• Toxicological Research
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.331-337
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• 2015

Synthetic pyrethroids (SPs) are the most common pesticides which are recently used for indoor pest control. The widespread use of SPs has resulted in the increased exposure to wild animals and humans. Recently, some SPs are suspected as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and have been assessed for their potential estrogenicity by adopting various analyzing assays. In this study, we examined the estrogenic effects of lambda-cyhalothrin (LC) and cypermethrin (CP), the most commonly used pesticides in Korea, using BG-1 ovarian cancer cells expressing estrogen receptors (ERs). To evaluate the estrogenic activities of two SPs, LC and CP, we employed MTT assay and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in LC or CP treated BG-1 ovarian cancer cells. In MTT assay, LC ($10^{-6}M$) and CP ($10^{-5}M$) significantly induced the growth of BG-1 cancer cells. LC or CP-induced cell growth was antagonized by addition of ICI 182,720 ($10^{-8}M$), an ER antagonist, suggesting that this effect appears to be mediated by an ER-dependent manner. Moreover, RT-PCR results showed that transcriptional level of cyclin D1, a cell cycle-regulating gene, was significantly up-regulated by LC and CP, while these effects were reversed by co-treatment of ICI 182,780. However, p21, a cyclin D-ckd-4 inhibitor gene, was not altered by LC or CP. Moreover, $ER{\alpha}$ expression was not significantly changed by LC and CP, while down-regulated by E2. Finally, in xenografted mouse model transplanted with human BG-1 ovarian cancer cells, E2 significantly increased the tumor volume compare to a negative control, but LC did not. Taken together, these results suggest that LC and CP may possess estrogenic potentials by stimulating the growth of BG-1 ovarian cancer cells via partially ER signaling pathway associated with cell cycle as did E2, but this estrogenic effect was not found in in vivo mouse model.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.187-192
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• 2012

In the present study, the antinociceptive profiles of hop extract were characterized in ICR mice. Hop extract administered orally (from 25 to 100 mg/kg) showed an antinociceptive effect in a dose-dependent manner as measured in the acetic acid-induced writhing test. Antinociceptive action of hop extract was maintained at least for 60 min. Moreover, cumulative response time of nociceptive behaviors induced with intraplantar formalin injection was reduced by hop extract treatment during the 2nd phases. Furthermore, the cumulative nociceptive response time for intrathecal injection of substance P ($0.7{\mu}g$) or glutamate ($20{\mu}g$) was diminished by hop extract. Intraperitoneal pretreatment with naloxone (an opioid receptor antagonist) attenuated antinociceptive effect induced by hop extract in the writhing test. However, methysergide (a 5-HT serotonergic receptor antagonist) or yohimbine (an ${\alpha}_2$-adrenergic receptor antagonist) did not affect antinociception induced by hop extract in the writhing test. Our results suggest that hop extract shows an antinociceptive property in various pain models. Furthermore, the antinociceptive effect of hop extract may be mediated by opioidergic receptors, but not serotonergic and ${\alpha}_2$-adrenergic receptors.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.99-114
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• 2021

Tan spot of wheat, caused by Pyrenophora tritici-repentis (Ptr), results in a yield loss through chlorosis and necrosis of healthy leaf tissue. The major objective of this study was to compare gene expression in resistant and susceptible wheat cultivars after infection with Ptr ToxA-producing race 2 and direct infiltration with Ptr ToxA proteins. Greenhouse experiments included exposure of the wheat cultivars to pathogen inoculum or direct infiltration of leaf tissue with Ptr-ToxA protein isolate. Samples from the experiments were subjected to RNA sequencing. Results showed that ToxA RNA sequences were first detected in samples collected eight hours after treatments indicating that upon Ptr contact with wheat tissue, Ptr started expressing ToxA. The resistant wheat cultivar, in response to Ptr inoculum, expressed genes associated with plant resistance responses that were not expressed in the susceptible cultivar; genes of interest included five chitinases, eight transporters, five pathogen-detecting receptors, and multiple classes of signaling factors. Resistant and susceptible wheat cultivars therefore differed in their response in the expression of genes that encode chitinases, transporters, wall-associated kinases, permeases, and wound-induced proteins, among others. Plants exposed to Ptr inoculum expressed transcription factors, kinases, receptors, and peroxidases, which are not expressed as highly in the control samples or samples infiltrated with ToxA. Several of the differentially expressed genes between cultivars were found in the Ptr resistance QTLs on chromosomes 1A, 2D, 3B, and 5A. Future studies should elucidate the specific roles these genes play in the wheat response to Ptr.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.26-33
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• 2024

Background: Sitagliptin is an antidiabetic drug that inhibits dipeptidyl peptidase-4 enzyme. This study aimed to investigate the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of sitagliptin in formalin and carrageenan tests and determine the possible mechanism(s) of its antinociceptive activity. Methods: Male Swiss mice (25-30 g) and male Wistar rats (180-220 g) were used for formalin and carrageenan tests, respectively. In the formalin test, paw licking time and in the carrageenan test, paw thickness were considered as indexes of pain behavior and inflammation respectively. Three doses of sitagliptin (2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg) were used in these tests. Also, several antagonists and enzyme inhibitors were used to evaluate the role of adrenergic, serotonergic, dopaminergic, and opioid receptors as well as the NO/cGMP/K_ATP pathway in the antinociceptive effect of sitagliptin (5 mg/kg). Results: Sitagliptin showed significant antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects in the formalin and carrageenan tests respectively. In the carrageenan test, all three doses of sitagliptin significantly (P < 0.001) reduced paw thickness. Pretreatment with yohimbine, prazosin, propranolol, naloxone, and cyproheptadine could not reverse the antinociceptive effect of sitagliptin (5 mg/Kg), which indicates that adrenergic, opioid, and serotonin receptors (5HT₂) are not involved in the antinociceptive effects. L-NAME, methylene blue, glibenclamide, ondansetron, and sulpiride were able to reverse this effect. Conclusions: NO/cGMP/K_ATP, 5HT₃ and D₂ pathways play an important role in the antinociceptive effect of sitagliptin. Additionally significant anti-inflammatory effects observed in the carrageenan test might contribute in reduction of pain response in the second phase of the formalin test.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.293-298
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• 2011

Objective : The extracellular matrix (ECM) and cell adhesion molecules play crucial roles in angiogenesis, apoptosis, thrombosis, and inflammation, and also contribute to the pathogenesis of stroke. Integrin, alpha 6 (ITGA6) is a member of ECM adhesion receptors. We investigated whether two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs11895564, Ala380Thr; rs2293649, Asp694Asp) of ITGA6 were associated with the development and clinical phenotypes of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and ischemic stroke (IS). Methods : We enrolled 199 stroke (78 ICH and 121 IS) and 291 control subjects. Stroke patients were divided into subgroups according to the scores of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Survey (NIHSS, <6 and ${\geq}6$) and Modified Barthel Index (MBI, <60 and ${\geq}60$). SNPStats, SNPAnalyzer, and Helixtree programs were used to calculate odds ratios, 95% confidence intervals, and p values. Multiple logistic regression models were used to analyze genetic data. Results : A missense SNP rs11895564 was associated with the development of ICH (p=0.026 in codominant2, p=0.013 in recessive, p=0.02 in log-additive models; p=0.041 in allele distributions). The A allele frequency of rs11895564 was higher in the ICH group (13.5%) than in the control group (8.1%). In the clinical phenotypes, rs11895564 and rs2293649 showed significant associations in the MBI scores of IS (p=0.014 in codominant1 model; p=0.02 in allele distributions) and NIHSS scores of ICH (p=0.017 in codominant2, p=0.035 in recessive, p=0.035 in log-additive models), respectively. Conclusion : These results suggest that ITGA6 may be associated with the development and clinical phenotypes of stroke in Korean population.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.277-281
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• 1990

Xylazine is commonly used for anesthesia in veterinary medicine and various adverse effects are developed. To examine if the severe hypotensive response associated with xylazine-induced anesthesia might be resulted from the stimulation of presynaptic alpha-2 adrenoceptors or the increase of vagal tone, effects of yohimbine, atropine and atropine with vagotomy on xylazine-induced severe and long-lasting hypotensive responses were investigated in rabbits. The results were summarized as follows: 1) Intravenously injected xylazine(1mg/kg)-induced hypotensive responses were inhibited by yohimbine(p<0.001). 2) Intravenously injected xylazine(1mg/kg)-induced hypotensive responses were not changed by atropine. 3) Intravenously administered xylazine(1mg/kg)-induced hypotensive responses are not changed by atropine with vagotomy. These results indicate that xylazine is thought to cause severe hypotensive response during anesthesia primarily by stimulating presynaptic alpha-2 adrenoceptors and other receptors or mechanisms may participate in the hgpotensive response of xylazine.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.474-480
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• 2010

Conformationally locked nucleosides are important in searching selective agonists and antagonists for P2Y receptors. There were two previous synthetic works of the crucial intermediate, cyclopentenyl alcohol (3), which had some inefficiency like using too strong dianionic base and synthesis of racemate. Here we describes a facile synthesis of the intermediate using Sharpless epoxidation and the opening of epoxide ring using zinc, followed by Grubb's metathesis as key steps. The intermediate was converted to the southern bicyclo[3.2.0]heptane for confirming its usefulness.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.119.2-119.2
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• 2003

Exposure of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) causes a variety of biological and toxicology effects, most of which are mediated by aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). The ligand-bound AhR as a heterodimer with AhR nuclear translocator (ARNT) binds to its specific DNA recognition site, the dioxin-responsive element (DRE), and it results in increased transcription of CYP1A1 gene. Retinoic acid (RA) regulates the transcription of various genes for several essential functions through binding to two classes of nuclear receptors, the retinoic acid receptor (RAR) and retinoid X receptor (RXR). (omitted)

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.116-130
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• 2020

The aging society is globally one of biggest issue because it is related with various degenerative brain disease such as dementia, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, and cerebrovascular disease. These diseases are characterized by misfolded-protein aggregation; another pathological trait is "neuroinflammation". In physiological state, the resting microglia cells are activated and it removes abnormal synapses and cell membrane debris to maintain the homeostasis. In pathological state, however, microglia undergo morphological change form 'resting' to 'activated amoeboid phenotype' and the microglia cells are accumulated by neuronal damage, the inflammatory reactions induced nerve metamorphosis with a variety of neurotoxic factors including cytokines, chemokines, and reactive oxygen species. Thus, the activated microglia cell with various receptors (TSPO, COX, CR, P2XR, etc.) was perceived as important biomarkers for imaging the inflammatory progression. In this review, we would like to introduce the current status of the development of radiotracers that can image activated microglia.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.271-276
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• 2003

Purpose : Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor(G-CSF) and granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor(GM-CSF) are principal cytokines in granulopoiesis and their physiologic effects are mediated through binding to specific cell surface receptors. Although it is known that the level of serum G-CSF and GM-CSF, and presentation of the receptors are increased in infectious diseases, there have been no studies to find the correlation between the granulopoiesis and leukocytosis. This study was designed to measure G-CSF and GM-CSF in leukocytosis and in control and to demonstrate the possible pathogenesis of granulopoiesis in leukocytosis using quantitative analysis of G-CSF, GM-CSF and their CSFr. Methods : The plasma levels of G-CSF, GM-CSF of 13 children without leukocytosis and 14 children with leukocytosis were measured. Counts of cell surface G-CSFr and GM-CSFr were measured by combining anti G-CSFr and anti GM-CSFr monoclonal antibodies to their respective receptors by using quantitative flow cytometric assay. Results : There was no significant difference betweeen the plasma concentration of G-CSF and GM-CSF in acute leukocytosis and in the control group. However, levels of G-CSFr in acute leukocytosis decreased significantly compared to the control(P=0.012) and the levels of GM-CSFr in both groups revealed no significant difference. Conclusion : Increase in the number of leukocyte in leukocytosis was mediated by increasing the number of neutrophil, and increased plasma concentration of G-CSF may be the cause of neutrophilia. But GM-CSF did not have any influence on leukocytosis.