• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.107-107
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• 2003

The heavy metal cadmium is a xenobiotic toxicant of environmental and occupational concern and it has been classified as a human carcinogen. Inhalation of cadmium has been implicated in the development of emphysema and pulmonary fibrosis, but, the detailed mechanism by which cadmium induces adverse biological effects is not yet known. Therefore, we undertook the investigation of genes that are induced after cadmium exposure to illustrate the mechanism of cadmium toxicity For this purpose, we employed the polymerase chain reaction-based suppression subtractive hybridization technique. We identified 29 different cadmium-inducible genes in human peripheral mononuclear cells, such as macrophage migration inhibitory factor, lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase-${\alpha}$, enolase-1${\alpha}$, VEGF, Bax, neuron-derived orphan receptor-1, and Nur77, which are known to be associated with inflammation, cell survival, and apoptosis. Induction of these genes by cadmium treatment was further confirmed by semi-quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Further, we found that these genes were also induced after cadmium exposure in normal human lung fibroblast cell line, WI-38, suggesting potential use of this induction profile to monitor cadmium toxicity in the lung. Next, Nur77, one of cadmium-inducible genes, was further studied since the products of Nur77 are known to be involved in the apoptotic process of lung cells. Following cadmium treatment, Nur77 gene expression was increased at protein-level in A549 cells. Consistently, the reporter containing Nur77 binding sequence was activated by 2.5-fold after exposure to cadmium in reporter gene analysis by transient transfection experiments. When the plasmid encoding dominant negative Nur77 that represses the transcriptional function of wild-type Nur77 was transfected into A549 cells, the expression of Bax was significantly reduced, suggesting that induction of Nur77 was an important process in cadmium-induced apoptosis in the cells. Cadmium induced the expression of Nur77 in vivo, confirming the relevance of the data obtained in viro. Together our results suggest that Nur77 gene expression in exposure to cadmium leads apoptosis of lung cells which may cause pathological changes in lung.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.105-137
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• 2008

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of Gupoongjeseuptang (GPJST) on atopic dermatitis by in vivo experiment using NC/Nga atopic dermatitis mouse, which has histological and clinical similarities to the atopic dermatitis of human. Methods : To investigate the effect of GPJST on atopic dermatifis, we evaluated atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions by clinical skin index and analyzed immunological parameters in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), splenocytes, draining lymph node (DLN) and performed skin histology in ears and dorsal skin of atopic dermatitis-like skin NC/Nga mouse in vivo. Results : In vivo, clinical skin severity score were significantly lower in GPJST group than control group. IgE, IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$, IgG1, IgM, IgG2a and IgG2b levels in serum decreased remarkably in GPJST group than control group. Also, total absolute number of $CD3^+CD69^+$, and $CCR3^+$ cells recovered as normal in PBMCs and $CD3^+$, $CD3^+CD69^+$ decreased significantly compared with control group in isolated DLN from NC/Nga mouse and total absolute number of $CD11b^+Gr-1^+$, $CCR3^+CD3^+$ in dorsal skin of NC/Nga mouse decreased by GPJST. We analyzed ear and neck-back skin after biopsy and dyeing by hematoxyline/eosin (H&E) and toluidine staining (mast cells marker) and obtained results that GPJST are very effective to histological symptoms (dermal and epidermal thickening, hyperkeratosis and inflammatory cell (CD4, $CCR3^+$) infiltration). Conclusions : This study demonstrates immunological activity of GPJST on atopic dermatitis-like model mice.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.1414-1421
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• 2000

Sixteen specific pathogen free 4-wk-old crossbred weanling pigs were allotted into a $2{\times}2$ factorial experiment to evaluate the effects of chromium (Cr) on the immune responses after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection. Two factors included (1) no Cr or 400 ppb Cr supplementation from chromium picolinate (CrPic) and (2) LPS injection ($200{\mu}g/kg$ BW, intraperitoneally) on day 21 (d 21) and 35 (d 35) as compared with saline application. Plasma samples were obtained from all piglets before (0 h) and at 2 h, 4 h, 8 h, and 24 h after LPS injection. The changes in tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$) and leukocyte populations after LPS injection were not significant on d 21. On d 35, the plasma $TNF-{\alpha}$ level was increased at h 2 postinjection, and supplemental Cr reduced the $TNF-{\alpha}$ level. The leukocyte populations had changed profoundly and lymphocyte subsets of $CD2^+$ and $CD8^+$ were reduced at 8 h postinjection. The blood granulocytes were increased and the percentage of $CD2^+$ was reduced in the Cr-fed group on d 35. Furthermore, Cr supplementation decreased the blastogensis of concanavalin A-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) on d 21. These results suggest that 400 ppb Cr supplementation from CrPic in diets may modulate the immune responses in weanling pigs during LPS injection.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.1171-1177
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• 2015

The objective of this study was to establish the optimum protocol for the isolation and culture of porcine muscle satellite cells. Mononuclear muscle satellite cells are a kind of adult stem cell, which is located between the basal lamina and sarcolemma of muscle fibers and is the primary source of myogenic precursor cells in postnatal muscle. Muscle satellite cells are a useful model to investigate the mechanisms of muscle growth and development. Although the isolation and culture protocols of muscle satellite cells in some species (e.g. mouse) have been established successfully, the culture system for porcine muscle satellite cells is very limited. In this study, we optimized the isolation procedure of porcine muscle satellite cells and elaborated the isolation and culture process in detail. Furthermore, we characterized the porcine muscle satellite cells using the immunofluorecence. Our study provides a reference for the isolation of porcine muscle satellite cells and will be useful for studying the molecular mechanisms in these cells.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.1113-1125
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• 2020

Objective: This study was investigated the effects of dietary supplementation of Antrodia cinnamomea fermented product on modulation of antioxidation, anti-inflammation, and lipid metabolism in broilers. Methods: Functional compounds and in vitro antioxidant capacity were detected in wheat bran (WB) solid-state fermented by Antrodia cinnamomea for 16 days (FAC). In animal experiment, 400 d-old broiler chickens were allotted into 5 groups fed control diet, and control diet replaced with 5% WB, 10% WB, 5% FAC, and 10% FAC respectively. Growth performance, intestinal microflora, serum antioxidant enzymes and fatty acid profiles in pectoral superficial muscle were measured. Results: Pretreatment with hot water extracted fermented product significantly reduced chicken peripheral blood mononuclear cells death induced by lipopolysaccharide and 2,2'-Azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride. Birds received 5% and 10% FAC had higher weight gain than WB groups. Cecal coliform and lactic acid bacteria were diminished and increased respectively while diet replaced with FAC. For FAC supplemented groups, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased at 35 days only, with catalase elevated at 21 and 35 day. Regarding serum lipid parameters, 10% FAC replacement significantly reduced triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein level in chickens. For fatty acid composition in pectoral superficial muscle of 35-d-old chickens, 5% and 10% FAC inclusion had birds with significantly lower saturated fatty acids as compared with 10% WB group. Birds on the 5% FAC diet had a higher degree of unsaturation, followed by 10% FAC, control, 5% WB, and 10% WB. Conclusion: In conclusion, desirable intestinal microflora in chickens obtaining FAC may be attributed to the functional metabolites detected in final fermented product. Moreover, antioxidant effects observed in FAC were plausibly exerted in terms of improved antioxidant enzymes activities, increased unsaturated degree of fatty acids in chicken muscle and better weight gain in FAC inclusion groups, indicating that FAC possesses promising favorable mechanisms worthy to be developed.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.724-730
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• 2013

We investigated the effects of orally administered probiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus species) as allergic immune modulators in ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized mice. BALB/c mice were intraperitoneally injected with OVA twice at a 2-week interval for allergy sensitization. The mice were then orally administered Lactobacillus casei YIT9029 (L1), L. casei HY7201 (L2), L. brevis HY7401 (L3), or L. plantarum HY20301 (L4) every 2 days for 3 weeks. Total IgE levels significantly decreased in sera of L3-administered mice but increased in the other groups. OVA-specific IgE levels decreased slightly in sera of mice administered L1, L3, and L4 but increased significantly in L2-administered mice. In passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) using sera from administered mice, only the L3-administered group showed reaction inhibition. High expression of TLR-2 with interferon (IFN)-${\gamma}$ stimulation on peripheral blood mononuclear cells occurred in L3- or L4-administered mice. Th1 cytokines, including IFN-${\gamma}$ and interleukin (IL)-12, increased in splenocytes of L3-administered mice; however, IL-4 decreased in L1- and L4-administered groups; IL-5 decreased in all experimental groups. IL-6 decreased in the L3-administered group; and IL-10 decreased in L1-, L2-, and L3-administered groups. L3 induced antiallergic effects by increasing Th1 cytokines, decreasing Th2 cytokines, and inhibiting the PCA reaction, whereas L2 administration increased allergic effects.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.69-80
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• 2000

ADP-rubosylation may be involved in the process of macrophage activation. Nitric oxide (NO) has emerged as an important intracellular and interacellular regulatory molecule with function as diverse as vasodilation, neural communication or host defense. NO is derived from the oxidation of the terminal guanidino nitrogen atom of L-arginine by the NADPH -dependent enzyme, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) which is one of the three different isomers in mammalian tissues. Since NO can exert protective or regulatory functions in the cell at a low concentration while toxic effects at higher concentrations, its role may be tightly regulated in the cell. Therefore, this paper was focused on signal transduction pathway of NO synthesis, role of endogenous TGF-$\beta$ in NO production. effect of NO on superoxide formation. Costimulation of murine peritoneal macrophages with interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) increased both NO secretion and mRNA expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) when PMA abolished costimulation. Pretreatmnet of the cells with PMA abolished costimuation effects due to the depletion of protein kinase C (PKC) activities . The involvement of PKC in NO secretion could be further confirmed by PKC inhibitor, stauroprine, and phorbol ester derivative, phorbol 12,13-didecanoate. Addition of actinomycine D in IFN-γ plus PMA stimulated cells inhibited both NO secretion and mRNA expression of iNOS indication that PMA stabilizes mRNA of iNOS . Exogenous TGF-$\beta$ reduced NO secretion in IFN -γ stimulated murine macrophages. However addition of antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) to TGF-$\beta$ to this system recovered the ability of NO production and inhibited mRNA expression of TGF-$\beta$. ACAS interactive laser cytometry analysis showed that transportation of FITC -labeled antisense ODN complementary to TGF-$\beta$ mRNA could be observed within 5 min and reached maximal intensity in 30 min in the murine macrophage cells. NO released by activated macrophages inhibits superoxide formation in the same cells . This inhibition nay be related on NO-induced auto -adenosine diphosphate (ADP) -ribosylation . In addition, ADP-ribosylation may be involved in the process of macrophage activation .

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.187-196
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• 2003

The cytokines are the hormone-like proteins, which are produced in the mononuclear cells. They have many roles, such as immune mediators, cell differentiations, angiogenesis. The chemokines have chemotactic effects which control the host immune response. There were few reports about the cytokines associated with musculoskeletal tumors. From late 1980s, the cytokine studies of bone tumors such as osteosarcoma were started, but most studies for benign and malignant musculoskeletal tumors were left to be explored. To evaluate the characteristics of the cytokines in variable musculoskeletal tumors, tissues were obtained from the seven patients who visited the Yeungnam University hospital from February to July 2000. They were lipoma (1 case), parosteal osteoma (1 case), enchondroma (2 cases), pigmented villonodular synovitis (1 case), ganglion (1 case), and metastaic squamous cell carcinoma (1 case). The gene experession of the cytokines were analyzed by RNase protection assay (RPA) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The lipoma and parosteal osteoma expressed MIP-$1{\beta}$, and IP-10 genes. The two enchondromas showed different results, one expressed all of MIP-$1{\alpha}$, MIP-$1{\beta}$ and IP-10 genes but the other expressed none of above. The pigmented villonodular synovitis strongly expressed MIP-$1{\alpha}$ and IP-10 when compared with the other cases. The ganglion did not express all of the chemokines mentioned above. And the metastatic squamous cell carcinoma expressed all of the chemokines and especially IP-10 was highly expressed. Even though this study has only a few cases, these results provide a basis for the cytokine mediating network study in musculoskeletal tumors.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.23
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• pp.10339-10343
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• 2015

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among females worldwide and a most prevalent malignancy in Iranian women. Chronic stress may make an important contribution to cancer, especially in the breast. Numerous studies showed roles of neurotransmitters in the occurrence and progression of cancers which are mediated by their various types of receptors. This study was conducted to evaluate alterations in the expression profile of dopamine receptor genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) as stress factors in breast cancer patients and the human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 30 patients and 30 healthy individuals. Total mRNA was extracted from PBMC and MCF-7 cells and RT-PCR was performed to confirm the presence of five dopamine receptors (DRD1-DRD5). Expression changes of dopamine receptor genes were evaluated by real time PCR. We observed that DRD2-DRD4 in PBMCs of breast cancer patients were increased compared to healthy individuals. In addition, all dopamine receptor subtypes but DRD1 were expressed in MCF-7 cells. Therefore, alterations of these receptors as stress factors should be assessed for selecting appropriate drugs such as D2-like agonists for treatment of breast cancer after performing complimentary tests. Determining the expression profile of dopamine receptor genes thus seems promising.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.16
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• pp.6911-6917
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• 2014

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma is a complex and heterogeneous tumor with poor prognosis due to frequent intrahepatic spread and extrahepatic metastasis. The molecular mechanisms underlying HCC pathogenesis still remain obscure. Objectives: We aimed to investigate the abundance and the DNA binding activity of nuclear factor kappa B/p65 subunit in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with HCC and to assess its prognostic significance and association with hypoxia inducible factor one alpha (HIF-$1{\alpha}$) in blood. Subjects and methods: This study was carried out on 40 patients classified equally into liver cirrhosis (group I) and HCC (group II), in addition to 20 healthy volunteers (group III). All groups were subjected to measurement of NF-${\kappa}B$/P65 subunit expression levels by real time-PCR, and DNA binding activity was evaluated by transcription factor binding immunoassay. Serum HIF-$1{\alpha}$ levels were estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Significant increase of both the expression level and DNA binding activity of NF-${\kappa}B$/P65 subunit together with serum HIF-1 alpha levels was noted in HCC patients compared to liver cirrhosis and control subjects, with significant positive correlation with parameters for bad prognosis of HCC. In conclusion, NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling is activated in HCC and associated with disease prognosis and with high circulating levels of HIF-1 alpha.