• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.379-386
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• 2024

Basophils and mast cells are specialized effector cells in allergic reactions. Haliotis discus hannai (abalone), is valuable seafood. Abalone male viscera, which has a brownish color and has not been previously reported to show anti-allergic activities, was extracted with acetone. Six different acetone/hexane fractions (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 100%) were obtained using a silica column via β-hexosaminidase release inhibitory activity-guided selection in phorbol myristate acetate and a calcium ionophore, A23187 (PMACI)-induced human basophils, KU812F cells. The 40% acetone/hexane fraction (A40) exhibited the strongest inhibition of PMACI-induced-β-hexosaminidase release. This fraction dose-dependently inhibited reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and calcium mobilization without cytotoxicity. Western blot analysis revealed that A40 down-regulated PMACI-induced MAPK (ERK 1/2, p-38, and JNK) phosphorylation, and the NF-κB translocation from the cytosol to membrane. Moreover, A40 inhibited PMACI-induced interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 production. Anti-allergic activities of A40 were confirmed based on inhibitory effects on IL-4 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) production in compound (com) 48/80-induced rat basophilic leukemia (RBL)-2H3 cells. A40 inhibited β-hexosaminidase release and cytokine production such as IL-4 and TNF-α produced by com 48/80-stimulated RBL-2H3 cells. Furthermore, it's fraction attenuated the IgE/DNP-induced passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) reaction in the ears of BALB/c mice. Our results suggest that abalone contains the active fraction, A40 is a potent therapeutic and functional material to treat allergic diseases.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2012

In Iran, $Plasmodium$ $vivax$ is responsible for more than 80% of the infected cases of malaria per year. Control interventions for vivax malaria in humans rely mainly on developed diagnostic methods. Recombinant $P.$ $vivax$ apical membrane antigen-1 (rPvAMA-1) has been reported to achieve designing rapid, sensitive, and specific molecular diagnosis. This study aimed to perform isolation and expression of a rPvAMA-1, derived from Iranian patients residing in an endemic area. Then, the diagnostic efficiency of the characterized Iranian PvAMA-1 was assessed using an indirect ELISA method. For this purpose, a partial region of AMA-1 gene was amplified, cloned, and expressed in pET32a plasmid. The recombinant $His-tagged$ protein was purified and used to coat the ELISA plate. Antibody detection was assessed by indirect ELISA using rPvAMA-1. The validity of the ELISA method for detection of anti-$P.$ $vivax$ antibodies in the field was compared to light microscopy on 84 confirmed $P.$ $vivax$ patients and compared to 84 non-$P.$ $vivax$ infected individuals. The ELISA cut-off value was calculated as the mean+2SD of OD values of the people living in malaria endemic areas from a south part of Iran. We found a cut-off point of OD=0.311 that showed the best correlation between the sera confirmed with $P.$ $vivax$ infection and healthy control sera. A sensitivity of 81.0% and specificity of 84.5% were found at this cut off titer. A good degree of statistical agreement was found between ELISA using rPvAMA-1 and light microscopy (0.827) by Kappa analysis.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2005

Background: Interleukin-7 receptor (IL-7R) ${\alpha}$-deficient mice have small numbers of B cells and ${\alpha}{\beta}$T cells in periphery, they totally lack ${\gamma}{\delta}$T cells. In addition, the V-J recombination and transcription of TCR ${\gamma}$ genes is also severely impaired in IL-7R ${\alpha}$-deficient mice. Stat5, a signaling molecule of the IL-7R, induces germline transcription in the TCR ${\gamma}$ locus, and promotes V-J recombination and ${\gamma}{\delta}$T cell development. However, the roles for IL-7R signaling pathway in thymic or extrathymic ${\gamma}{\delta}$T cell development are largely unknown. Methods: To clarify the role of the IL-7 receptor in proliferation and survival of ${\gamma}{\delta}$T cells, we introduced the TCR ${\gamma}{\delta}$ transgene, $V_{{\gamma}2}/V{\delta}_5$, into IL-7R ${\alpha}$-deficient mice, and investigated the development of ${\gamma}{\delta}$T cells. Results: We found that $V_{{\gamma}2}/V{\delta}_5$ transgene restored ${\gamma}{\delta}$T cells in the epithelium of the small intestine (IEL) but not in the thymus and the spleen. Further addition of a bcl-2 transgene resulted in partial recovery of ${\gamma}{\delta}$T cells in the thymus and the spleen of these mice. Conclusion: Taken together, this study revealed that the IL-7R ${\alpha}$ is indispensable for proliferation and survival mainly in thymic ${\gamma}{\delta}$T cell development.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.457-463
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• 1994

Insulin-like growth factor-I(IGF-I) plays an important role in the regulation of mammalian and poultry growth. IGF-I has many actions in different tissues, which include metabolic, mitogenic, and differentiative actions. IGF-I induces insulin-like effects - such as increased cell glucose uptake and glycogen sysnthesis, however several physiological actions of IGF-I may not have been identified yet. In order to investigate the effect on growth in broiler chicken treated with exogenous insulin-like growth factor-I, 30 chickens were injected $50{\mu}g$ reconbinant human IGF- I (rhIGF- I ) per kg body weight as experimental group and 30 ckickens saline subcutanously as control, 3 times according to ages from 2 to 35 days. We established radioimmunoassay method by which we can measure chicken IGF- I (cIGF- I ) as in rhIGF- I assay. The results obtained were as follows; 1) The dilution curve showed in parallelism between rhIGF- I and cIGF- I in the Sep-pak $C_{18}$ cartridge plasma extracts. 2) The body weight of broiler chicken were significantly increased at 31 days($1,176.50{\pm}99.79g$) and 35 days($1,252.84{\pm}125.21g$) of age in treatment groups, compared with control group($1,011.88{\pm}40.22g,\;1,111.32{\pm}153.67g$). The liver and kidney weights on 35 days$(35.24{\pm}5.18g,\;11.05{\pm}1.47g)$ were significantly higher in rhIGF- I treated group than control group($30.95{\pm}4.04g,\;10.01{\pm}1.60g$) 3) The plasma concentration of IGF- l and total protein in rhIGF- I treated group were $58.17{\pm}1.69ng/ml$, $3.75{\pm}0.62g/dl$ respectively compared with control group $45.70{\pm}1.64ng/ml$, $2.32{\pm}0.53g/dl$. The results suggest that exogenous rhIGF- I increased total body weight, liver and kidney weights in broiler chicken, and it may increase IGF- I and total protein concentration in serum.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.9 s.89
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• pp.1298-1302
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• 2007

A hallmark of cancers is 'leaky' tight junctions (Tjs). TJs mediated paracellular permeability is elevated and TJs maintained cell polarity is frequently lost. Concomitantly, TJs-associated proteins including members of the claudin family of proteins are dysregulated. Recent findings indicate that these TJs changes can contribute to cancer progression. In this study, we examined the effects of ${\beta}-lapachone$, a quinone compound obtained from the bark of the lapacho tree (Tabebuia avellanedae), on the Tjs-associated regulators in human hepatocarcinoma cell lines, HepG2 and Hep3B. ${\beta}-lapachone$ treatment downregulated the levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-lR) proteins in both HepG2 and Hep3B cells. But the levels of claudin-3 and -4 proteins were increased in ${\beta}-lapachone$-treated HepG2 and Hep3B cells. And also the zonnula occludens-l (la-I) and p-catenin protein levels by ${\beta}-lapachone$ were increased in a time-dependent manner. However, claudin-3 and -4 mRNA levels were uninhibited by ${\beta}-lapachone$ in HepG2 and Hep3B. The present results suggest that the upregulation of claudin-3 and -4 protein levels by ${\beta}-lapachone$ occurs by a post-transcriptional mechanism and points to a novel mechanism by ${\beta}-lapachone$.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.7179-7186
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• 2013

Background and Aims: Scutellaria is one of the most popular traditional Chinese herbal remedies against various human diseases, including cancer. In this study, we examined the active effects of Scutellaria extract and its main flavonoid constituents on the proportion of side population cells within human multiple myeloma cell line RPMI8226 in vitro and explored the potential molecular mechanisms involved. Materials and Methods: The contents of flavonoids in ethanolic extract of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi were determined using high performance liquid chromatography. The antiproliferative effect of the ethanolic extract on RPMI-8226 was determined by CCK assay. Apoptosis was measured by annexin combining with propidium iodide in a flow cytometer. Cell cycle analysis was performed by propidium iodide staining in combination with flow cytometry analysis. Hoechst 33342 exclusion assay was used for the identification of side population within RPMI8226 cells. The expression of ABCG2 protein was assessed by Western blotting assay. Results: The content of major flavonoids constitutents of Scutellaria extract was baicalin (10.2%), wogonoside (2.50%), baicalein (2.29%), and wogonin (0.99%), respectively. The crude Scutellaria extract did not show significant anti-proliferative effect, apoptosis induction and cell cycle arrest in RPMI-8226 within the concentrations of $1-75{\mu}g/mL$. However, the ethanolic extract, baicalein, wogonin and baicalin reduced the side population cells in RPMI-8226, and data showed that baicalein and wogonin had stronger inhibitory effects. Correspondingly, they also exhibited significant effects on decreasing the expression level of ABCG2 protein in RPMI-8226 in vitro. Conclusions: Our results for the first time demonstrated a novel mechanism of action for Scutellaria extract and its main active flavonoids, namely targeting SP cells by modulating the expression of ABCG2 protein. This study provides an insight for new therapeutic strategies targeting cancer stem cells of multiple myeloma.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.24-30
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• 2007

This study was designed to investigate the effects of pyroligneous liquor on lipid metaboilsm in serum of SPF/VAF Cri/Bgi CD rats. Male CD rats were fed basic diet prepared in our Lab., and PL-0 (control), PL-1, PL-25, PL-50, PL-75 groups were prepared with pyroligneous liquor (35% of Choa Co. Ltd.) of 0%, 1%, 25%, 50% and 75% in purified water per day for 8 weeks. Body weights and food intakes almost did not change in these five groups, and triglyceride (TG) levels were significantly decreased (20.5% and 19.5%, respectively) in these PL-25 and PL-50 groups compared with control group. Total and LDL-cholesterol levels were markedly decreased (20.7%, 16.3% and 20.3%, 116.9%, respectively) in these PL-25 and PL-50% groups, but HDL-cholesterol levels were significantly increased about 36.4% and 25.5% in serum of PL-25 and PL-50 groups compared with control group. Atherogenic indices were also remarkedly decreased (63.0%, and 50%, respectively) in these PL-25 and PL-50 groups compared with control group. These results suggest that long term administration orally of pyroligneous liquor in 25 to 50% may inhibit chronic degenerative disease through improving of lipid metabolism of lower TG & LDL-cholesterol and higher HDL-cholesterol, and lower AJ.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.370-377
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• 2001

Flounder brain cytosol contains protein inhibitors that markedly inhibit the activity of partially purified brain membrane phospholipase D (PLD) which is dependent on phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate ($PIP_2$) but insensitive to ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF), The PLD inhibitors have been enriched through several chromatographic steps and characterized with respect to size and mechanism of inhibition. Sequential chromatography of the brain cytosol yielded six inhibitor fractions, Two (IIA and IIB) of six inhibitor fractions showed the $PIP_2$-phosphatase activities. IIA was identified as synaptojanin, a nerve terminal protein that has known to be a member of the inositolpolyphosphate 5-phosphatase family, by immunoblot analysis. IIB showed an apparent molecular mass of 158 kDa by Superose 12 gel filtration chromatography and was immunologically distinct from synaptojanin. IIB hydrolyzed $PIP_2$, yielding only phosphatidylinositol phosphate (PIP) as product, suggesting that IIB hydrolyzes only one phosphate from either the 4- or 5-position of PI (4,5)$P_2$. These studies demonstrate that the existence of multiple $PIP_2$-phosphatases have been implicated in the negative regulation of $PIP_2$-dependent PLD activity within flounder brain.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.8-27
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• 2000

Components of extracellular matrix and the matrix-degrading enzymes are some of the key regulators of tumor metastasis and angiogenesis. Hyaluronic acid (HA), a matrix glycosaminoglycan, is known to promote tumor adhesion and migration, and its small fragments are angiogenic. Until now, we have compared levels of hyaluronidase, an enzyme that degrade HA, in normal adult prostate, benign prostate hyperplasia and prostate cancer tissues and in conditioned media from epithelial explant cultures, using a substrate (HA)-gel assay and ELISA-like assay (Kim et al., unpublished results). The present review described an overall characterization of hyaluronidases and its application to human diseases. The hyaluronidases are a family of enzymes that have, until recently, deed thorough explication. The substrate for these enzymes, hyaluronan, is becoming increasingly important, recognized now as a major participant in basic processes such as cell motility, wound healing, embryogenesis, and implicated in cancer progression. And in those lower life forms that torment human beings, hyaluronidase is associated with mechanisms of entry and spread, e.g. as a virulence factor for bacteria, for tissue dissection in gas gangrene, as a means of treponema spread in syphilis, and for penetration of skin and gut by nematode parasites. Hyaluronidase also comprises a component of the venom of a wide variety of organisms, including bees, wasps, hornets, spiders, scorpions, sh, snakes and lizards. Of particular interest is the homology between some of these venom hyaluronidases and the enzyme found in the plasma membrane of mammalian spermatozoa, attesting to the ancient nature of the conserved sequence, a 36% identity in a 300 amino acid stretch of the enzyme protein. Clearly, hyaluronidase is of biological interest, being involved in the pathophysiology of so many important' human disorders. Greater effort should be made in studying this family of enzymes that have, until recently, been overlooked. Also, oriental medical application of the hyaluronidase will be discussed with respect to inhibition and suppression of inflammation and malignacy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.14
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• pp.5635-5641
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• 2015

Background: Cirrhosis is regarded as a possible end stage of many liver diseases, including viral infection. It occurs when healthy liver tissue becomes damaged and is replaced by scar tissue and finally may lead to hepatocellular carcinoma. Interferons (IFNs)are two general categories, type I and II. Type I includes one beta interferon and over 20 different alpha interferons. Alpha interferons are very similar in how they work, interacting with other proteins on cells like receptors. The main objective of this study was to compare Mx gene productivity post different cell line treatment with imported and Egyptian biosimilar locally produced IFNs, as well as the efficacy of those tested IFNs. Also, an assessment was made of sensitivity of different cell lines as alternatives to that recommended for evaluation of antiviral activity. Materials and Methods: Different cell lines (Vero, MDBK and Wish) were employed to evaluate cytotoxicity using the MTT assay. Antiviral activity was evaluated compared with standard IFN against VSV, Indiana strain -156, on tested rh-IFNs (imported; innovated and Egyptian biosimilar locally produced IFNs) in the pre-treated cell lines previously mentioned. The virus was propagated in the Wish cell line as recommended. Finally we estimated up-regulation of the Mx gene as a biomarker. Results: Data recorded revealed that test IFNs were safe in test cell lines. Viability was around 100%. Locally tested interferon did not realize the international potency limits, while the imported one was accepted compared with the standard IFN. These results were the same either using infectivity titer reduction assay or crystal violet staining of residual non- infected cells. Mx protein production was cell type related and confirmed by the detected Mx gene expressed in imported and locally produced IFN pre-treated cell lines. The expression of the gene was arranged in the order of Vero> wish > MDBK for the imported IFN, while for the Egyptian biosimillar locally produced one it was MDBK> Vero> wish. With regard to the antiviral activity there was a significant difference of imported IFN potency compared with the locally produced IFN (P<0.05), the IFN potential (antiviral activity) was not cell line related and showed non-significant difference for each separate product. Conclusions: Vero cells can be used as an alternative cell line for evaluation of IFN potency in case of unavailable USP recommended cell lines. Alternative potency evaluation assay could be used and proved significant difference in IFN potency in case of local and imported agents. Evaluation of antiviral activity could be used in parallel to viral infectivity reduction assay for better accuracy. Mx gene can be used as a marker for IFN potential.