• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.497-502
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• 2014

Microfluidics can provide unique experimental tools to visualize the development of neural structures within a microscale device, which is followed by guidance of neurite growth in the axonal isolation compartment. We utilized microfluidics technology to monitor the differentiation and migration of neural cells derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). We co-cultured hESCs with PA6 stromal cells, and isolated neural rosette-like structures, which subsequently formed neurospheres in suspension culture. Tuj1-positive neural cells, but not nestin-positive neural precursor cells (NPCs), were able to enter the microfluidics grooves (microchannels), suggesting that neural cell-migratory capacity was dependent upon neuronal differentiation stage. We also showed that bundles of axons formed and extended into the microchannels. Taken together, these results demonstrated that microfluidics technology can provide useful tools to study neurite outgrowth and axon guidance of neural cells, which are derived from human embryonic stem cells.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.1477-1482
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• 2007

Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus strain PA15 exhibited a minimum inhibitory concentration value of 11 mM in an LGI medium amended with $ZnCl_2$. When an LGI medium was amended with Zn metal, solubilization halos were observed in a plate assay, and further solubilization was confirmed in a broth assay. The maximum solubilization was recorded after 120 h with a 0.1% Zn metal amendment. During solubilization, the culture growth and pH of the broth were indirectly correlated. Using a Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy analysis, one of the agents solubilizing the Zn metal was identified as gluconic acid. When the Zn-amended broth was observed under a bright field microscope, long involution cells were observed, and further analysis with Atomic Force Microscopy revealed highly deformed, pleomorphic, aggregate-like cells.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.85-87
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• 1983

$^{99m}Tc-Sulfur$ Colloid is concentrated in Kupffer cells of the liver, whereas the new biliary agents such as $^{99m}Tc-HIDA$ are processed by hepatic parenchymal cells. The distant metastatic lesiors in skull and lung of the primary hepatocellular carcinoma in 38-year old Korean male were detected with $^{99m}Tc-HIDA$ scintigraphy. The chest PA, skull bone X-ray and radionuclide scintigraphic studies are illustrated. This observation suggests that $^{99m}Tc-HIDA$ scintigraphy is useful for detection of distant metastases of primary hepatocellular carcinoma.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.195-198
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• 2006

Lethal toxin is a critical virulence factor of anthrax. It is composed two protein: protective antigen (PA) and lethal factor (LF). PA binds to specific cell surface receptors and, forms a membrane channel that mediates entry of LF into the cell. LF is a zinc-dependent metalloprotease, which cleaves MKKs [MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) kinases] at peptide bonds very close to their N-termini. In this study, we suggest application of cell-based assays in the early phase of drug discovery, with a particular focus on the use of yeast cells. We constructed MEK1 expression system in yeast to determine LF activity and approached cell-based assay system to screen inhibitors, in which the results covering the construction of LF-substrate in yeast expression vector, expression, and LF-mediated proteolysis of substrate were described. These results could provided the basic steps in design of cell-based assay system with the high efficiency, rapidly and easy way to screening of inhibitors.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.49-69
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• 2011

Objective : The object of this study was to observe the effects of Lonicerae Flos (LF) aqueous extracts on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced rat acute lung injury. Method : Five different dosages of LF extracts were orally administered once a day for 28 days before LPS treatments, and then all rats were sacrificed after 5 hour-treatment of LPS. Eight groups of 16 rats each were used in the present study. The following parameters caused by LPS treatment were observed ; body weights, lung weights, pulmonary transcapillary albumin transit, arterial gas parameters (pH, $PaO_2$ and $PaCO_2$) bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) protein lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$) contents, total cell numbers, neutrophil and alveolar macrophage ratios, lung malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), proinflammatory cytokines TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ contents. In addition, the histopathologic changes were observed in the lung in terms of luminal surface of alveolus, thickness of alveolar septum, number of polymorphonuclear neutrophils. Result : As results of LPS-injection, dramatical increases in lung weights, pulmonary transcapillary albumin transit increases, increases in $PaCO_2$, decreases in pH of arterial blood and $PaO_2$, increases of BALF protein, LDH, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ contents, total cells, neutrophil and alveolar macrophage ratios, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ contents increases were detected with decreases in LSA and increases of alveolar septum and PMNs numbers, respectively as compared with intact control. These are means that acute lung injuries (resembling acute respiratory distress syndrome) are induced by treatment of LPS mediated by inflammatory responses, oxidative stress and related lipid peroxidation in the present study. However, these LPS-induced acute lung injuries were inhibited by 28 days continuous pretreatment of 250 and 500mg/kg of LF extracts. Because of lower three dosages of LF treated groups, 31.25 and 62.5 and 125mg/kg did not showed any favorable effects as compared with LPS control, the effective dosages of LF in LPS-induced acute lung injuries in the present study, is considered as about 125mg/kg. The effects of 250mg/kg of LF extracts showed almost similar effects with ${\alpha}$-lipoic acid 60mg/kg in preventing LPS-induced acute lung injuries. Conclusion : It seems that LF play a role in protecting the acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by LPS.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.209-217
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• 2019

Background: Ginseng is a traditional herbal medicine for human health. Ginseng contains a bioactive ligand named gintonin. The active ingredient of gintonin is lysophosphatidic acid C18:2 (LPA C18:2). We previously developed a method for gintonin-enriched fraction (GEF) preparation to mass-produce gintonin from ginseng. However, previous studies did not show the presence of other bioactive lipids besides LPAs. The aim of this study was to quantify the fatty acids, lysophospholipids (LPLs), and phospholipids (PLs) besides LPAs in GEF. Methods: We prepared GEF from white ginseng. We used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for fatty acid analysis and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for PL analysis, and quantified the fatty acids, LPLs, and PLs in GEF using respective standards. We examined the effect of GEF on insulin secretion in INS-1 cells. Results: GEF contains about 7.5% linoleic (C18:2), 2.8% palmitic (C16:0), and 1.5% oleic acids (C18:1). GEF contains about 0.2% LPA C18:2, 0.06% LPA C16:0, and 0.02% LPA C18:1. GEF contains 0.08% lysophosphatidylcholine, 0.03% lysophosphatidylethanolamine, and 0.13% lysophosphatidylinositols. GEF also contains about 1% phosphatidic acid (PA) 16:0-18:2, 0.5% PA 18:2-18:2, and 0.2% PA 16:0-18:1. GEFmediated insulin secretion was not blocked by LPA receptor antagonist. Conclusion: We determined four characteristics of GEF through lipid analysis and insulin secretion. First, GEF contains a large amount of linoleic acid (C18:2), PA 16:0-18:2, and LPA C18:2 compared with other lipids. Second, the main fatty acid component of LPLs and PLs is linoleic acid (C18:2). Third, GEF stimulates insulin secretion not through LPA receptors. Finally, GEF contains bioactive lipids besides LPAs.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.874-885
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• 2012

In the present study, the possibility of whether the pharmacological effects of Scutellariae Radix Aqueous Extracts(SR) were favorably changed by report that lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced rat acute lung injury was treated with Red-Koji(Monascus purpureus 12002) fermentation. Three different dosages of Red-Koji fermented SR extract(fSR), 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg were orally administered once a day for 28 days before LPS(Escherichia coli 0111:B4) treatments, and then 5 hours after LPS treatment(500 ${\mu}g$/head, intra trachea instillation), all rats were sacrificed. Changes in the body weights, lung weights, pulmonary transcapillary albumin transit, arterial gas parameters(pH, $PaO_2$ and $PaCO_2$) bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) protein, lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) and proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$(TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin-$1{\beta}$(IL-$1{\beta}$) contents, total cell numbers, neutrophil and alveolar macrophage ratios, lung malondialdehyde(MDA), myeloperoxidase(MPO), proinflammatory cytokine TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ contents were observed with histopathology of the lung, changes on luminal surface of alveolus(LSA), thickness of alveolar septum, number of polymorphonuclear neutrophils(PMNs). As results of LPS-injection, dramatical increases in lung weights, pulmonary transcapillary albumin transit increases in $PaCO_2$, decreases in pH of arterial blood and $PaO_2$, increases of BALF protein, LDH, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ contents, total cells, neutrophil and alveolar macrophage ratios, lung MDA, MPO, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ contents increases were detected with decreases in LSA and increases of alveolar septum and PMNs numbers, respectively as compared with intact control. Especially fSR 125 mg/kg showed quite similar favorable effects on the LPS-induced acute lung injuries as compared with 60 mg/kg of ${\alpha}$-lipoic acid and 250 mg/kg of SR. The results suggest that over 125 mg/kg of fSR extracts showed favorable effects on the LPS-induced acute lung injury mediated by their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Moreover, increases of the pharmacological effects of SR on LPS-induced acute lung injury were observed by Red-Koji fermentation in this study, at least 2-fold higher.

• BMB Reports
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.278-283
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• 2021

Our understanding of the differential effects between specific omega-3 fatty acids is incomplete. Here, we aimed to evaluate the effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on T-helper type 1 (Th1) cell responses and identify the pathways associated with these responses. Naïve CD4⁺ T cells were co-cultured with bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DCs) in the presence or absence of palmitate (PA), DHA, or EPA. DHA or EPA treatment lowered the number of differentiated IFN-γ-positive cells and inhibited the secretion of IFN-γ, whereas only DHA increased IL-2 and reduced TNF-α secretion. There was reduced expression of MHC II on DCs after DHA or EPA treatment. In the DC-independent model, DHA and EPA reduced Th1 cell differentiation and lowered the cell number. DHA and EPA markedly inhibited IFN-γ secretion, while only EPA reduced TNF-α secretion. Microarray analysis identified pathways involved in inflammation, immunity, metabolism, and cell proliferation. Moreover, DHA and EPA inhibited Th1 cells through the regulation of diverse pathways and genes, including Igf1 and Cpt1a. Our results showed that DHA and EPA had largely comparable inhibitory effects on Th1 cell differentiation. However, each of the fatty acids also had distinct effects on specific cytokine secretion, particularly according to the presence of DCs.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.79-83
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• 1993

A 38-year-old female was admitted due to progressive exertional dyspnea and intermittent blood tinged sputum. Chest PA showed diffuse reticular infiltration accompanied by hyperinflation. $PaO_2$ was normal in resting state but profoundly decreased during exercise. Spirometry showed severe obstructive pattern but DLCO was markedly decreased. Lung volumes measured by helium equilibrium method was increased. On HRCT, numerous and relatively uniform sized cysts were evenly distributed throughout the bilateral lung fields. Open lung biopsy was performed and pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis(LAM) was diagnosed based on the findings of abnormal proliferation of smooth muscle cells in the walls of lymphatic vessels, bronchioles, and small pulmonary veins. Immunohistochemical staining was negative for estrogen receptor but positive for progesterone receptor. Medroxyprogesterone therapy was initiated.

• BMB Reports
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.51-59
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• 1999

The Korean radish cationic peroxidase (KRCP) promoter, comprising nucleotides -471 to +704 relative to the transcriptional initiation site, was fused to the GUS gene and transformed to tobacco BY-2 cells. We examined how auxin (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 2,4-D), cytokinin (6-benzylaminopurine, BAP), gibberellic acid ($GA_3$), abscisic acid (ABA), methyl jasmonate (MeJA), and phosphatidic acid (PA) affect the GUS expression in the presence or absence of 2,4-D in a modified LS medium. Exogenous 2,4-D or BAP greatly decreased the GUS expression regulated by the KRCP promoter in a modified LS medium containing 0.2 mg/l 2,4-D. $GA_3$ increased the GUS expression and ABA completely reduced the inductive effect of $GA_3$. The GUS expression was also increased dose-dependently by plant defense regulators, MeJA and PA. In contrast to the above results, auxin deprivation from the modified LS medium increased the GUS expression after treatment with exogenous 2,4-D whereas BAP still greatly decreased the GUS expression dose-dependently. $GA_3$ or MeJA slightly decreased the GUS expression. The data suggest that auxin deprivation changes the sensitivity of the suspension cells to exogenous chemicals and that the regulation of the KRCP promoter by 2,4-D, $GA_3$, and MeJA is dependent on auxin, whereas the regulation by BAP is not. This study will be valuable for understanding the function and expression mode of the Korean radish cationic peroxidase in Korean radish.