• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 1996

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) replication and $Ca^{2+}$ response in human cell lines of neuronal origin were investigated. SK-N-SH (neuroblastoma cells) and A172 cells (glioblastoma cells) were used. SK-N-SH cells were permissive for HCMV multiplication with a delay of one day compared to virus multiplication in human embryo lung (HEL) cells. The delay of HCMV multiplication in SK-N-SH cells appeared to be correlated with a delay in the $Ca^{2+}$ response. The cytoplasmic free $Ca^{2+}$ concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) began to increase at 12 h p.i. in HCMV-infected SK-N-SH cells, while $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase in HCMV-infected HEL cells was observed as early as 3 h p.i. On the whole, the level of the increase in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in SK-N-SH cells was about 30% of that in HEL cells. On the other hand, in A172 cells infected with HCMV, neither production of infectious virus nor detectable increase in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ was observed. Treatment with TPA of HCMV-infected SK-N-SH cells resulted in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase at 6 h p.i. The stimulatory effect of TPA on HCMV- induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increase continued until 12 h p.i., but TPA failed to stimulate the $Ca^{2+}$ response in SK-N-SH cells at 24 h p.i., suggesting that the effect of TPA had disappeared in SK-N-SH cells at that time point. In conclusion, SK-N-SH cells are permissive for HCMV replication and the delay in $Ca^{2+}$ response may be a consequence of the lower responsiveness of SK-N-SH cells than HEL cells to HCMV infection.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.77-84
• /
• 2006

Objectives : To evaluate the neuroprotective effects of modified Bo-Yang-Hwan-O-Tang (BHT), we investigated the neuronal death protection effects to oxidative damages in N2a neuroblastoma cells. Methods : To study the cytotoxic effect of BHT on N2a neuronal cells, the cell viability was determined by MTT assay. To investigate the neuronal death protection of BHT, N2a neuronal cells were induced oxidative damages by H2O2, and assayed the cell viability and DNA fragmentation. We also investigated DPPH free radical scavenging effects of BHT by tube test. Results : In MTT assay, $500{\mu}g/ml$ of BHT was not showed cytotoxic effect on N2a neuronal cells. BHT protected N2a neuronal cells from H2O2-induced cell death in a dose-dependent manner. BHT also protected N2a neuronal cells from H2O2-induced DNA fragmentation. BHT scavenged DPPH free radicals in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion : These data suggest that BHT may have strong anti-oxidant effects through the free radical scavenging and neuroprotective effects in neuronal cells.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.280-287
• /
• 2005

The insulin-mediated Ras/mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascade was examined in SK-N-BE(2) and PC12 cells, which can and cannot produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), respectively. Tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor and insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) was much lower in SK-N-BE(2) cells than in PC12 cells when the cells were treated with insulin. The insulin-mediated interaction of IRS-1 with Grb2 was observed in PC12 but not in SK-N-BE(2) cells. Moreover, the activity of extracellular-signal-related kinase (ERK) was much lower in SK-N-BE(2) than in PC12 cells when the cells were treated with insulin. Application of exogenous $H_2O_2$ caused increased tyrosine phosphorylation and Grb2 binding to IRS-1 in SK-N-BE(2) cells, while exposure to an $H_2O_2$ scavenger (N-acetylcysteine) or to a phophatidylinositol-3 kinase inhibitor (wortmannin), and expression of a dominant negative Rac1, decreased the activation of ERK in insulin-stimulated PC12 cells. These results indicate that the transient increase of ROS is needed to activate ERK in insulin-mediated signaling and that an inability to generate ROS is the reason for the insulin insensitivity of SK-N-BE(2) cells.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.234-239
• /
• 2004

[ $NO_3$ ]-N and T-N removal rates of cattail wetland cells were compared with those of reed wetland cells. The examined cells were a part of a pond-wetland system composed of two ponds in series and six wetland cells in parallel. Each wetland cell was 25m in length and 6m in width. Cattails (Typha angustifolia) were transplanted into three cells and reeds Phragmites australis) into another three ones in June 2000. Water of Sinyang stream flowing into Kohung Estuarine lake located in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula was pumped into the primary pond, its effluent was discharged into the secondary pond Effluent from the secondary pond was funneled into each cell. Two cattail and reed cells were chosen for this research. Water quantity and quality of influnt and effluent were analyzed front May 2001 through October 2001. The volume of influent and effluent of the cells averaged about $20.0\;m^3/day$ and $19.3\;m^3/day$, respectively. Hydraulic retention time was approximately 1.5 days. Influent $NO_3$-N concentration for the four cells averaged 2.39 mg/L. Effluent $NO_3$-N concentration far the cattail and reed cells averaged 1.74 and 1.78 mg/L, respectively. Average $NO_3$-N retention rate for the cattail and reed cells by mass was 30 and 29%, respectively. Influent T-N concentration far the four cells averaged 4.13 mg/L. Effluent T-N concentration for the cattail and reed cells averaged 2.55 and 2.61 mgL respectively. Average T-N retention rate for the cattail and reed cells by mass was 39 and 38%, respectively. $NO_3$-N and T-N concentrations in effluent from the cattail cells were significantly low (p=0.04), compared with those from the reed cells. Cattail wetland cells were more efficient for $NO_3$-N and T-N abatement than reed ones.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.12-21
• /
• 2005

Objectives: In the present study, we investigated whether an aqueous extract of Armeniacae semen induces apoptotic neuronal cell death upon mouse N2a neuroblastoma cells. Methods: 1. Cell viability was determined by using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTI) assay. 2. For in situ detection of apoptotic cells, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining. 3. The fraction of cells was revealed by flow cytometric analysis used that. 4. For detection of apoptotic DNA cleavage, DNA fragmentation assay was performed. 5. For detection of bax and bcl-2, Western blot analysis was performed. 6. Caspase enzyme activity was measured using caspase-3 assay. Results: From the present results, N2a neuroblastoma cells treated with Armeniacae semen extract exhibited several characteristics of apoptosis. A treatment of Armeniacae semen extract was shown to increase the expression of Bax, a proapoptotic protein, and the treatment decreased the expression of Blc2, an anti-apoptotic protein. In addition, Armeniacae semen extract increased the caspase-3 enzyme activity. Conclusions: The present results show that Armeniacae semen extract induces apoptotic cell death in mouse N2a neuroblastoma cells.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.113-118
• /
• 2009

In this study, we have shown the transcriptional regulation of the human GD3 synthase (hST8Sia I) induced by valproic acid (VPA) in human neuroblastoma SK-N-BE(2)-C cells. To elucidate the mechanism underlying the regulation of hST8Sia I gene expression in VPA-stimulated SK-N-BE(2)-C cells, we characterized the promoter region of the hST8Sia I gene. Functional analysis of the 5'-flanking region of the hST8Sia I gene by the transient expression method showed that the -1146 to -646 region, which contains putative binding sites for transcription factors c-Ets-1, CREB, AP-1 and NF-${\kappa}B$, functions as the VPA-inducible promoter of hST8Sia I in SK-N-BE(2)-C cells. Site-directed mutagenesis and electrophoretic mobility shift assay indicated that the NF-${\kappa}B$ binding site at -731 to -722 was crucial for the VPA-induced expression of hST8Sia I in SK-N-BE(2)-C cells. In addition, the transcriptional activity of hST8Sia I induced by VPA in SK-N-BE(2)-C cells was strongly inhibited by SP600125, which is a c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor, and $G{\ddot{O}}6976$, which is a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, as determined by RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) and luciferase assays. These results suggest that VPA markedly modulated transcriptional regulation of hST8Sia I gene expression through PKC/JNK signal pathways in SK-N-BE(2)-C cells.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.449-456
• /
• 2023

N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are ionic glutamine receptors involved in brain development and functions such as learning and memory formation. NMDA receptor inhibition is associated with autophagy activation. In this study, we investigated whether the NMDA receptor antagonists, memantine and ifenprodil, induce autophagy in human retinal pigment epithelial cells (ARPE-19) to remove N-retinylidene-N-retinylethanolamine (A2E), an intracellular lipofuscin component. Fluorometric analysis using labeled A2E (A2E-BDP) and confocal microscopic examination revealed that low concentrations of NMDA receptor antagonists, which did not induce cytotoxicity, significantly reduced A2E accumulation in ARPE-19 cells. In addition, memantine and ifenprodil activated autophagy in ARPE-19 cells as measured by microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain3-II formation and phosphorylated p62 protein levels. Further, to understand the correlation between memantine- and ifenprodil-mediated A2E degradation and autophagy, autophagy-related 5 (ATG5) was depleted using RNA interference. Memantine and ifenprodil failed to degrade A2E in ARPE-19 cells lacking ATG5. Taken together, our study indicates that the NMDA receptor antagonists, memantine and ifenprodil, can remove A2E accumulated in cells via autophagy activation in ARPE-19 cells.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
• /
• 2003.06a
• /
• pp.75-75
• /
• 2003

Since the establishment of embryonic stem cell, pluripotency of the cells was known to allow differentiation of the cells into various cell types consisting whole body. Several protocols have been developed to induce expression of specific genes.. However, no precise protocol that will generate a single type of the cells from stem cells has been reported. In order to produce cells suitable for transplantion into brain of PD animal model, which arouse due to a progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in midbrain, human embryonic stem cell (hESC, MB03) was transfected with cDNAs cording for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). Successful transfection was confirmed by western immunoblotting. Newly transfected cell line (TH#2/MB03) was induced to differentiate by the two neurogenic factors retinoic acid (RA) and b-FGF. Exp. I) Upon differentiation using RA/ascorbic acid (AA), embryoid bodies (EB, for 4days) derived from hES cells were exposed to RA (10$^{-6}$ M)/AA (50 mM) for 4 days, and were allowed to differentiate in N2 medium for 7, 14, 21, or 28 days. Exp. II) When bFGF was used, neuronal precursor cells were selected for 8 days in N2 medium after EB formation. After selection, cells were expanded at the presence of bFGF (20 ng/ml) for another 6 days followed by a final differentiation in N2 medium for 7, 14, 21 or 28 days. By indirect immunocytochemical studies, proportion of cells expressing NF200 increased rapidly from 20% at 7 days to 70 % at 28 days in RA/AA-treated group, while those cells expressing NF160 decreased from 80% at 7 days to 10% at 28 days upon differentiation in N2 medium. However, in differentiation by RA/AA treatment system, there was a significant increase in proportion of neuron maturity (73%) at day 14 after N2 medium. TH#2/MB03 cells expressing TH are >90% when matured at the absence of either bDNF or TGF-$\alpha$. These results suggested that TH#2/MB03 cells could be differentiated in vitro into mature neurons by RA/AA.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.311-316
• /
• 1997

This study was carried out to develop antitumor effect of the n-butanol soluble fraction of Perilla frutescens on (KB cells) human oral epitheloid carcinoma cells. The cytotoxictty of methanollc extract of Perilla frutescens on KB cells was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethyl thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide(MTT) assay. The antitumor activity of various fractions obtained from n-butanol soluble fraction of Perilla frutescens was evaluated in human oral epithelold carcinoma cells. The antitumor acavity of the n-butanol soluble fraction on human oral epitheloid carcinoma cells was evaluated by MTT assay of colorimetric method. The light microscopic study was carried out to observe morphological changes of cultured human oral epitheloid carcinoma cells. These results were obtained as follows; 1. The fractions 1,2 and 3 of the n-butanol soluble fraction of Perilla frutescens were shown significant antitumor activities. 2. The number of human oral epitheloid carcinoma cells were decreased and tend to form cell cluster by treatment with fractions 1,2,3 and 4 of the n-butanol soluble fraction of Perilla frutescens. 3. The fraction 1 of the n-butanol soluble fraction of Perllla frutescens showed the highest antitumor activity on Perilla frutescens. It has been selected as a lead fraction for further examinations.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.224-230
• /
• 2008

Ceramides are well-known second messengers that induce apoptosis in various kinds of cancer cells, and their effects are closely related to radiation sensitivity. Phytoceramides, the yeast counterparts of the mammalian ceramides, are also reported to induce apoptosis. We investigated the effect of a novel ceramide derivative, N-acetylphytosphingosine (NAPS), on the radiosensitivity of NCI-H460 human lung carcinoma cells and its differential cytotoxicity in tumor and normal cells. The combination of NAPS with radiation significantly increased clonogenic cell death and caspase-dependent apoptosis. The combined treatment greatly increased Bax expression and Bid cleavage, but not Bcl-2 expression. However, there was no effect on radiosensitivity and apoptosis in BEAS2B cells, which derive from normal human bronchial epithelium. Cell proliferation and DNA synthesis were significantly inhibited by NAPS in both NCI-H460 and BEAS2B cells, but only the BEAS2B cells recovered by 48h after removal of the NAPS. Furthermore, the NCI-H460 cells underwent more DNA fragmentation than the BEAS2B cells in response to NAPS. Our results indicate that NAPS may be a potential radiosensitizing agent with differential effects on tumor vs. normal cells.