1996

It has been known for a long time that gonadotropins and steroid hormones play a pivotal role in a series of reproductive biological phenomena including the maturation of ovarian follicles and oocytes, ovulation and implantation, maintenance of pregnancy and fetal growth & development, parturition and mammary development and lactation. Recent investigations, however, have elucidated that in addition to these classic hormones, multiple growth factors also are involved in these phenomena. Most growth factors in reproductive organs mediate the actions of gonadotropins and steroid hormones or synergize with them in an autocrine/paracrine manner. The insulin-like growth factor(IGF) system, which is one of the most actively investigated areas lately in the reproductive organs, has been found to have important roles in a wide gamut of reproductive phenomena. In the present communication, published literature pertaining to the intrauterine IGF system will be reviewed preceded by general information of the IGF system. The IGF family comprises of IGF-I & IGF-II ligands, two types of IGF receptors and six classes of IGF-binding proteins(IGFBPs) that are known to date. IGF-I and IGF-II peptides, which are structurally homologous to proinsulin, possess the insulin-like activity including the stimulatory effect of glucose and amino acid transport. Besides, IGFs as mitogens stimulate cell division, and also play a role in cellular differentiation and functions in a variety of cell lines. IGFs are expressed mainly in the liver and messenchymal cells, and act on almost all types of tissues in an autocrine/paracrine as well as endocrine mode. There are two types of IGF receptors. Type I IGF receptors, which are tyrosine kinase receptors having high-affinity for IGF-I and IGF-II, mediate almost all the IGF actions that are described above. Type II IGF receptors or IGF-II/mannose-6-phosphate receptors have two distinct binding sites; the IGF-II binding site exhibits a high affinity only for IGF-II. The principal role of the type II IGF receptor is to destroy IGF-II by targeting the ligand to the lysosome. IGFs in biological fluids are mostly bound to IGFBP. IGFBPs, in general, are IGF storage/carrier proteins or modulators of IGF actions; however, as for distinct roles for individual IGFBPs, only limited information is available. IGFBPs inhibit IGF actions under most in vitro situations, seemingly because affinities of IGFBPs for IGFs are greater than those of IGF receptors. How IGF is released from IGFBP to reach IGF receptors is not known; however, various IGFBP protease activities that are present in blood and interstitial fluids are believed to play an important role in the process of IGF release from the IGFBP. According to latest reports, there is evidence that under certain in vitro circumstances, IGFBP-1, -3, -5 have their own biological activities independent of the IGF. This may add another dimension of complexity of the already complicated IGF system. Messenger ribonucleic acids and proteins of the IGF family members are expressed in the uterine tissue and conceptus of the primates, rodents and farm animals to play important roles in growth and development of the uterus and fetus. Expression of the uterine IGF system is regulated by gonadal hormones and local regulatory substances with temporal and spatial specificities. Locally expressed IGFs and IGFBPs act on the uterine tissue in an autocrine/paracrine manner, or are secreted into the uterine lumen to participate in conceptus growth and development. Conceptus also expresses the IGF system beginning from the peri-implantation period. When an IGF family member is expressed in the conceptus, however, is determined by the presence or absence of maternally inherited mRNAs, genetic programming of the conceptus itself and an interaction with the maternal tissue. The site of IGF action also follows temporal (physiological status) and spatial specificities. These facts that expression of the IGF system is temporally and spatially regulated support indirectly a hypothesis that IGFs play a role in conceptus growth and development. Uterine and conceptus-derived IGFs stimulate cell division and differentiation, glucose and amino acid transport, general protein synthesis and the biosynthesis of mammotropic hormones including placental lactogen and prolactin, and also play a role in steroidogenesis. The suggested role for IGFs in conceptus growth and development has been proven by the result of IGF-I, IGF-II or IGF receptor gene disruption(targeting) of murine embryos by the homologous recombination technique. Mice carrying a null mutation for IGF-I and/or IGF-II or type I IGF receptor undergo delayed prenatal and postnatal growth and development with 30-60% normal weights at birth. Moreover, mice lacking the type I IGF receptor or IGF-I plus IGF-II die soon after birth. Intrauterine IGFBPs generally are believed to sequester IGF ligands within the uterus or to play a role of negative regulators of IGF actions by inhibiting IGF binding to cognate receptors. However, when it is taken into account that IGFBP-1 is expressed and secreted in primate uteri in amounts assessedly far exceeding those of local IGFs and that IGFBP-1 is one of the major secretory proteins of the primate decidua, the possibility that this IGFBP may have its own biological activity independent of IGF cannot be excluded. Evidently, elucidating the exact role of each IGFBP is an essential step into understanding the whole IGF system. As such, further research in this area is awaited with a lot of anticipation and attention.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.177-186
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• 1989

Observations were made on the differences in cell-mediated immune responses in the mice infected with strongly pathogenic Naegleria fewleyi ITMAP 359, weakly pathogenic Naegzeria jadini 0400, or non.pathogenic Naegleria gruberi EGB, respectively. Variations in cell-mediated responses and changes in antibody titers according to the duration after infection wore noted. Infections were done by dropping $5{\;}{\mu}l$ saline suspension containing $10{\times}10^4$ trophozoites cultured Bxenically in the CGVS medium into the right nasal cavity of ICR mice aging about 6~7 weeks, under the anesthesia by intraperitoneal injection of'secobarbital. Following infection, delayed type hypersensitivity(DTH) iesponses in the footpad and blastogenic responses of the mouse spleen cells using [$^3H$]-thymidine were observed on the day 1, 4, 7, 10 and 14 after infection. For the preparation of amoeba Iysates, each of cultured trophosoites were homogenized with an ultrasonicator, and centrifugated at 20,000 g. The supernatants of amoeba Iysates were used as the mitogen'and antigen for ELISA. Confanavalin A(Con. A) and lipopolysaccharide(LPS) were also used as mitogens in the blastogenic response. 1. The mice infected with N, fowleri showed the mortality rate of 75.7%. The rate was 6.2% for the N. jadini infected group, while no dead mouse was observed for N. gruberi infections. 2. In regard to DTH responses in the H. fewleri infected mice, the level increased in com- parison to the control group but declined after 7 days. An increase was also noted for the JV. jadini group after 1 day, but gradual decreases were observed through the infection period. In addition, no difference was noted between the N. gruberi infected and control groups. 3. Concerning the blastogenic response of the splenocytes, it increased after 10 days in the experimental group of N, fcwleri infection, but the differences ware not statistically significant compared with control group. It was evident that N. jadini group was not different from control group either, while there was a tendency of decrease in SV. gruberi infected group. In regard to the blastogenic response of the splenocytes by LPS, it was found that the N. fowlgri, N. jadini and N. gruberi infected groups had no differences from the control group. 4. The serum antibody titer of N. fcwleri and N. jadini infected mice increased from the day 7 and 14 after infection respectively, while the N. gruberi infected mice showed no increase. In summary of the results, it was observed that there were differences in the cell-mediated immune responses and serum antibody titers in the mice infected with strongly pathogenic JV. fowleri, weakly pathogenic N. jadini, or non.pathogenic N. gruberi, respectively.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.457-473
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• 2002

The purposes of this study is to evaluate the combination effects of TGF-${\beta}_1$ and PDGF-BB on the periodontal ligament cells to use as a regeneration promoting agent of periodontal tissue. Human periodontal ligament cells were prepared from the first premolar tooth extracted for the orthodontic treatment and were cultured in DMEM/100% FBS at the $37^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$ incubator. Authors measured the DNA synthesis, total protein, collagen and noncollagenous protein synthesis according to the concentration of TGF-${\beta}_1$,(1,5ng/ml) and PDGF-BB (1,10 ng/ml) in combination. To explore further this delayed effect of TGF-${\beta}_1$, we preincubated human periodontal ligament cells with TGF-${\beta}_1$ for 4 or 24 hours before PDGF-BB stimulation. The results were as follows: The DNA synthetic activity was increased dose dependently by TGF-${\beta}_1$, PDGF-BB. The combination of TGF-${\beta}_1$ and PDGF-BB consistently enhanced the DNA synthetic activity to PDGF-BB alone. The ability of TGF-${\beta}_1$ to enhance DNA synthetic activity in PDGF-BB treated periodontal ligament cells was dose dependent. The maximum mitogenic effect was at the 5ng/ml of TGF-${\beta}_1$ and l0ng/ml of PDGF-BB. Preincubation of cell with TGF-${\beta}_1$ resulted in significantly greater response to PDGF-BB at all TGF-${\beta}_1$ concentration studied, and may be useful for clinical application in periodontal regenerative procedures. The total protein, collagen and noncollagen synthesis was increased dose pendently by TGF-${\beta}_1$, PDGF-BB. The % of collagen was slightly decreased according to the concentration of TGF-${\beta}_1$, PDGF-BB. The effect of TGF-${\beta}_1$, PDGF-BB were not specific for collagen synthesis since it also increased noncollagenous protein synthesis. This study demonstrates that PDGF-BB is major mitogens for human periodontal ligament cells in vitro, and supports a role for TGF-${\beta}_1$ as a regulation of the mitogenic and total protein formation to PDGF-BB in these cells.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.543-552
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• 1995

This study was undertaken to investigate the eftects of Cd administered ad libitum for 6 weeks on the cellular immune responses of Balb/c mice. The results were summarized as follows; 1. The mice fed 25, 50 and 100ppm Cd drank as much as control, but the mice fed 200ppm Cd drank significantly less water after Cd exposure than did control. Increasing rates of body weight of Cd-fed mice for 6 weeks were as this, control group 27.0%, Cd administered groups(25, 50, 100 and 200ppm) 28.54%, 28.31%, 20.49% and 18.04%, respectively. 2. Absolute spleen to body weight(mg/g) of control, 25, 50, 100 and 200ppm Cd administered groups were $4.34{\pm}0.23$, $4.20{\pm}0.54$, $4.80{\pm}0.87$, $4.25{\pm}0.32$ and $4.40{\pm}0.32$, respectively. Splenic cellularity(${\times}10^7$) of control was $24.29{\pm}5.98$ but increased to $27.72{\pm}5.48$, $32.96{\pm}8.44$, $28.32{\pm}8.76$ and $29.64{\pm}4.08$ in 25, 50, 100 and 200ppm Cd-fed groups, respectively. 3. Total $CD_4{^+}$ cells(${\times}10^7$) of control, 25, 50, 100 and 200ppm Cd-fed groups were $9.15{\pm}2.24$, $10.40{\pm}2.04$, $12.04{\pm}3.08$, $10.20{\pm}3.16$ and $10.80{\pm}1.48$, respectively and total $CD_8{^+}$ cells(${\times}10^7$) of these groups were $2.32{\pm}0.56$, $2.54{\pm}0.27$, $3.12{\pm}0.80$, $2.25{\pm}0.70$ and $2.24{\pm}0.28$, in order. On the other hand, $CD_4{^+}/CD_8{^+}$ ratios in total cells were increased significantly except for 50ppm Cd-fed group($3.88{\pm}0.01$). And that of control was $3.97{\pm}0.02$, but those of 25, 100 and 200ppm were $4.35{\pm}0.01$, $4.54{\pm}0.03$ and $4.81{\pm}0.03$. 4. Phagocytosis rates of peritoneal macrophages were increased significantly in 25 and 50ppm Cd groups($36.34{\pm}9.45$ and $37.15{\pm}9.22$, respectively), but 100 and 200ppm groups showed similar rates($18.20{\pm}3.04$ and $19.48{\pm}3.22$ respectively) to that of control($21.43{\pm}3.62$). 5. In mitogen-induced splenocyte proliferation, various concentraions of $CdCl_2(10^{-4}-10^{-7}M)$ were added to mitogen-stimulated culture in vitro. Splenocyte proliferation induced by LPS was decreased dose dependently, but proliferation by Con-A was increased slightly in concentrations of $10^{-7}-10^{-6}M$. 6. Significant cytotoxicity of splenocytes with $CdCl_2$ were shown at $10^{-4}M$ treated group, especially at 24 hrs. From these results, it could be concluded that Cd might modulate the immune responses by modifying a distribution of T cell subpopulations.