• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.39-47
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• 2022

Adoptive cell transfer (ACT), a form of cell-based immunotherapy that eliminates cancer by restoring and strengthening the body's immune system, has revolutionized cancer treatment. ACT entails intravenous transfer of either tumor-resident or peripheral blood-modified immune cells into cancer patients to mediate anti-tumor response. Although these immune cells control and eradicate cancer via enhanced cytotoxicity against specific tumor antigens, several side effects have been frequently reported in clinical trials. Recently, exosomes, potential cell-free therapeutics, have emerged as an alternative to cell-based immunotherapies, due to their higher stability under same storage condition, lower risk of GvHD and CRS, and higher resistance to immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Exosomes, which are nano-sized lipid vesicles, are secreted by living cells, including immune cells. Exosomes contain proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, and the functional role of each exosome is determined by the specific cargo derived from parental cells. Exosomes derived from cytotoxic effectors including T cells and NK cells exert anti-tumor effects via proteins such as granzyme B and FasL. In this mini-review, we describe the current understanding of the ACT and immune cell-derived exosomes and discuss the limitations of ACT and the opportunities for immune cell-derived exosomes as immune therapies.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.1003-1010
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to examine the phytochemical compounds and antibacterial activity of Coffea robusta leaf extract (RLE). The results indicated that chlorogenic acid (CGA) is a major component of RLE. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of RLE against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella Typhimurium were 6.25, 12.5, 12.5, and 12.5 mg/ml, respectively. RLE effectively damages the bacterial cell membrane integrity, as indicated by the high amounts of proteins and nucleic acids released from the bacteria, and disrupts bacterial cell membrane potential and permeability, as revealed via fluorescence analysis. Cytotoxicity testing showed that RLE is slightly toxic toward HepG2 cells at high concentration but exhibited no toxicity toward Caco2 cells. The results from the present study suggest that RLE has excellent potential applicability as an antimicrobial in the food industry.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.48-56
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• 2022

Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) secreted by most cells carry bioactive macromolecules including proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids for intercellular communication. Given that some immune cell-derived sEVs exhibit anti-cancer properties, these sEVs have received scientific attention for the development of novel anti-cancer immunotherapeutic agents. In this paper, we reviewed the latest advances concerning the biological roles of immune cell-derived sEVs for cancer therapy. sEVs derived from immune cells including dendritic cells (DCs), T cells, natural-killer (NK) cells, and macrophages are good candidates for sEV-based cancer therapy. Besides their role of cancer vaccines, DC-shed sEVs activated cytotoxic lymphocytes and killed tumor cells. sEVs isolated from NK cells and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells exhibited cytotoxicity against cancer cells. sEVs derived from CD8⁺ T and CD4⁺ T cells inhibited cancer-associated cells in tumor microenvironment (TME) and activated B cells, respectively. M1-macrophage-derived sEVs induced M2 to M1 repolarization and also created a pro-inflammatory environment. Hence, these sEVs, via mono or combination therapy, could be considered in the treatment of cancer patients in the future. In addition, sEVs derived from cytokine-stimulated immune cells or sEV engineering could improve their anti-tumor potency.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2023

The skin is an important barrier that protects the body from harmful environments such as UV rays. When the skin is repeatedly stimulated, such as UV rays, ROS and pro-inflammatory cytokines are overproduced. As a result, the proteins and nucleic acids that make up the skin are damaged, and aging occurs. Esculetin is known to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and UV-induced MMP-1 inhibitory effects. However, the inhibitory effect of MMP-1 on TNF-α-induced fibroblasts is not known. Therefore, in this study, the MMP-1 inhibitory effect of esculetin was confirmed in TNF-α-induced fibroblasts. As a result of confirming the cytotoxicity of esculetin in Hs68 cells by MTT assay, there was no significant toxicity up to 200 µM. As a result of real-time PCR and ELISA, it was confirmed that esculetin inhibited the expression of MMP-1. Esculetin did not inhibit MAPK (ERK, JNK, p38) phosphorylation, but inhibited phosphorylation of the mTOR-p70S6k signaling pathway. In addition, it was confirmed that the phosphorylation of the transcription factor NF-κB was inhibited. These results suggest that esculetin has potential as an anti-aging material.

• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.11
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• pp.618-623
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• 2023

Most cancer cells utilize glucose at a high rate to produce energy and precursors for the biosynthesis of macromolecules such as lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. This phenomenon is called the Warburg effect or aerobic glycolysis- this distinct characteristic is an attractive target for developing anticancer drugs. Here, we found that Phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK-1) is a substrate of the Protein Phosphatase 4 catalytic subunit (PP4C)/PP4 regulatory subunit 1 (PP4R1) complex by using immunoprecipitation and in vitro assay. While manipulation of PP4C/PP4R1 does not have a critical impact on PFK-1 expression, the absence of the PP4C/PP4R1 complex increases PFK-1 activity. Although PP4C depletion or overexpression does not cause a dramatic change in the overall glycolytic rate, PP4R1 depletion induces a considerable increase in both basal and compensatory glycolytic rates, as well as the oxygen consumption rate, indicating oxidative phosphorylation. Collectively, the PP4C/PP4R1 complex regulates PFK-1 activity by reversing its phosphorylation and is a promising candidate for treating glycolytic disorders and cancers. Targeting PP4R1 could be a more efficient and safer strategy to avoid pleiotropic effects than targeting PP4C directly.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.63 no.4
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• pp.41.1-41.6
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• 2023

Many viruses can infect different types of birds, with poultry being the most susceptible. These viral diseases have a direct negative impact on the poultry industry, with significant economic losses. This study examined a group of the most important viruses that infect backyard chickens in 2 specific areas of Basrah Governorate, south of Iraq. The study analyzed avian influenza viruses (AIVs), Newcastle disease virus (NDV), and infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). Two hundred and ninety oropharyngeal swabs, 150 from Abu Al-Khasib and 140 from Shatt Al-Arab regions in the Basrah governorate, were obtained from backyard chickens with clear respiratory signs. The samples were subjected to viral RNA extraction, and the viral nucleic acids were detected using a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction technique. The overall rate of viral infections was 74.8%, which varied depending on the type of virus: 15.8%, 31.3%, and 27.5% for AIV, NDV, and IBV, respectively. The NDV and IBV had much higher infection rates than that of AIV. In addition, the prevalence of AIV in the Shatt Al Arab district was significantly higher than in the Abul Khasib district. Moreover, there were no significant differences between the NDV and the IBV distributions in either of the targeted regions in this study.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.26-45
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• 1980

Silk protein is synthesized in the silkgland of silkworm, Bombyx mori L. It is evident that silk productivity is one of the high heritable characters from the genetical aspects. It is also changed with the environmental circumstances. With this regard, this paper dealt with the varietal patterns of silkgland development and the factors concerning to the silk productivity of silkgland of silkworm by the synthesis of nucleic acids, profiles of amino acids and histological basis, using the eight parent silkworm varieties and their F$_1$ hybrids. 1. The weight of silkgland per larva increased proportionally in the F$_1$ hybrids which were crossed between longer silk yielding varieties. The silk content to the weight of the silkgland was higher in the longer silk yielding varieties than that in the shorter silk yielding varieties. 2. It was observed that the morphological changes of nuclei took place in the posterior silkgland cells with the larval development of the 5th instar. In varietal aspect, Jam 107 and Jam 108, longer silk yielding varieties, showed more branches in nuclei than the $N_2$ and $C_{60}$ which were shorter yielding ones. 3. It was observed that there was a high correlation between RNA content per unit weight of silkgland on the 6th day stage of 5th instar and silk productivity both in the parents and their F$_1$ hybrids. 4. RNA and DNA synthesis brought about thirty percent increase in the posterior silkgland of the longer silk yielding varieties during the 2nd day to the 4th day stages of the 5th instar, when compared with those in the posterior silkgland of the shorter silk yielding varieties. 5. RNA/DNA ratio in the posterior silkgland on the 2nd day and 4th day stages of the 5th instar was more increased in the longer silk yielding varieties than the shorter silk yielding varieties. 6. It was shown that DNA content for the longer silk yielding varieties came to be 374$\mu\textrm{g}$ per larva in the posterior division of silkgland on the 4th day stage of 5th instar, whereas it was 199$\mu\textrm{g}$ per larva for the shorter silk yielding varieties. 7 There was 34.8％ Alanine, 22.8％ Glycine, 9.1％ Serine and 7.3％ Tyrosine in the posterior division of silkgland as major amino acids. It is noticed that there was a little differences between the amino acids composition of posterior silkgland and silk fibroin. 8. There was some differences in the amino acids composition of posterior silkgland between pure lines and their hybrids. Glycine, Serine and acidic amino acids, essential to silk formation, seemed to be increased in the F$_1$ hybrids, whereas other amino acids such as Valine, Iso-leucine, Leucine, Lysine. Phenylalanine, Histidine and Arginine were reduced. 9. The content of Glycine, Alanine and Serine in the posterior division of silkgland was elevated in the longer silk yielding varieties than the others. Consequently. these three amino acids in the posterior silkgland seemed to be related to the silk yielding ability in the longer silk yielding varieties.s.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.157-163
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• 2002

Thirteen groups, each consisting of 25 juveniles (0.64 g) of the Korean rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli were reared in aquaria after period of one week conditioning. Each group was fed with one of the 13 diets at the rate of 7~10% body weight (on a dry-matter basis) 2 times a day for 6 weeks. Each diet was supplemented with one of the following amino acids at 3g/kg diet: Alanine (Ala), Arginine (Arg), Glycine(Gly), Glutamate (Glu), Histidine (His), Isoleusine(Ile), Lysine (Lys), Methionine (Met), Phenylalanine (Phe), Proline (Pro), Threonine (Thr), Tryptophan (Trp) or Valine (Val). Groups fed with Pro, Thr, Met or Gly-supplemented diet showed significantly (p<0.05) higher weight gain and faster specific growth rate than the groups fed on other diets, while those fed Pro, Thr, Met or Gly were not significantly different each other(P>0.05). Feed efficiency (FE) of fish fed Pro was significantly higher than those fed the other diets except that fed Thr (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference between FE of fish fed Pro and Thr, and among FE of fish fed Thr, Met and Gly (P>0.05). The requirement of rockfish is higher for Met and Thr. Extra Pro and/or Gly may also stimulate biosynthesis of the nucleic acids (IMP, GMP) which are known as the feed stimulant in fish.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.1022-1026
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• 2016

In this study the hot water extract was prepared from Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides (Araliaceae) leaves and stems to study antioxidant activities and lipoxygenase inhibition. The extract showed the protective hydroxyl radical (-OH) which can damage virtually all types of macromolecules: carbohydrates, nucleic acids (mutations), lipids (lipid peroxidation), and amino acids. Hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of H. sibthorpioides was 78.6%. The extract showed strong activity against 1, 1- diphenyl 2-picrylhyorazyl (DPPH) which is a well-known radical and a trap (scavenger) for other radicals. DPPH scavenging activity of leaves of H. sibthorpioides was evaluated at 8.0 mg/ml was 86.0%. Lipoxygenases (LOXs) constitute a heterogeneous family of lipid peroxidizing enzymes capable of oxygenating polyunsaturated fatty acids to their corresponding hydroperoxy derivatives. The inhibitory effect of 15-LOX by H. sibthorpioides was assayed using a Morgan microplate assay. The extract of H. sibthorpioides was 55.5% inhibitory effects on the inhibition of LOX at 8.0 mg/ml. The IC₅₀ values for OH activity, DPPH activity, and LOX inhibition from leaves 5.23 mg/ml, 6.44 mg/ml, and 3.71 mg/ml, respectively. Antioxidative activity assay showed that the water extracts from leaf and stem had a strong reducing power. These results show that H. sibthorpioides has some phytochemical constituents which may be active against the free radicals (OH and DPPH) and lipoxygenase enzyme.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.227-234
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• 2022

This study analyzed Tuber melanosporum, Tuber aestivum,and Tuber magnatum, specifically the content of 𝛽-glucan, amino acids, nucleic acid-related substances, vitamin C, and ergosterol. The 𝛽-glucan content was highest in T. magnatum (20.54%). The free amino acid content was highest in T. aestivum, with the major amino acids being cystine, glutamic acid, and aspartic acid. The total amino acid content was the highest in T. magnatum, the primary amino acids being cystine, glutamic acid, and lysine. The content of nucleotide related compounds was the highest in T. magnatum (5.09 mg/100 g). The highest content of vitamin C (10.15 mg/100 g) and ergosterol (596.91 mg/100 g) was found in T. magnatum, which had the highest useful component content among the three truffles. Additional studies investigating the variation in useful components according to collection time and growth environment are needed.