• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.1301-1307
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• 2014

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are considered promising tools for tissue regeneration. However, ADSCs have very poor proliferation capacity. Therefore, fetal bovine serum (FBS) is generally added to the culture media of ADSCs. As FBS contains many uncharacterized components that may affect cellular functions, methods for serum-free cultures of ADSCs have been widely investigated. In this study, to develop an efficient method for a serum-free culture of ADSC-T, we used an ADSC line established by introducing the simian virus 40 (SV40) T gene into primary ADSCs. We then investigated the effect of amino acids, vitamins, and other components on the growth of ADSC-T. When the ADSC-T cells were plated with DMEM/F12 serum-free medium, the cells did not proliferate, and the mixture of amino acids, vitamins, and B27 supplement did not increase the growth of the cells. However, when the ADSC-T cells were provided with serum-free DMEM/F12 after they had been cultured with serum-supplemented DMEM for 24 h, the cells proliferated, and the vitamins and B27 supplement increased the cell growth. Stem-Pro serum-free medium also appeared to be useful as a suspension culture for the ADSC-T cells. The ADSC-T cells secreted large amounts of proteins of around 70 kDa. Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) and fibroblast growth factor basic (FGF basic) were secreted by ADSC-T in larger amounts in the serum-free culture than in the serum-supplemented culture.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 1988

Insufficient herbage during the fall in the temperate areas of the world has been a serious limitation in animal production, but leafy brassicae are potentially very useful for extending the grazing season when the growth and quality of grass is poor. This study was conducted to determine the effects of cutting stage and N fertilization on dry matter (DM) yield, forage quality and chemical composition of forage rape (Brassica napus Subsp. oleifera). The experiment was conducted in the Experimental Livestock Farm of Seoul Nat'l Univ., at Suweon, during 1985- 1986. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. DM percentage and yield significantly increased as the growth period was prolonged and decreased as the N fertilization increased, but in-vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) was unaffected by the treatments. 2. Plant height, DM yield and $NO_3$-N content significantly increased as the rate of N fertilization increased and DM percentage decreased, but the IVDMD was unaffected. 3. The forage rape had high percentage of crude protein and ash. Glutamic acid, pro!ine and aspartic acid were the major amino acids. Concentration of P, Ca and Mg were high.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.1881-1895
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• 2015

Background: The vascular endothelial growth factor family has been implicated in tumorigenesis and metastasis. The prognostic value of each vascular endothelial growth factor family member, particular VEGF/VEGFR co-expression, in patients with non-small lung cancer remains controversial. Materials and Methods: Relevant literature was identified by searching PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science. Studies evaluating expression of VEGFs and/or VEGFRs by immunohistochemistry or ELISA in lung cancer tissue were eligible for inclusion. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) from individual study were pooled by using a fixed- or random-effect model, heterogeneity and publication bias analyses were also performed. Results: 74 studies covering 7,631 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Regarding pro-angiogenesis factors, the expression of VEGFA (HR=1.633, 95%CI: 1.490-1.791) and VEGFR1 (HR=1.924, 95%CI: 1.220-3.034) was associated separately with poor survival. Especially, VEGFA over-expression was an independent prognostic factor in adenocarcinoma (ADC) (HR=1.775, 95%CI: 1.384-2.275) and SCC (HR=2.919, 95%CI: 2.060-4.137). Co-expression of VEGFA/VEGFR2 (HR=2.011, 95%CI: 1.405-2.876) was also significantly associated with worse survival. For lymphangiogenesis factors, the expression of VEGFC (HR=1.611, 95%CI: 1.407-1.844) predicted a poor prognosis. Co-expression of VEGFC/VEGFR3 (HR=2.436, 95%CI: 1.468-4.043) emerged as a preferable prognostic marker. Conclusions: The expression of VEGFA (particularly in SCC and early stage NSCLC), VEGFC, VEGFR1 indicates separately an unfavorable prognosis in patients with NSCLC. Co-expression VEGFA/VEGFR2 is comparable with VEGFC/VEGFR3, both featuring sufficient discrimination value as preferable as prognostic biologic markers.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.1055-1060
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• 1998

The effects of particle size distribution have been investigated on the high frequency low loss Mn-Zn fer-rites. The particle size distribution was controlled by milling time. Zirconia ball and engineering plastic jar were employed to avoid iron contamination from the milling media. As increasing the milling time BET value was increased from 0.55 to 3.21m2/g and mean particle size was decreased from 2.1 $\mu\textrm{m}$ to 1.0$\mu\textrm{m}$ The large specific surface area of initial powder resulted in the high density of sintered core. However starting powders with high BET lead to inhomogeneous grain growth as well as poor electromagnetic pro-perties at sintering temperature above 1300$^{\circ}C$.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.128-133
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• 2015

Although coffee is known to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor properties, there have been few reports about the effect and mechanism of coffee compounds in colorectal cancer. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are molecular chaperones that prevent cell death. Their expression is significantly elevated in many tumors and is accompanied by increased cell proliferation, metastasis and poor response to chemotherapy. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxicity of four bioactive compounds in coffee, namely, caffeine, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, and kahweol, in HT-29 human colon adenocarcinoma cells. Only kahweol showed significant cytotoxicity. Specifically, kahweol increased the expression of caspase-3, a pro-apoptotic factor, and decreased the expression of anti-apoptotic factors, such as Bcl-2 and phosphorylated Akt. In addition, kahweol significantly attenuated the expression of HSP70. Inhibition of HSP70 activity with triptolide increased kahweol-induced cytotoxicity. In contrast, overexpression of HSP70 significantly reduced kahweol-induced cell death. Taken together, these results demonstrate that kahweol inhibits colorectal tumor cell growth by promoting apoptosis and suppressing HSP70 expression.

• BMB Reports
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.291-298
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• 2020

Tumor angiogenesis is an essential process for growth and metastasis of cancer cells as it supplies tumors with oxygen and nutrients. During tumor angiogenesis, many pro-angiogenic factors are secreted by tumor cells to induce their own vascularization via activation of pre-existing host endothelium. However, accumulating evidence suggests that vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is a key alternative mechanism for tumor vascularization when tumors are faced with insufficient supply of oxygen and nutrients. VM is a tumor vascularization mechanism in which tumors create a blood supply system, in contrast to tumor angiogenesis mechanisms that depend on pre-existing host endothelium. VM is closely associated with tumor progression and poor prognosis in many cancers. Therefore, inhibition of VM may be a promising therapeutic strategy and may overcome the limitations of anti-angiogenesis therapy for cancer patients. In this review, we provide an overview of the current anti-angiogenic therapies for ovarian cancer and the current state of knowledge regarding the links between microRNAs and the VM process, with a focus on the mechanism that regulates associated signaling pathways in ovarian cancer. Moreover, we discuss the potential for VM as a therapeutic strategy against ovarian cancer.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.18-24
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• 2015

Glycogen storage disease type Ib (GSD Ib) is one of the rare inherited metabolic disease caused by mutation of SLC37A4 gene. Clinical characteristics include hepatomegaly, hypoglycemia, lactic acidosis, hyperlipidemia and high serum uric acid concentration. The authors analyzed clinical and molecular characteristics of three Korean patients (one male and two females) with GSD Ib by retrospective review of medical records. Two patients were diagnosed in toddler period by hypoglycemia and hepatomegaly. One patient was diagnosed by growth retardation and short stature in puberty. c.412T>C (p.Trp138Arg) (3/6 alleles, 50.0%) was most frequently observed, following by p.Leu348Valfs*53 (1 allele), p.Pro191Leu (1 allele), p.Ala148Val (1 allele) in molecular analysis. Uncooked corn starch and allopurinol was administered. Because all three patients had neutropenia and recurrent infections, G-CSF was administered. Two patients had severe osteoporosis needing calcium supplement. The patient who diagnosed at puberty had relatively poor prognosis demonstrated by having severe infection and complications in liver and kidney.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.992-998
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• 2018

Cancer cells grow in an environment composed of various components that supports tumor growth. Major cell types in the tumor microenvironment are fibroblast, endothelial cells and immune cells. All of these cells communicate with cancer cells. Among infiltrating immune cells as an abundant component of solid tumors, macrophages are a major component of the tumor microenvironment and orchestrates various aspects of immunity. The complex balance between pro-tumoral and anti-tumoral effects of immune cell infiltration can create a chronic inflammatory microenvironment essential for tumor growth and progression. Macrophages express different functional programs in response to microenvironmental signals, defined as M1 and M2 polarization. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) secret many cytokines, chemokines and proteases, which also promote tumor angiogenesis, growth, metastasis and immunosuppression. TAM have multifaceted roles in the development of many tumor types. TAM also interact with cancer stem cells. This interaction leads to tumorigenesis, metastasis, and drug resistance. TAM obtain various immunosuppressive functions to maintain the tumor microenvironment. TAM are characterized by their heterogeneity and plasticity, as they can be functionally reprogrammed to polarized phenotypes by exposure to cancer-related factors, stromal factors, infections, or even drug interventions. Because TAMs produce tumor-specific chemokines by the stimulation of stromal factors, chemokines might serve as biomarkers that reflect disease activity. The evidence has shown that cancer tissues with high infiltration of TAM are associated with poor patient prognosis and resistance to therapies. Targeting of TAM in tumors is considered a promising therapeutic strategy for anti-cancer treatment.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.553-561
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• 2022

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a slowly progressing hematopoietic cell disorder. Sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1) plays established roles in tumor initiation, progression, and chemotherapy resistance in a wide range of cancers, including leukemia. However, small-molecule inhibitors targeting SPHK1 in CML still need to be developed. This study revealed the role of SPHK1 in CML and investigated the potential anti-leukemic activity of hirsuteine (HST), an indole alkaloid obtained from the oriental plant Uncaria rhynchophylla, in CML cells. These results suggest that SPHK1 is highly expressed in CML cells and that overexpression of SPHK1 represents poor clinical outcomes in CML patients. HST exposure led to G2/M phase arrest, cellular apoptosis, and downregulation of Cyclin B1 and CDC2 and cleavage of Caspase 3 and PARP in CML cells. HST shifted sphingolipid rheostat from sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) towards the ceramide coupled with a marked inhibition of SPHK1. Mechanistically, HST significantly blocked SPHK1/S1P/S1PR1 and BCR-ABL/PI3K/Akt pathways. In addition, HST can be docked with residues of SPHK1 and shifts the SPHK1 melting curve, indicating the potential protein-ligand interactions between SPHK1 and HST in both CML cells. SPHK1 overexpression impaired apoptosis and proliferation of CML cells induced by HST alone. These results suggest that HST, which may serve as a novel and specific SPHK1 inhibitor, exerts anti-leukemic activity by inhibiting the SPHK1/S1P/S1PR1 and BCR-ABL/PI3K/Akt pathways in CML cells, thus conferring HST as a promising anti-leukemic drug for CML therapy in the future.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.170-178
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• 2024

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are capable of differentiation into multiple lineages of cells, which has attracted attention for clinical therapy. However, ADSCs have poor proliferation capacity and a short life span in culture, which is an impediment in the application to clinical use. Previously, to overcome growth disadvantages, we had established an immortalized ADSC line (ADSC-T) by introducing the SV40 T antigen coding gene into primary human ADSC. In the present study, we evaluated the differentiation potential of this cell line and assessed the anti-inflammatory effect of its conditioned medium (CM). ADSC-T appeared to maintain the differentiation potential into adipocyte and chondrocyte. The CM of ADSC-T suppressed the NF-κB activity and its target gene expression of COX-2 and iNOS. Furthermore, the phosphorylations of MAPKs, including ERK, JNK and p38, were suppressed by the ADSC-T CM. The expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TGF-β, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-13 were also suppressed by the CM of ADSC-T. In the Nc/Nga atopic model mice, the CM showed therapeutic effect on DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis. These results indicate that the immortalized ADSC-T maintains the beneficial properties of primary ADSC and could be a versatile cell source for not only research into ADSC but also for production of CM suitable for clinical application.