• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.808-815
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• 2017

We demonstrated the quantitative detection of a toxin-producing Microcystis aeruginosa (M. aeruginosa) strain with the laboratory protocol of the NanoGene assay. The NanoGene assay was selected because its laboratory protocol is in the process of being transplanted into a portable system. The mcyD gene of M. aeruginosa was targeted and, as expected, its corresponding fluorescence signal was linearly proportional to the mcyD gene copy number. The sensitivity of the NanoGene assay for this purpose was validated using both dsDNA mcyD gene amplicons and genomic DNAs (gDNA). The limit of detection was determined to be 38 mcyD gene copies per reaction and 9 algal cells/ml water. The specificity of the assay was also demonstrated by the addition of gDNA extracted from environmental algae into the hybridization reaction. Detection of M. aeruginosa was performed in the environmental samples with environmentally relevant sensitivity (${\sim}10^5$ algal cells/ml) and specificity. As expected, M. aeruginosa were not detected in nonspecific environmental algal gDNA over the range of $2{\times}10^0$ to $2{\times}10^7$ algal cells/ml.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제14권5호
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• pp.453-462
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Platycodon grandiflorum (PG), an oriental herbal medicine, has been known to improve liver function, and has both anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. However, little is known about the immune-enhancing effects of PG and its mechanism. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether fermented PG extract (FPGE), which has increased platycodin D content, activates the immune response in a murine macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7. MATERIALS/METHODS: Cell viability was determined by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and the nitric oxide (NO) levels were measured using Griess reagent. Cytokine messenger RNA levels of were monitored by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying immunomodulatory actions of FPGE in RAW 264.7 cells, we have conducted luciferase reporter gene assay and western blotting. RESULTS: We found that FPGE treatment induced macrophage cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. FPGE also modulated the expression of NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6. The activation and phosphorylation levels of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) were increased by FPGE treatment. Moreover, 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide, an activator of AMP-activated kinase (AMPK), significantly reduced both lipopolysaccharides- and FPGE-induced NF-κB reporter gene activity. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our findings suggest that FPGE may be a novel immune-enhancing agent acting via AMPK-NF-κB signaling pathway.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.172-178
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• 2009

Nanoparticles are small-scale substances (<100 nm) with unique properties, complex exposure and health risk implications. Aluminum oxide ($Al_2O_3$) nanoparticles (NP) have been widely used as abrasives, wear-resistant coatings on propeller shafts of ships, to increase the specific impulse per weight of composite propellants used in solid rocket fuel and as drug delivery systems to increase solubility. However, recent studies have shown that nano-sized aluminum (10 nm in diameter) can generate adverse effects, such as pulmonary response. The cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of $Al_2O_3$ NP were investigated using the dye exclusion assay, the comet assay, and the mouse lymphoma thymidine kinase (tk$^{+/-}$) gene mutation assay (MLA). IC$_{20}$ values of $Al_2O_3$ NP in BEAS-2B cells were determined the concentration of 273.44 $\mu$g/mL and 390.63 $\mu$g/mL with and without S-9. However IC$_{20}$ values of $Al_2O_3$ NP were found nontoxic in L5178Y cells both of with and without S-9 fraction. In the comet assay, L5178Y cells and BEAS-2B cells were treated with $Al_2O_3$ NP which significantly increased 2-fold tail moment with and without S-9. Also, the mutant frequencies in the $Al_2O_3$ NP treated L5178Y cells were increased compared to the vehicle controls with S-9. The results of this study indicate that $Al_2O_3$ NP can cause primary DNA damage and cytotoxicity but not mutagenicity in cultured mammalian cells.

• KSBB Journal
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.9-15
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• 2017

Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), a member of the Asteraceae family, is a well-known for medicinal plant and can be found in India and Europe. Chamomile is an effective sedative and various medical effects. But, the effects of acne treatment by chamomile were not investigated. Therefore, we assessed the anti-oxidant effects, anti-microbial activity and anti-inflammatory effects by chamomile extracts in HaCaT keratinocyte cells. Anti-oxidant effects of chamomile extracts were investigated by DPPH assay. Also, results of MTT assay was demonstrated that chamomile extracts did not have a cytotoxic effect in HaCaT cells. To assess the antimicrobial activity, we determined formation of inhibition zone of Propionibacterium acnes by extracts from chamomile. Tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) induces production of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$), IL-6 and IL-8 and expression of COX-2. Chamomile extracts could inhibit TNF-${\alpha}$-induced mRNA expression levels of IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, IL-8 and COX-2 gene. These results demonstrated the possibility of chamomile for prevention and treatment of skin inflammatory diseases such as acne.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권9호
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• pp.4751-4756
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• 2012

Colon cancer continues to be one of the most common cancers, and the importance and necessity of new therapies needs to be stressed. The most important proto-oncogen factors for colon cancer appear to be epidermal growth factor receptor, EGFR, and c-Src with high expression and activity leading to tumor growth and ultimately to colon cancer progression. Application of c-Src and EGFR antisense agents simultaneously should theoretically therefore have major benefit. In the present study, anti-EGFR and c-Src specific antisense oligodeoxynucleotides were combined in a formulation using PAMAM dendrimers as a carrier. Nano drug entry into cells was confirmed by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy imaging and real time PCR showed gene expression of c-Src and EGFR, as well as downstream STAT5 and MAPK-1 with the tumor suppressor gene P53 to all be downregulated. EGFR and c-Src protein expression was also reduced when assessed by western blotting techniques. The effect of the antisense oligonucleotide on HT29 cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay, reduction beijng observed after 48 hours. In summary, nano-drug, anti-EGFR and c-Src specific antisense oligodeoxynucleotides were effectively transferred into HT-29 cells and inhibited gene expression in target cells. Based on the results of this study it appears that the use of antisense EGFR and c-Src simultaneously might have a significant effect on colon cancer growth by down regulation of EGFR and its downstream genes.

• Advances in nano research
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.145-156
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• 2016

Dendrimers are one of the most appropriate nanocaries for imaging moieties in imaging applications.The purpose of this study was the evalution of cytotoxicity and inducing apoptosis of dendrimers. This study was conducted in order to investigate the metastasis suppression effect of dendrimer in human breast MCF-7 cell line and finding the nanoparticle protein corona in biological enviromental. Dendrimer cytotoxicity effect was assessed by MTT assay. The mRNA experession level of KAI1 as a metastasis suppressor gene, Bax as Pro- apoptotic gene, Bcl-2 as an anti-apoptotic gene and GAPDH as a housekepping gene were determined by real-time PCR assays.concentration-dependent nanoparticle cytotoxicity effect was proofed at range of 1-2 mg/mL in 24 hours, significant upregulation of mRNA expression of Bax, was observed whereas expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 was down-regulated, also expression of metastasis suppressor gene KAI1 was up-regulated. So far a few studies confirmed apoptosis enhancement effect of dendrimers in MCF-7 cell line via bax/bcl-2 pathways. dendrimer nanoparticles was able to act as metastase inhibitor via upregulation of KAI1 gene.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제29권9호
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• pp.949-954
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• 2019

세포막 단백질의 topology는 막단백질의 중요한 특징이다. 우리는 이전에 C4orf32단백질을 클로닝 하였으나, 이 단백질의 세포내 위치나 topology는 알지 못했다. 이번 연구를 통해 C4orf32는 세포내에서 소포체에 위치되는 막단백질임을 알게 되었다. C4orf32의 topology를 알기 위해 protease protection assay, fluorescence protease protection (FPP) assay, FRB/rapamycin/FKBP system을 활용하였다. Protease protection assay와 FPP assay를 적용한 결과 C-말단에 GFP를 붙인 C4orf32-GFP의 경우 GFP가 소포체의 세포질 표면에 위치함을 확인할 수 있었다. 또한, FRB/rapamycin/FKBP시스템을 이용한 실험에서 rapamycin이 처리되지 않은 경우는 mRFP-FKBP가 세포질에 위치하다가 rapamycin이 처리되면 C4orf32-GFP-FR가 위치하는 소포체로 이동함을 확인할 수 있었다. 이러한 사실은 C4orf32의 C-말단이 소포체의 세포질쪽 면에 위치한다는 사실을 말해준다. 이러한 연구를 통해 C4orf32는 Type I 소포체 막단백질에 속한다는 사실을 확인할 수 있었다.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제49권4호
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• pp.323-328
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• 2017

신생혈관생성은 여러 신생혈관 생성 인자들이 포함되는 중요한 과정이며, 특히 이 과정에서는 섬유아세포증식인자(FGF-2)는 세포의 증식률과 미세관 형성을 촉진하기 때문에 중요한 신생혈관 생성인자로 여겨진다. 최근 연구에 따르면 해조류에서 추출되는 후코이단 다당류 물질이 섬유아세포 증식인자2에 의한 혈관내피세포의 미세관형성을 더욱 촉진한다고 보고하였다. 그러나 섬유아세포 증식인자와 후코이단 복합처리에 따른 신생혈관생성 활성에 대한 분자적 메카니즘은 아직 연구가 부족하다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 신생혈관생성 활성을 알아보기 위하여 섬유아세포 증식인자와 후코이단 물질의 복합처리에 따른 세포의 증식과 미세관형성률 그리고 세포의 이동율을 측정하였다. 또한 이들의 신생혈관 생성 활성에 관련된 인자를 탐색하기 위하여 VEGF-A, ICAM-1, MMP9, 그리고 ICAM-1 유전자를 연전사 중합연쇄반응으로 평가하였다. 본 연구의 결과에서는 후코이단과 섬유아세포 증식인자 복합처리는 혈관내피세포의 성장률, 미세관 형성률 그리고 세포의 이동률을 촉진하고, 이 과정에서 신생혈관생성 기능과 관련된 STAT3, VEGF-A, MMP9 그리고 ICAM-1의 유전자 발현을 촉진함으로 신생혈관 생성활성이 나타나는 것으로 보여진다. 그러나 이러한 유전자 발현이 fucoidan/FGF2에 의한 angiogenic 활성 촉진에 직접적인 영향을 미치는 지에 대한 추가적인 연구가 이루어져야 할 것으로 생각된다.

• Advances in nano research
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• 제12권5호
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• pp.501-514
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• 2022

This study aimed to investigate the effects and potential mechanisms of Chikusetsusaponin V (CsV) on endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and vascular endothelial cell functions. Different concentrations of CsV were added to animal models, bovine aorta endothelial cells (BAECs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) cultured in vitro. qPCR, Western blotting (WB), and B ultrasound were performed to explore the effects of CsV on mouse endothelial cell functions, vascular stiffness and cellular eNOS mRNA, protein expression and NO release. Bioinformatics analysis, network pharmacology, molecular docking and protein mass spectrometry analysis were conducted to jointly predict the upstream transcription factors of eNOS. Furthermore, pulldown and ChIP and dual luciferase assays were employed for subsequent verification. At the presence or absence of CsV stimulation, either overexpression or knockdown of purine rich element binding protein A (PURA) was conducted, and PCR assay was employed to detect PURA and eNOS mRNA expressions, Western blot was used to detect PURA and eNOS protein expressions, cell NO release and serum NO levels. Tube formation experiment was conducted to detect the tube forming capability of HUVECs cells. The animal vasodilation function test detected the vasodilation functions. Ultrasonic detection was performed to determine the mouse aortic arch pulse wave velocity to identify aortic stiffness. CsV stimulus on bovine aortic cells revealed that CsV could upregulate eNOS protein levels in vascular endothelial cells in a concentration and time dependent manner. The expression levels of eNOS mRNA and phosphorylation sites Ser1177, Ser633 and Thr495 increased significantly after CsV stimulation. Meanwhile, CsV could also enhance the tube forming capability of HUVECs cells. Following the mice were gavaged using CsV, the eNOS protein level of mouse aortic endothelial cells was upregulated in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, and serum NO release and vasodilation ability were simultaneously elevated whereas arterial stiffness was alleviated. The pulldown, ChIP and dual luciferase assays demonstrated that PURA could bind to the eNOS promoter and facilitate the transcription of eNOS. Under the conditions of presence or absence of CsV stimulation, overexpression or knockdown of PURA indicated that the effect of CsV on vascular endothelial function and eNOS was weakened following PURA gene silence, whereas overexpression of PURA gene could enhance the effect of CsV upregulating eNOS expression. CsV could promote NO release from endothelial cells by upregulating the expression of PURA/eNOS pathway, improve endothelial cell functions, enhance vasodilation capability, and alleviate vessel stiffness. The present study plays a role in offering a theoretical basis for the development and application of CsV in vascular function improvement, and it also provides a more comprehensive understanding of the pharmacodynamics of CsV.

• 미생물학회지
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• 제43권1호
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• pp.19-22
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• 2007

Acetohydroxylacid synthase (E.C.2.2.1.6.,AHAS)는 박테리아, 곰팡이, 식물 등에서 필수 아미노산중 세 가지 아미노산(Val, Leu, Ile)의 생합성에 관여하는 효소중 하나이다. Haemophilus influenzae에 대한 AHAS의 효소특성을 규명하기 위하여 H. influenzae의 AHAS catalytic subunit 유전자(TIGR access code HI2585)를 pET28a 발현 벡터에 삽입시켰고, 대장균 BL21(DE3)에서 C-말단에 일련의 histidine을 갖는 재조합 단백질로 발현시켰고, Histidine-tag affinity chromatography 및 gel filtration chromatography를 이용하여 단일 단백질로 정제하였다. 정제하여 얻은 단백질은 최대 15 mg/ml까지 농축이 가능하였다. 정제된 단백질의 분자량은 SDS-PAGE 전기 영동법을 이용하여 약 63.9 kDa의 분자량을 확인하였다. AHAS 효소 활성은 discontinuous colorimetric assay방법을 이용하여 측정하였다. H. influenzae AHAS catalytic subunit의 specific activity는 3.22 U/mg 이었다. 또한AHAS의 최적 활성 온도와 pH는 각각$37^{\circ}C$와 pH 7.5이었다. AHAS 효소 활성은buffer의 종류에 따라 차이가 있었으며, 유기용매가 증가함에 따라 효소 활성도 감소하였다.