• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제19권6호
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• pp.1666-1672
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• 2005

Oriental medicinal drugs have a broad spectrum of clinical use for the cure of nervous system diseases including brain ischemic damages or neuropathies. Yet, specific drugs or drug components used in the oriental medicine in relation to none fiber regeneration are not known. In the present study, possible growth promoting effects of oriental medicinal drugs were investigated in the injured sciatic nerve system in the rat. By immunofluorescence staining, we found that Jahageo (JHG, Hominis placenta) increased Induction levels of axonal growth associated protein GAP-43 in the rat sciatic none. Small growth promoting activity was found in Golsebo (GSB, Drynariae rhizoma) and Baikhasuo (BHSO, Polygoni multiflori radix) drugs. JHG also increased cell cycle protein Cdc2 levels in the injured area of the sciatic nerves. Immunofluorescence staining indicated that induced Cdc2 protein was mostly localized in the Schwann cells in the injury area, implying that JHG activity might be related to increased Schwann cell proliferation during axonal regeneration. Moreover, levels of phospho-extracellular signal-regulated (ERK) pathway in the injured neNes were elevated by JHG treatment while levels of total ERK were unaltered. In vivo measurement of axonal regeneration using retrograde tracer showed that JHG, GSB and BHSO significantly enhanced Dil-labeled regenerating motor neurons compared with saline control. The present data suggest that oriental medicinal drugs such as JHG, GSB, and BHSO may be a useful target for developing specific drugs of axonal regeneration.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• 제1권4호
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• pp.248-255
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• 2005

To understand the response of cancer cells to anticancer drugs at the gene expression level, we examined the gene expression changes in response to five anticancer drugs, 5-fluorouracil, cytarabine, cisplatin, paclitaxel, and cytochalasin D in NCI-H460 human lung cancer cells. Of the five drugs, 5-fluorouracil had the most distinctive gene expression signature. By clustering genes whose expression changed significantly, we identified three clusters with unique gene expression patterns. The first cluster reflected the up-regulation of gene expression by cisplatin, and included genes involved in cell death and DNA repair. The second cluster pointed to a general reduction of gene expression by most of the anticancer drugs tested. A number of genes in this cluster are involved in signal transduction that is important for communication between cells and reception of extracellular signals. The last cluster represented reduced gene expression in response to 5-fluorouracil, the genes involved being implicated in DNA metabolism, the cell cycle, and RNA processing. Since the gene expression signature of 5-fluorouracil was unique, we investigated it in more detail. Significance analysis of microarray data (SAM) identified 808 genes whose expression was significantly altered by 5-fluorouracil. Among the up-regulated genes, those affecting apoptosis were the most noteworthy. The down-regulated genes were mainly associated with transcription-and translation-related processes which are known targets of 5-fluorouracil. These results suggest that the gene expression signature of an anticancer drug is closely related to its physiological action and the response of caner cells.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.721-731
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• 2002

Recently, soluble TNF receptor homolog osteoprotegerin(OPG) and its membrane-bound ligand osteoclast differentiation factor(ODF) were found to regulate osteoclast formation and function, and bone metabolism. It is now well established that ODF acts via RANK expressed on hematopoietic osteoclast precursor cells to facilitate their differentiation to osteoclasts, and OPG prevents the formation of osteoclasts by interfering the binding of ODF and RANK. Expression of OPG and ODF was believed to be closely related to the pathogenesis of bone resorption and destruction from osteoporosis, periodontal diseases, malignant bone tumor, and arthritis. The periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PDLF), located between the tooth and tooth socket, has been thought to play an important role in maintaining bone homeostasis of periodontal tissues. However, the exact mechanism by which bone formation and resorption are regulated by PDLF is not well understood. In this study we have prepared primary cultures of human PDLF from periodontium of malaligned tooth extracted due to orthodontic reason, and determined steady state or inflammatory signal-induced OPG and ODF expression using RT-PCR and western blot analysis. OPG and ODF mRNA and protein were expressed constitutively in the PDLF and these expression were slightly increased by osteotropic cytokine IL-1 ${\beta}$. Lipopolysaccharide-treated PDLF showed decrease in OPG mRNA and protein expression, and increase in ODF mRNA and protein expression. These results indicated that PDLF influence the osteoclastogenesis by OPG and ODF expression in the inflammatory situation as well as physiological condition, and thereby pathogenesis of periodontal alveolar bone destruction.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제13권5호
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• pp.349-356
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• 2009

We previously reported that glial cell line-derived neurotropic factor (GDNF) receptor ${\alpha}$ 1 (GFR ${\alpha}$ 1) is a direct target of apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (Ape1/Ref-1). In the present study, we further analyzed the physiological roles of Ape1/Ref-1-induced GFR ${\alpha}$ 1 expression in Neuro2a mouse neuroblastoma cells. Ape1/Ref-1 expression caused the clustering of GFR ${\alpha}$ 1 immunoreactivity in lipid rafts in response to GDNF. We also found that Ret, a downstream target of GFR ${\alpha}$ 1, was functionally activated by GDNF in Ape1/Ref-1-expressing cells. Moreover, GDNF promoted the proliferation of Ape1/Ref-1-expressing Neuro2a cells. Furthermore, GFR ${\alpha}$ 1-specific RNA experiments demonstrated that the downregulation of GFR ${\alpha}$ 1 by siRNA in Ape1/Ref-1-expressing cells impaired the ability of GDNF to phosphorylate Akt and PLC ${\gamma}$-1 and to stimulate cellular proliferation. These results show an association between Ape1/Ref-1 and GDNF/GFR ${\alpha}$ signaling, and suggest a potential molecular mechanism for the involvement of Ape1/Ref-1 in neuronal proliferation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.55-59
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• 1976

Most investigators have come to stress two different concepts of mechanism controlling renin release; intrarenal baroreceptor theory and the macula densa theory(Vander 1967, Thurau and Masson 1974). In the macula densa theory, the specific macula densa parameter, most commonly suggested as a possible signal, is either the osmolality or the concentration of sodium in the tubular fluid (Thurau 1964, Vander and Miller 1964, Reeves and Sommers 1965). It has been shown that sodium plays an important role in the release of renin either in vivo (Thurau 1964, Vander and Miller 1964, Thurau et al 1972) or in vitro experiments(Oelkers et al 1970, Hammerson et al 1971, Michelakis 1971). On the other hand the osmolality appears to have no effect on the release of renin in vivo (Vander 1967, Thurau and Masson 1974). However, there has been little attempt to study the effect of osmolality on in vitro renin release. We therefore undertook the present investigation to elucidate the effect of osmolality on renin release and to further test the sodium influence upon the release of renin from isolated kidney slice preparations. Isolated renal cortical slices were washed with normal Krebs-Hensenleit bicarbonate buffer solution and incubated for 30 minutes in a medium containing an appropriate concentration of sodium and osmolality. The renin released into the medium was measured by the method of radioimmunoassay(Haber et al 1969). The results obtained are as follows; 1. The release of renin from renal cortical slices was progressively inhibited as the sodium concentration in the medium increased. 2. No significant alteration in renin release was observed when osmolality of the medium was changed. These results suggest that the release of renin from the renal cortical slices is directly affected by the changes in sodium concentration in the medium, but is not influenced by the alterations in osmolality.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제35권2호
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• pp.112-117
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• 2007

Protein kinase는 진핵생물과 원핵생물을 포함하는 모든 생명체에서 세포생존에 절대적으로 중요한 조절 기능을 담당한다. 일반적으로 원핵생물은 histidine 과 aspartic acid kinase로 구성된 bacterial two-component regulatory system에 의하여 환경변화에 따른 유전자의 발현이 조절되지만, 방선균을 비롯한 고등 원핵생물에서는 진핵생물성의 serine/threonine kinase들이 세포분화와 같은 분화과정을 조절하고 있다. Streptomycin 생산균인 Streptomyces griseus 균주에서도 다양한 serine/threonine kinase들이 존재하는 것으로 추정되며, 이들의 기능을 밝히는 것은 생명현상을 이해하는 중요한 열쇠를 제공해 줄 것으로 기대된다. 따라서, S. griseus로부터 protein kinase 를 동정하는 연구를 실시하였으며, 기존의 복잡한 chromatography법의 단점을 보완하기 위해 anti-phosphothreonine, anti-phosphoserine, anti-phosphotyrosine antibody를 이용한 immunoaffinity column chromatography 방법을 도입하였다. 실험 결과 약 14, 29, 31, 35, 40, 52, 56, 60 kDa의 단백질을 효과적으로 동정 할 수 있었으며, nonradioactive protein kination assay 방법으로 이들의 인산화능을 확인하였다.

• BMB Reports
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• 제40권1호
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• pp.22-28
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• 2007

MyoD, expressed in skeletal muscle lineages of vertebrate embryo, is one of muscle-specific basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors, which plays a key role in the determination and differentiation of all skeletal muscle lineages. In this study, a cDNA of grass carp MyoD was cloned and characterized from total RNA of grass carp embryos by RT-PCR. The full-length cDNA of grass carp MyoD is 1597 bp. The cDNA sequence analysis reveals an open reading frame of 825 bp coding for a protein of 275 amino acids, which includes a bHLH domain composed of basic domain (1-84th amino acids) and HLH domain (98-142th amino acids), without signal peptide. Then the MyoD cDNA of grass carp was cloned to yeast expression vector pPICZ$\alpha$A and transformed into P. pastoris GS115 strain, the recombinant MyoD protein with a molecular weight of about 31KD was obtained after inducing for 2d with 0.5% methanol in pH 8.0 BMGY medium, and the maximum yield was about 250 mg/L in shaking-flask fermentation. The results were expected to benefit for further studies on the crystal structure and physiological function of fish MyoD.

• Journal of Korean Dental Science
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• 제10권2호
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• pp.45-52
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• 2017

Calcium has versatile roles in diverse physiological functions. Among these functions, intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ plays a key role during the secretion of salivary glands. In this review, we introduce the diverse cellular components involved in the saliva secretion and related dynamic intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ signals. Calcium acts as a critical second messenger for channel activation, protein translocation, and volume regulation, which are essential events for achieving the salivary secretion. In the secretory process, $Ca^{2+}$ activates $K^+$ and $Cl^-$ channels to transport water and electrolyte constituting whole saliva. We also focus on the $Ca^{2+}$ signals from intracellular stores with discussion about detailed molecular mechanism underlying the generation of characteristic $Ca^{2+}$ patterns. In particular, inositol triphosphate signal is a main trigger for inducing $Ca^{2+}$ signals required for the salivary gland functions. The biphasic response of inositol triphosphate receptor and $Ca^{2+}$ pumps generate a self-limiting pattern of $Ca^{2+}$ efflux, resulting in $Ca^{2+}$ oscillations. The regenerative $Ca^{2+}$ oscillations have been detected in salivary gland cells, but the exact mechanism and function of the signals need to be elucidated. In future, we expect that further investigations will be performed toward better understanding of the spatiotemporal role of $Ca^{2+}$ signals in regulating salivary secretion.

• Mycobiology
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• 제43권4호
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• pp.450-457
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• 2015

Medicinal mushrooms have been used worldwide to treat cancer and modulate the immune system. Over the last several years, there has been increasing interest in isolating bioactive compounds from medicinal mushrooms and evaluating their health beneficial effects. Fomes fomentarius is used in traditional oriental medicine and is known to possess antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antidiabetic, and antitumor effects. In the present study, we isolated fomentariol from Fomes fomentarius and investigated its anti-inflammatory effect in murine macrophages (RAW264.7 cells) stimulated with lipopolysaccharides. Fomentariol inhibited the production of nitric oxide and intracellular reactive oxygen species triggered by lipopolysaccharides. Interestingly, fomentariol differentially regulated cytokine production triggered by lipopolysaccharides. Fomentariol effectively suppressed the production of interleukin-$1{\beta}$ and interleukin-6 but not tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$. The inhibitory effect of fomentariol against nitric oxide, interleukin-$1{\beta}$, and interleukin-6 production was possibly mediated by downregulation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling pathway. Taken together, our results suggest that fomentariol differentially modulated inflammatory responses triggered by lipopolysaccharides in macrophages and is one of the bioactive compounds that mediate the physiological effects of Fomes fomentarius.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.31-35
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• 2011

Dual-specificity protein phosphatase (DUSP)들은 인산화된 티로신 잔기와 인산화된 세린 또는 트레오닌 잔기를 탈인산화시키는 단백질 탈인산화효소 군을 이루고 있으며, 대부분의 DUSP들은 세포의 생존이나 분화에 관여하고 있다. 본 연구에서는 잘 알려지지 않은 인간 유래의 dual-specificity protein phosphatase인 DUSP28을 인간신장 cDNA에서 분리하였다. 대장균에서 생산된 재조합단백질은 6,8-difluoro-4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate (DiFMUP)에 대하여 좋은 활성을 보였다. 다양한 저해제와 2가 금속이온들이 DUSP28의 활성에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. 다른 DUSP들에서와는 다르게, $Zn^{2+}$은 DUSP28의 탈인산화활성을 강하게 억제하였다. 이러한 결과로부터 DUSP28이 Zn과 연관된 신호전달경로에 관여할 것으로 추정된다. 더욱이, DUSP28은 인산화된 티로신잔기를 더욱 선호하는 경향이 있는 것으로 나타났고, 이는 세포 내에서도 비슷한 작용을 할 것으로 예상된다.