• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.293-300
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• 2017

Prostaglandin $D_2$ ($PGD_2$) may act against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury and play an anti-inflammatory role in the heart. Although the effect of $PGD_2$ in regulation of ANP secretion of the atrium was reported, the mechanisms involved are not clearly identified. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether $PGD_2$ can regulate ANP secretion in the isolated perfused beating rat atrium, and its underlying mechanisms. $PGD_2$ (0.1 to $10{\mu}M$) significantly increased atrial ANP secretion concomitantly with positive inotropy in a dose-dependent manner. Effects of $PGD_2$ on atrial ANP secretion and mechanical dynamics were abolished by AH-6809 ($1.0{\mu}M$) and AL-8810 ($1.0{\mu}M$), $PGD_2$ and prostaglandin $F2{\alpha}$ ($PGF2{\alpha}$) receptor antagonists, respectively. Moreover, $PGD_2$ clearly upregulated atrial peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ($PPAR{\gamma}$) and the $PGD_2$ metabolite 15-deoxy-${\Delta}12$, 14-$PGJ_2$ (15d-$PGJ_2$, $0.1{\mu}M$) dramatically increased atrial ANP secretion. Increased ANP secretions induced by $PGD_2$ and 15d-$PGJ_2$ were completely blocked by the $PPAR{\gamma}$ antagonist GW9662 ($0.1{\mu}M$). PD98059 ($10.0{\mu}M$) and LY294002 ($1.0{\mu}M$), antagonists of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling, respectively, significantly attenuated the increase of atrial ANP secretion by $PGD_2$. These results indicated that $PGD_2$ stimulated atrial ANP secretion and promoted positive inotropy by activating $PPAR{\gamma}$ in beating rat atria. MAPK/ERK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways were each partially involved in regulating $PGD_2$-induced atrial ANP secretion.

• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.1249-1258
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• 2015

DGAT1(diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase1) gene is well known as a major gene of milk production in dairy cattle. This study was conducted to investigate how the DGAT1 gene effect on milk yield was appeared from the genome wide association (GWA) using high density whole genome SNP chip. The data set used in this study consisted of 353 Korean Holstein sires with 50k SNP genotypes and deregressed estimated breeding values of milk yield. After quality control 41,051 SNPs were selected and locations on chromosome were mapped using UMD 3.1. Bayesian regression of BayesB method (pi=0.99) was used to estimate the SNP effects and genomic breeding values. Percentages of variance explained by 1 Mb non-overlapping windows were calculated to detect the QTL region. As the result of this study, top 1 and 3 of 2,516 windows were seen around DGAT1 gene region and 0.51% and 0.48% of genetic variance were explained by these two windows. Although SNPs on the DGAT1 gene region are excluded in commercial 50k SNP chip, the effect of DGAT1 gene seem to be reflected on GWA by the SNPs which are in linkage disequilibrium with DGAT1 gene.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.137-145
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• 1981

Using the milled, blast infected leaves (BIL) as an inoculum source on the screening for the resistance to blast of rice plant was a simple and useful technique. The temperature with high (25^\circ C\sim 35^\circ C) and low (15^\circ C\sim 28^\circ C) and the water stressed or not, was conditioned of to the inoculation with the BIL to the test varieties in seedling stage. In low temperature, most of the varieties were more infected with blast, however the Indica-Japonica hybrids were more infected in high temperature conditions. The water stressed was more infected with blast than the not stressed. The interaction of variety with water stress was not so much as that of variety with temperature. Resistant reaction to blast (BIL) was not affected by the temperature and water stress, but the moderately resistant or susceptible one was much affected by them. Inoculum of BIL was virulent to the newly bred Indica-Japonica hybrid cultivars such as Tongil, Nopung, etc, but not virulent to the Japonica cultivars such as Nongbaek, Jinheung, etc. The discrete, mixed or variable lesions were observed mainly in the moderately resistant or susceptible cultivars such as Kanto 51, Yashiromochi, Ishikari-shiroke, etc.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.123-132
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• 2017

Insulin signaling is coordinated by insulin receptor substrates (IRSs). Many insulin responses, especially for blood glucose metabolism, are mediated primarily through Irs-1 and Irs-2. Irs-1 knockout mice show growth retardation and insulin signaling defects, which can be compensated by other IRSs in vivo; however, the underlying mechanism is not clear. Here, we presented an Irs-1 truncated mutated mouse ($Irs-1^{-/-}$) with growth retardation and subcutaneous adipocyte atrophy. $Irs-1^{-/-}$ mice exhibited mild insulin resistance, as demonstrated by the insulin tolerance test. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) activity and phosphorylated Protein Kinase B (PKB/AKT) expression were elevated in liver, skeletal muscle, and subcutaneous adipocytes in Irs-1 deficiency. In addition, the expression of IRS-2 and its phosphorylated version were clearly elevated in liver and skeletal muscle. With miRNA microarray analysis, we found miR-33 was down-regulated in bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) of $Irs-1^{-/-}$ mice, while its target gene Irs-2 was up-regulated in vitro studies. In addition, miR-33 was down-regulated in the presence of Irs-1 and which was up-regulated in fasting status. What's more, miR-33 restored its expression in re-feeding status. Meanwhile, miR-33 levels decreased and Irs-2 levels increased in liver, skeletal muscle, and subcutaneous adipocytes of $Irs-1^{-/-}$ mice. In primary cultured liver cells transfected with an miR-33 inhibitor, the expression of IRS-2, PI3K, and phosphorylated-AKT (p-AKT) increased while the opposite results were observed in the presence of an miR-33 mimic. Therefore, decreased miR-33 levels can up-regulate IRS-2 expression, which appears to compensate for the defects of the insulin signaling pathway in Irs-1 deficient mice.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.1447-1451
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• 2007

Through the screening of marine natural compounds that inhibit cancer cell proliferation, we previously reported that pectenotoxin-2 (PTX-2) isolated from marine sponges exhibits selective cytotoxicity against several cell lines in p53-deficient tumor cells compared to those with functional p53. However, the molecular mechanisms of its anti-proliferative action on malignant cell growth are not completely known. To further explore the mechanisms of its anti-cancer activity and to test whether the status of p53 in liver cancer cells correlates with their chemo-sensitivities to PTX-2, we used two well-known hepatocarcinoma cell lines, p53-deficient Hep3B and p53-wild type HepG2. We have demonstrated that PTX-2 markedly inhibits Hep3B cell growth and induces apoptosis whereas HepG2 cells are much more resistant to PTX-2 suggesting that PTX-2 seems to act by p53-independent cytotoxic mechanism. The apoptosis induced by PTX-2 in Hep3B cells was associated with the modulation of DNA fragmentation factor (DFF) family proteins, up-regulation of pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members such as Bax and Bcl-xS and activation of caspases (caspase-3, -8 and -9). Blockade of the caspase-3 activity by caspase-3 inhibitor, z-DEVD-fmk, prevented the PTX-2-induced growth inhibition in Hep3B cells. Moreover, treatment with PTX-2 also induced phosphorylation of AKT and extracellular-signal regulating kinase (ERK), but not c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MARK). Specific inhibitors of PI3K inhibitor (LY294002) and ERK1/2 inhibitor (PD98059) significantly blocks PTX-2-induced-anti-proliferative effects, whereas a JNK inhibitor (SP600125) and a p38 MAPK inhibitor (SB203580) have no significant effects demonstrating that the pro-apoptotic effect of PTX-2 mediated through activation of AKT and ERK signal pathway in Hep3B cells.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.87-94
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• 1988

By affinity chromatography using a monoclonal antibody as ligand, Kim et at. (1986) purified a protein fraction in cystic fluid of Taenia solium metacestodes (CF) In this study, the biochemical properties of the purified protein were characterized. Discontinuous-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (disc-PAGE) of the protein at 4.5∼10% separating gel concentration showed its molecular weight (MW) to be 150 kilodalton (kDa) in non·denatured state, while denaturing sodium dodecyl suifate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) revealed that it was composed of 3 different subunits with respective fnw of 15, 10 and 7 kDa. Subunit of 7 kDa was shown to be linked to other subunits by disulade bonds. Isoelectric point of the protein was pH 6.8. The protein was relatively heat-stable for immunologic analysis. These properties indicated that the protein, comprising about 70% of total content in CF, had similar biochemical characters with antigen B of Oriol et at.(1971) in hydatid cyst quid (HF).

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.812-827
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• 2006

To investigate the population structure and geographic distance among anchovies (Engraulis japonicus) in Korea, we compared and analyzed the mitochondrial DNA control region sequences (227 bp) of anchovies from 12 localities in inshore and offshore waters. The sequence analysis of 84 individuals showed 29 haplotypes, ranging in sequence divergence by pairwise comparisons from 0.3% to 3.5% (1 bp-12 bp). E9 haplotype of anchovies were found largely in inshore waters and also in offshore waters, which was regarded as the major source in Korean waters (58.3%). However, E26, E27, E28, and E29 haplotypes were found in westsouthern (locality 10, four among 7). Phylogenetic analysis using PHYLIP was divided into two clades (clade A and B). Most of the haplotypes, excluding E26, E27, E28, and E29, were strongly supported by bootstrap analysis (>75%), whereas the relationship between clade A and B was weakly supported by bootstrap analysis (51%). High levels of genetic diversity were found; haplotype diversity (H)=0.75-1.00, and nucleotide diversity $({\pi})=0.015-0.0244$. Analysis of $F_{ST}$ between populations in inshore waters ranged in 0.01-0.05, whereas those of offshore waters ranged in 0.01-0.58. A high gene flow occurred in inshore (Nm=22.61-34.22) and offshore (Nm=11.57-45.67) populations. The distribution of mitochondrial DNA haplotypes between westsouthern and other populations was suggestive of significantly different differentiation ($F_{ST}$=0.20-0.59, p<0.05; d=0.52, p=0.00; ${\phi}=0.02-0.41$, p＜0.05). These results suggested that the overall anchovy population in the Korean peninsula caused considerable migration due to the mitochondrial gene flow between inshore and offshore populations to form a genetically homogenous and panmictic structure, although a heterogeneous population was found in this study.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.30-37
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• 2019

Background: This study was conducted to investigate the changes in the photosynthetic parameters, chlorophyll content, chlorophyll fluorescence, and growth characteristics of Aruncus dioicus var. kamtschaticus seedlings under different shading treatments. Methods and Results: The shading treatment was regulated with the shading level (non-shaded, 35%, 55%, and 75% shading). Photosynthetic activities, such as net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, stomatal transpiration rate, and performance index on absorption basis ($PI_{ABS}$)were the highest under 35% shading ($4.36{\mu}mol\;CO_2{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$, $54.2mmol\;H_2O{\cdot}m^2{\cdot}s^{-1}$, $0.66mmol\;H_2O{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$, and 1.3, respectively), and the lowest under 75% shading. This implies that the decrease in net photosynthetic rate may be due to an inability to regulate water and $CO_2$ exchanged through the stomata. Thechlorophylla, b, and a + b contents were increased with elevating shading level and the chlorophyll a/b ratio showed non-significant differences. It was found that the dry weight (leaf, shoot, and whole) was the highest (1.14 g, 0.49 g, and 2.31 g, respectively) under 35% shading and the t/R ratio was the highest under 75% shading. Conclusions: It is concluded that 75% shading exhibited a strong reduction of photosynthetic activity, and 35% shading showed the best conditions for the early growth and cultivation of A. dioicus var. kamtschaticus.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.84-93
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• 2024

Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a phenolic ester that protects human keratinocytes against oxidative damage induced by ultraviolet B (UVB) exposure, however, the mechanisms underlying its effects remain unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the cell signaling mechanisms that regulate the antioxidant activity of RA and confirm its cyto-protective role. To explore the signaling mechanisms, we used the human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT and SKH1 hairless mouse skin. RA enhanced glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC) and glutathione synthetase (GSS) expression in HaCaT cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Moreover, RA induced nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (NRF2) nuclear translocation and activated the signaling kinases protein kinase B (AKT) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Treatment with the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002, the ERK inhibitor U0126, and small interfering RNA (siRNA) gene silencing suppressed RA-enhanced GCLC, GSS, and NRF2 expression, respectively. Cell viability tests showed that RA significantly prevented UVB-induced cell viability decrease, whereas the glutathione (GSH) inhibitors buthionine sulfoximine, LY294002, and U0126 significantly reduced this effect. Moreover, RA protected against DNA damage and protein carbonylation, lipid peroxidation, and apoptosis caused by UVB-induced oxidative stress in a concentration-dependent manner in SKH1 hairless mouse skin tissues. These results suggest that RA protects against UVB-induced oxidative damage by activating AKT and ERK signaling to regulate NRF2 signaling and enhance GSH biosynthesis. Thus, RA treatment may be a promising approach to protect the skin from UVB-induced oxidative damage.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 1999

Ursodeoxycholic acid(UDCA) is a hydrophilic gall bladder acid and has been used as a effective drug for liver disease related to in1munity. This drug inhibits secretions of IL-2, IL-4, and $IFN-{\gamma}$ from T-cells and production of immunoglobulin from B-cells. Also it has been reported that UDCA inhibits production of IL-1 related to the progression of periodontal disease and activation of collagenases. The purpose of the present study was to elucidate the effects of UDCA on inhibition of periodontal disease progression using clinical, microbiological and histometrical parameters. Twelve pure bred, 16 month-old-beagle dogs were used in the study. After ligature-induced periodontal diseases were formed, experimental drugs were applied twice a day and then the results of clinical, microbiological, and histometrical parameters were measured at baselie(initiation of experiment) , 4weeks and 8weeks. The gel with UDCA(concentration 0.5%, 5% 3 dogs in each) was applied to experimental group, chlorhexidine to positive control group(3dogs) and the gel without UDCA(base) to negative control group. After induction of general anesthesia, the maxillary 2nd, 3rd premolars and 1st molar and the mandibular 2nd, 3rd, 4th premolars and 1st molar were ligated in one side selected randomly and were not ligated in the opposite side. The plaque index(PI), gingival index(GI), pocket depth(PD) and gingival crevicular fluid(GCF) volum were measured clinically. The PI and GI were measured at 3 buccal points of all experimental teeth and the GCF was measured only at the 3rd premolar in the maxilla and the 4th premolar in the mandible. In the microbiological study, the samples extracted from the 3rd premolar of the maxilla and the 4th premolar of the mandible at the center of buccal surface were analyzed aerobics, anaerobics and Streptococcus colony forming units, After clinical and microbiological examination at 8weeks, the dogs were sacrificed by carotid artery perfusion. The samples were fixed and sectioned including interproximal area, and the distance from cementoenamel junction(CEJ) to alveolar crest was measured. The results were that PI, GI and PD increased until 4 weeks and decreased at 8 weeks in three groups but the differences between all the groups were not significant. The 0.5% UDCA in non-ligated group showed remarkable decrease of GCF. The experimental group applied 5% UDCA decreased the number of aerobics and anaerobics. The distance from CEJ to alveolar crest was greater in the negative control group on both ligated and non-ligated sides, but the differences were not significant stastically.