• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.282-290
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• 1997

Hepatocytes of Anguilla japonica have been prepared using a collagenase perfusion technique. The isolated cells attached efficiently to fibronectin-coated culture dishes and subsequently formed monolayers in serum-free medium. These cultures maintained in appropriate medium at least for 10 days with minimal cell loss. The effects of estradiol and pituitary hormones on vitellogenin (Vg) synthesis were examined in primary hepatocyte culture of the immature eels. In fish, as in other oviparous vertebrates, estrogen is a major inducer of Vg synthesis. However, $estradiol-17\beta(E_2)$ alone was insufficient to induce Vg synthesis in cultures of eel hepatocytes. Combination of $E_2$ with growth hormone (GH) and/or prolactin (PRL) markedly stimulated Vg synthesis. Even in cultures exposed to $E_2$ or precultured without hormones for 8 days, $E_2$ alone could not fully induce Vg synthesis. The synthesis of Vg was dramatically increased when hepatocytes were cultured in medium supplemented with $E_{2}+GH+PRL$ for 6 days. At this point, even though GH and/or PRL were eliminated from the medium, Vg synthesis was not influenced by these factors during culture of further 3 days. These results indicate that pituitary hormones, in particular GH and PRL, play important roles in the regulation of Vg synthesis in primary cultures of eel hepatocytes.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.233-237
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• 2006

In the present study, we compared the functional analysis of pear extracts cultured in conventional and environment-friendly conditions in primary cultured rat hepatocytes. ATP synthesis significantly increased by the treatment with environment friendly cultured pear powder but not by conventional group. In addition, cell proliferation using $[^3H]$-thymidine incorporation was also stimulated by environment-friendly cultured pear extract compared to conventional group. Moreover, the expressions of CDK-2 and CDK-4 were increased but p21WAF1/Cip1 and p27 Kip1 decreased by environment-friendly cultured pear extract but not by conventional group. In conclusion, environment-friendly cultured pear powder has stimulatory effect on cell proliferation compared to conventional group in primary cultured rat hepatocytes.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.375-384
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• 2004

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are known to induce multiple functions in early development, including mesoderm formation, gastrulation movement and antero-posterior patterning. The induction of mesoderm from Xenopus presumptive ectoderm and the combination effect on inducing organs of bFGF(basic FGF) and HGF (Hepatocyte Growth Factor) were studied. Explants were cultured in the combined solution for 3 days to normal embryo arrive at St. 43. These effects on combined dose were examined by histological experiment and by immunohistochemical method. The concentrations of growth factors were tested in 0, 0.5, 1, 10 and also tested in 50 ng/ml of bFGF, and 0, 1, 10, 50 and 100ng/ml of HGF respectively. The synergistic effects were seen in the combined-dose of bFGF and HGF rather than in single dose. Various organs were differentiated and highest inducing effects were seen at the combined concentration of 1 ng/ml of bFGF and 10ng/ml of HGF, and at the concentration 10ng/ml of bFGF and 1 ng/ml of HGF. The bFGF induces various organs from cultured animal cap explants and the effects are time and dose-dependent. HGF is also a potent mitogen for renal tubular cells and for mature hepatocytes in primary culture. Eyes were developed in high percentage at the combined concentration of 1 and 10ng/ml of bFGF, and 1 and 10 ng/ml of HGF. From the induced eye and normal embryonic eye, RPE65 was commonly detected by monoclonal antibodies 40All and 25F5 and the localization of RPE65 was seen by AP reaction.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2002

Effect of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) on vitellogenin (VTG) production and estrogen ($E_2$)-estrogen receptor (ER) binding affinity were examined in primary hepatocyte cultures of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. Hepatocytes were pre-cultured for 2 days; subsequently, $E_2$( 2$\times$$10^{-6}$/ M) and 2,4-D ($10^{-9}~10^{-6}/M$) were simultaneously added to the incubation medium. They were cultured for more than 5 days. VTG and $E_2$-ER binding affinities were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and ELISA, respectively. 2,4-D concentration used had no appreciable effect on the morphology, viability, and DNA content of hepatocytes in culture. It had also no effect on VTG production. However, it interfered with $E_2$-ER binding affinity, which was reduced with increasing concentration of 2,4-D. The affinity was inhibited by 25 and 30% at $10^{-7}$ M and $10^{-6}$ M of 2,4-D, respectively. This result suggested that although 2,4-D had no effect on VTG production, it acted as reno-estrogenic contaminant in ER.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.351-358
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• 1992

Hepatocellular carcinoma represents approximately 90% of the primary liver cancers. Recently, its incidence tends to be increased. Thirty seven cases from 1986 to 1991 diagnosed as hepatocellular carcinoma by resection were analized to know their histopathologic features and related clinical findings. The average age at the time of resection was 53.1 years, with frequent occurrence in third and fourth decades. Microscopically, the trabecular type was the most frequent growth pattern(35.1%) and classic hepatocyte-like cell type was the most frequent cell type(75.7%). The tumors are mainly moderately differentiated and frequently associated with liver cirrhosis. In comparison of cytologic differentiation with liver cirrhosis, there was a tendency for well-differentiated tumors to arise in cirrhotic livers more often than poorly differentiated tumors, and the tendency was statistically significant. But differentiation and tumor size did not show significant correlation. Also statistically significant correlation were not observed between the level of alpha-fetoprotein and tumor size, and between the level of alpha-fetoprotein and differentiation.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.543-548
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• 2007

Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is a genetically heterogeneous subtype of Type 2 diabetes characterized (non-insulin-dependent) by early onset, usually before 25 years of age, autosomal dominant inheritance and a primary defect in insulin secretion. Mutations in the glucokinase (GCK) and hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF)-1α genes are the major causes of monogenic forms of Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Therefore it is need to study relation with these polymorphisms by diverse analysis methods. The promotor and coding regions inclusive intron exon boundaries of the GCK, HNF-1α genes were examined by PCR-DHPLC (Polymerase Chain Reaction - Denaturing High Performance Liquid Chromatography) and direct sequencing. We extracted DNA from 11 patients and 20 normals. Then we confirmed a single-nucleotide polymorphism using PCR-DHPLC. As results, we identified one mutation (R135G) in GCK gene and two mutations (I27L, S487N) in HNF-1a and at the same time detected mutation in intron 8.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.172-184
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• 2021

Objective: Vanin1 (VNN1) is a pantetheinase that can catalyze the hydrolysis of pantetheine to produce pantothenic acid and cysteamine. Our previous studies showed that VNN1 is specifically expressed in chicken liver. In this study, we aimed to investigate the roles of peroxisome proliferators activated receptor α (PPARα) and miRNA-181a-5p in regulating VNN1 gene expression in chicken liver. Methods: 5'-RACE was performed to identify the transcription start site of chicken VNN1. JASPAR and TFSEARCH were used to analyze the potential transcription factor binding sites in the promoter region of chicken VNN1 and miRanda was used to search miRNA binding sites in 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of chicken VNN1. We used a knock-down strategy to manipulate PPARα (or miRNA-181a-5p) expression levels in vitro to further investigate its effect on VNN1 gene transcription. Luciferase reporter assays were used to explore the specific regions of VNN1 targeted by PPARα and miRNA-181a-5p. Results: Sequence analysis of the VNN1 promoter region revealed several transcription factor-binding sites, including hepatocyte nuclear factor 1α (HNF1α), PPARα, and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α. GW7647 (a specific agonist of PPARα) increased the expression level of VNN1 mRNA in chicken primary hepatocytes, whereas knockdown of PPARα with siRNA increased VNN1 mRNA expression. Moreover, the predicted PPARα-binding site was confirmed to be necessary for PPARα regulation of VNN1 gene expression. In addition, the VNN1 3'UTR contains a sequence that is completely complementary to nucleotides 1 to 7 of miRNA-181a-5p. Overexpression of miR-181a-5p significantly decreased the expression level of VNN1 mRNA. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that PPARα is an important transcriptional activator of VNN1 gene expression and that miRNA-181a-5p acts as a negative regulator of VNN1 expression in chicken hepatocytes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.200-207
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• 2015

Various natural products or their derivatives, mostly originating from plants, fungi, and bacteria, have been exploited as therapeutic drugs to treat various human diseases. In addition to previously explored organisms, research on natural compounds has now expanded into unexamined living organisms in order to identify novel bioactive substances. Here, we determined whether or not the larval form of the mealworm beetle Tenebrio molitor, a species of darkling beetle, contains cytotoxic substances that exclusively affect cancer cell viability. Ethanol extract and its solvent partitioned fractions, hexane and ethyl acetate fractions, showed anticancer effects against various human cancer cells derived from the prostate (PC3 and 22Rv1), cervix (HeLa), liver (PLC/PRF5, HepG2, Hep3B, and SK-HEP-1), colon (HCT116), lung (NCI-H460), breast (MDA-MB231), and ovary (SKOV3). Cell death induced by the fractions was a mix of apoptosis, necrosis, and autophagy. The hexane fraction was administered intraperitoneally to nude mice bearing a hepatocellular carcinoma SK-HEP-1 and showed inhibition of tumor growth in vivo. Therefore, we concluded that worm extracts contain cytotoxic substances, which can be enriched by proper fractionation protocols, and further separation and purification could lead to the identification of novel molecules to treat human cancers.