• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.9
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• pp.746-753
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• 2023

Viral infectious diseases have been regarded as one of the greatest threats to global public health. The recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a stark reminder of the threat posed by emerging viral infections. Developing and producing appropriate and efficient vaccines and therapeutics are the only options to combat this pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for novel vaccine platforms to control and prevent emerging viral diseases. Conventional vaccine platforms, including live-attenuated vaccine and inactivated vaccines, pose limitations in the speed of vaccine development, manufacturing capacity, and broad protection for emergency use. Interestingly, vaccination with the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate based on the mRNA-lipid nanoparticle (LNP) platform protected against COVID-19, confirming that the nucleoside-modified candidate is a safe and effective alternative to conventional vaccines. Moreover, the prophylactic strategies against the COVID-19 pandemic have been mRNA nucleic acid-based vaccines and nanoparticle-based platforms, which are effective against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants. Overall, the novel vaccine platform has presented advantages compared with the traditional vaccine platform in the COVID-19 pandemic. This review explores the recent advancements in vaccine technologies and platforms, focusing on mRNA vaccines, digital vaccines, and nanoparticles while considering their advantages and possible drawbacks.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.335-343
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• 2020

Background: Zhongyi paste is a traditional Chinese medicine herbal paste that is externally applied to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. Methods: An acute foot swelling inflammation model in C57BL/6J mice was established by carrageenan-induced pathogenesis. Zhongyi paste raised the pain threshold and also reduced the degree of swelling in mice with carrageenan-induced foot swelling. Results: Analysis indicated that serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 beta, and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) cytokine levels and PGE₂ levels in the paw tissue of the mice were decreased by Zhongyi paste treatment. The quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot results showed that Zhongyi paste downregulated the mRNA and protein expression of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and also downregulated the mRNA expression of PGE₂. At the same time, the Zhongyi paste exerted a stronger effect as an external drug than that of indomethacin, which is an oral drug, and voltaren, which is an externally applied drug. Conclusions: Our results indicated that Zhongyi paste is a very effective drug to reduce inflammatory swelling of the foot, and its mechanism of action is related to regulation of the ERK1/2-COX-2-PGE₂ pathway.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.143-151
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• 2004

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are capable of degrading extracellular matrix, a process that is necessary for angiogenesis, tumor invasion and metastasis. Platelet-activating factor (PAP) increases angiogenesis, tumor growth and metastasis through nuclear factor (NF)-$\kappa$B activation. Based on these facts, the involvement of MMPs in PAF-induced pulmonary metastasis was investigated in murine sarcoma cells, MMSV-BALB/3T3. Messenger RNA expression and enzymatic activity of MMP-9 were assessed by RT-PCR and zymography, and cell migration and metastasis were done for the detection of MMP-9 functional activity. PAP induced mRNA expression and enzymatic activity of MMP-9, and its effects were either inhibited by the PAP antagonist, WEB 2170 or by the NF-$\kappa$B inhibitor, parthenolide, or p65 antisense oligonucleotide in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, PAF induced promoter activity of MMP-9, which was inhibited by WEB 2170, phenanthroline, NAC, PDTC. These results indicate that PAF induces mRNA expression and enzymatic activity of MMP-9 in NF-$\kappa$B dependent manner. Cell migration assay showed that PAF induced MMSV-BALB/3T3 migration, and its effect was significantly inhibited by treatment with phenanthroline. PAF enhanced pulmonary metastasis of murine sarcoma cells, MMSV-BALB/3T3 was also reduced by phenanthroline. These results suggest that PAF-enhanced cell migration and pulmonary metastasis is mediated through the expression of MMP. In conclusion, It is suggested that PAF enhances pulmonary metastasis by inducing MMP-9 expression via the activation of NF-$\kappa$B.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.155-163
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• 1999

Hantaan virus (HTNV), the etiologic agent of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), belongs to the genus Hantavirus, and has three single negative stranded RNA genome segments. HTNV strain Howang isolated from the blood of severe case of Korean HFRS is more virulent than HTNV 76/118 and the M and S genome segments' nucleotide sequence of Howang strain showed 93.5% and 94% homology to each segment of HTNV 76/118. We have obtained 6533 nucleotides long sequence of the L genome segment of Howang strain using reverse transcriptase in conjunction with PCR amplification and compared to other hantaviruses. The messenger sense of the L segment contains one long single long open reading frame of 2151 amino acids, which encodes a deduced RNA dependent RNA polymerase of 246.4 kDa caculated molecular weight protein. The nucleotide sequence of the L segment of Howang strain shows 93%, 74%, 66%, 65% homology to HTNV 76/118, Seoul virus 80/39, Puumala virus $H{\ddot{a}}lln{\ddot{a}}s$ B1 and Sin Nombre virus, respectively. The amino acid sequence of the L segment of Howang strain shows 99%, 85%, 68%, 68% homology to HTNV 76/118, Seoul virus 80/39, Puumala virus $H{\ddot{a}}lln{\ddot{a}}s$ B1 and Sin Nombre virus, respectively.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.12-17
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• 1995

It is essential to clone the preptide transporter in order to obtain better understanding of its molecular structure, regulation, and substrate specificity. Characteristics of an endogenous peptide transporter in oocytes were studied along with expression of an exogenous protor/peptide cotransporter from rabbit intestine. And further efforts toward cloning the transporter were performed. The presence of an endogenous peptide transporter was detected in Xenopus laevis oocytes by measuring the uptake of $0.25/{mu}M(10{\;}{\mu}Ci/ml)[^3H]$-glycylsarcosine (Gly-Sar) at pH 5.5 with or without inhibitors. Yptake of Gly-Sae in oocytes was significantly inhibited by $25{\mu}M$ glycine nd sarcosine. This result suggests that a selective transporter is involved in the endogneous uptake of dipeptides. Collagenase treatment of oocytes used to strip oocytes from ovarian follicles did not affect the Gly-Sar uptake. Changing pH from 5.5 to 7.5 did not affect the Gly-Sae uptake significantly, suggesting no depedence of the endogenous transporter on a transmembrane proton gradient. An exogenous $H^+/pep-tide$ contransported was expressed after microinjection of polyadenylated messenger ribonucleic acid $[poly(A)^+ -mRNA]$ obtained from rabbit small intestine. The Gly-Sar uptake in mRNA-injected oocytes was 9 times thigher than that in water-injected oocyltes. Thus, frog occytes can be utilized fro expression cloning of the genes encoding intestinal $H^+$peptide contransporters. Size fractionation of mRNA was successfully obtained using this technique.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.331-337
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• 2015

Background: The biological actions of various ginseng extracts have been studied for treating obesity and diabetes mellitus. However, few studies have evaluated the effects of fermented Korean Red Ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) on metabolic syndrome. The present study evaluated the antiobesity and antidiabetic effects of fermented red ginseng (FRG) on old-aged, obese, leptin-deficient (B6.V-Lepob, "ob/ob") mice. Methods: The animals were divided into three groups and given water containing 0%, 0.5%, and 1.0% FRG for 16 wk. The effect of FRG on ob/ob mice was determined by measuring changes in body weight, levels of blood glucose, serum contents of triglycerides, total cholesterol and free fatty acids, messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions of key factors associated with insulin action, such as insulin receptor (IR), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), glucose transporter 1 and 4 (GLUT1 and GLUT4), peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor gamma ($PPAR-{\gamma}$), and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) in the liver and in muscle, and histology of the liver and pancreas. Results: FRG-treated mice had decreased body weight and blood glucose levels compared with control ob/ob mice. However, anti-obesity effect of FRG was not evident rather than hypoglycemic effect in old aged ob/ob mice. The hyperlipidemia in control group was attenuated in FRG-treated ob/ob mice. The mRNA expressions of IR, LPL, GLUT1, GLUT4, $PPAR-{\gamma}$, and PEPCK in the liver and in muscle were increased in the FRG-treated groups compared with the control group. Conclusion: These results suggest that FRG may play a vital role in improving insulin sensitivity relative to reducing body weight in old-aged ob/ob mice.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2019

Mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs) are glycolipids and have several pharmacological efficacies. MELs also show skin-moisturizing efficacy through a yet-unknown underlying mechanism. Aquaporin-3 (AQP3) is a membrane protein that contributes to the water homeostasis of the epidermis, and decreased AQP3 expression following ultraviolet (UV)-irradiation of the skin is associated with reduced skin moisture. No previous study has examined whether the skin-moisturizing effect of MELs might act through the modulation of AQP3 expression. Here, we report for the first time that MELs ameliorate the UVA-induced downregulation of AQP3 in cultured human epidermal keratinocytes (HaCaT keratinocytes). Our results revealed that UVA irradiation decreases AQP3 expression at the protein and messenger RNA (mRNA) levels, but that MEL treatment significantly ameliorated these effects. Our mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor analysis revealed that phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), but not extracellular signal-regulated kinase or p38, mediates UVA-induced AQP3 downregulation, and that MEL treatment significantly suppressed the UVA-induced phosphorylation of JNK. To explore a possible mechanism, we tested whether MELs could regulate the expression of peroxidase proliferator-activated receptor gamma ($PPAR-{\gamma}$), which acts as a potent transcription factor for AQP3 expression. Interestingly, UVA irradiation significantly inhibited the mRNA expression of $PPAR-{\gamma}$ in HaCaT keratinocytes, whereas a JNK inhibitor and MELs significantly rescued this effect. Taken together, these findings suggest that MELs ameliorate UVA-induced AQP3 downregulation in HaCaT keratinocytes by suppressing JNK activation to block the decrease of $PPAR-{\gamma}$. Collectively, our findings suggest that MELs can be used as a potential ingredient that modulates AQP3 expression to improve skin moisturization following UVA irradiation-induced damage.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.11-20
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Gabyeobda tea (GT) on anti-inflammation in ice induced high fat diet (HFD). Methods: The C57BL/6 mice fed HFD were administrated with GT once daily for 8 weeks. The changes of body weight, calorie intake levels were measured in mice. The level of serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) were measured in mice by enzyme-based assay. It was also observed the histological changes of liver, and fat tissues with hematoxylin and eosin staining. Further real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were employed to detect inflammatory cytokine levels such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-𝛼, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1𝛽. Results: HFD+GT group, which was administered with GT with HFD, showed no body weight gain compared with HFD group. However, levels of GOT, GPT, and inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-𝛼, IL-6, and IL-1𝛽 in the blood of HFD+GT group were significantly reduced compared with HFD group. In addition, the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression level of the IL-12 gene was significantly reduced and the mRNA expression level of the IL-10 was increased in the liver. Conclusions: It suggests that Gabyeobda tea can alleviate inflammatory responses induced by high fat diet by inhibiting inflammatory cytokines production.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.38-46
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• 2022

Objectives: Juknyeok (JN) is natural liquor extracted from bamboo stems (Phyllostachys bambusoides) and has been used as a traditional Korean medicine for improving vascular function, blood glucose, and treating stroke. Until now, the JN's lipid-lowering effect and underlying mechanism in adipocytes are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to scrutinize the effect of a standardized commercial JN on lipid accumulation during the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Methods: Lipid and triglyceride (TG) accumulation in differentiating 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were measured by Oil Red O staining and AdipoRed assay, respectively. Cell count analysis was used to ascertain 3T3-L1 cytotoxicity. Immunoblotting and Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis were used to assess protein and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels in 3T3-L1 cells, respectively. Results: Treatment with JN at 25 𝜇l/ml after pH calibration with 6.35 significantly reduced lipid and TG accumulation in differentiating 3T3-L1 preadipocytes without significant cytotoxicity. On mechanistic levels, JN markedly suppressed protein expression levels of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP)-𝛽 and fatty acid synthase (FAS) during the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. However, JN did not affect the protein expression levels of C/EBP-𝛼, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-𝛽/𝛾, and phosphorylation levels of signal transducer and activator of transcription-3/5 in differentiating 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. JN also reduced leptin mRNA expression levels in differentiating 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Conclusions: JN at 25 𝜇l/ml lowers lipid accumulation and TG content in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells, mediated through the reduced expression levels of C/EBP-𝛽 and FAS.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.435-445
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• 1990

Gonadotropin releasing horrnone (GnRH) is known to be extrahypothalamically localized with a broad range including gonad. It remains, however, unknown whether GnRH is locally synthesized in the gonad. The present srudy aims to identity expression and cellular localization of GnRH-Iike mRNA and immunoreactive GnRH in the rat gonad. GnRH radioimmunoassay and chromatographic extracts on G-50 sephadex column showed that rat gonadal extracts contained a substantial amount of immunoreactive GnRH similar to the hypothalamic and synthetic GnRH. Although a wide distribution of immunostainable GnRH-like molecule with different cell types in the rat ovary was observed, the major cell population hybridized with GnRH probe appears to be granulosa. theca cells and corpus luteum. Immunoreactive GnRH-Iike peptides were distributed m various regions of testis, including spermatogenic cells, Sertoli cells and Leydig cells. In situ hybridization revealed that positive signals of GnRH-Iike mRNA were predominandy present in Sertoli cells within some seminiferous tubules, but absent in the outside of seminiferous tubules in the testis. This study clearly demonstrated that GnRH-Iike molecule present in the rat gonad may be resulted from the local synthetic machinery of GnRH supporting the notion that this peptide may act as autocrine and/or paracrine role in intra-gonadal communication.