• BMB Reports
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.284-289
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• 2020

Tamoxifen, a nonsteroidal estrogen receptor (ER) antagonist, is used routinely as a chemotherapeutic agent for ER-positive breast cancer. However, it is also causes side effects, including retinotoxicity. The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) has been recognized as the primary target of tamoxifen-induced retinotoxicity. The RPE plays an essential physiological role in the normal functioning of the retina. Nonetheless, potential therapeutic agents to prevent tamoxifen-induced retinotoxicity in breast cancer patients have not been investigated. Here, we evaluated the action mechanisms of sulfasalazine against tamoxifen-induced RPE cell death. Tamoxifen induced reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated autophagic cell death and caspase-1-mediated pyroptosis in RPE cells. However, sulfasalazine reduced tamoxifen-induced total ROS and ROS-mediated autophagic RPE cell death. Also, mRNA levels of tamoxifen-induced pyroptosis-related genes, IL-1β, NLRP3, and procaspase-1, also decreased in the presence of sulfasalazine in RPE cells. Additionally, the mRNA levels of tamoxifen-induced AMD-related genes, such as complement factor I (CFI), complement factor H (CFH), apolipoprotein E (APOE), apolipoprotein J (APOJ), toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), were downregulated in RPE cells. Together, these data provide novel insight into the therapeutic effects of sulfasalazine against tamoxifen-induced RPE cell death.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2011

Perceived exertion involves detection and interpretation of sensations arising from the body during physical exercise. Physiological variables such as heart rate and oxygen consumption positively correlate with ratings of perceived exertion (RPE). It is unknown whether the accuracy of predicting exercise intensity from RPE differs between men and women. Therefore, it was examined whether men or women could predict relative exercise intensity, determined by oxygen consumption, more accurately from RPE. Ten male and ten female young adult subjects aged 25.1${\pm}$3.52 yr volunteered to participate. RPE were determined by the Borg 15-category scale, and a standard Bruce treadmill protocol was used to perform graded exercise testing. There was no significant difference in slope means between males and females (p=0.501). No significant difference was observed when plotting rates of perceived exertion (RPE) vs. percentage of $VO_2$ max. The relative maximal oxygen consumptions ($VO_{2max,\;}_{rel}$) were 52.36${\pm}$7.35 ml/kg/min for males and 41.44${\pm}$6.71 ml/kg/min for females, respectively and there was a significantly high difference between the two groups in the relative $VO_{2max}$, as well as figures of 4.05${\pm}$0.36 l/min for males and 2.53${\pm}$0.39 l/min for females in the absolute $VO_{2max}$ in this study. There were no significant differences in slope, y-intercept, and standard error of estimate (SEE) between males and females. No significant difference with RPE according to exercise intensity was found between males and females. However, RPE was a useful predictor of exercise intensity in independent genders.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.216-221
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• 2011

Objective: To differentiate the human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) into the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in the defined culture condition and determine its therapeutic potential for the treatment of retinal degenerative diseases. Methods: The embryoid bodies were formed from hESCs and attached on the matrigel coated culture dishes. The neural structures consisting neural precursors were selected and expanded to form rosette structures. The mechanically isolated neural rosettes were differentiated into pigmented cells in the media comprised of N2 and B27. Expression profiles of markers related to RPE development were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunostaining. Dissociated putative RPE cells ($10^5$ cells/5 ${\mu}L$) were transplanted into the subretinal space of rat retinal degeneration model induced by intravenous sodium iodate injection. Animals were sacrificed at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after transplantation, and immnohistochemistry study was performed to verify the survival of the transplanted cells. Results: The putative RPE cells derived from hESC showed characteristics of the human RPE cells morphologically and expressed molecular markers and associated with RPE fate. Grafted RPE cells were found to survive in the subretinal space up to 4 weeks after transplantation, and the expression of RPE markers was confirmed with immunohistochemistry. Conclusion: Transplanted RPE cells derived from hESC in the defined culture condition successfully survived and migrated within subretinal space of rat retinal degeneration model. These results support the feasibility of the hESC derived RPE cells for cell-based therapies for retinal degenerative disease.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.364-370
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• 2014

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) plays an important role in maintaining a healthy retina and the degeneration of RPE caused a number of retinal diseases. The transplantation of RPE has recently become a possible therapeutic modality for retinal degeneration. To transplant RPE cells securely, substrates are essential, and then as a substrate, we fabricated films using silk that has unique mechanical properties and biocompatibility. After the FTIR spectra, contact angle and biodegradation of silk films were confirmed, RPE cells were seeded and the influence of RPE cells on silk films was examined. We measured the cell adhesion, cell viability, morphology and specific mRNA expression by MTT assay, SEM, immunofluorescence and RT-PCR. In this study, we confirmed that attachment, proliferation and phenotype maintenance of RPE cells cultured on silk films were great, and thereby we were able to confirm the potential applications of silk films as tissue engineering carrier for regeneration of retina.

• Proceedings of the Acoustical Society of Korea Conference
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• 1995.06a
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• pp.164-167
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• 1995

RPE 음성부호화기에서 합성 필터로 인한 구동벡터 양자화잡음의 증폭효과를 분석하고 regular pulse 시퀀스의 양자화로 인한 성능감쇄를 줄이기 위해 pyramid vector 양자화방식을 도입하였다. 제안된 방식의 성능평가는 구동시퀀스 양자화를 위해 adaptive PCM을 이용하는 GSM 표준 RPE 방식과의 객관적 및 주관적 성능비교를 통해 수행하였다.T JDSMDQLRY 결과 제안된 방식은 대략 1dB의 SNR 및 segmental SNR 값 증가를 가져왔고, 또한 비공식 청취시험결과 명료도의 증가를 느낄 수 있었다.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.1838-1847
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• 1994

Until recently, they decided the standard of the digital mobile communication speech coding method and competively developed the more detailed techniques in North America, Europe, Japan, etc. But, we have not yet determined. In this paper, we compared the RPE-LTP speech coding algorithm, standard in Europe, with the VSELP speech coding algorith, standard in North America, with respect to the soruce coding. We described the comprehensive verification and comparison with each speech coder, and discussed the improvement plan. Next, we also compared the number of computations which affects the real time processing seriously. Moreover, we performed the simulation with the Korean speech data, concreting the algorithm of each speech coder. Finally, we compared the performance of each speech coder with segmental SNR and 5-point MOS. The number of computations was calculated, and the result was that the number of multiplication computing times of VSELP speech encoder was the largest. With 26 speech data, the segmental SNR of VSELP was calculated larger than that of RPE-LTP. The 5-point MOS test was performed, and the result was that the basic speech quality of VSELP was equivalent or better than that of RPE-LTP.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.168-178
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• 2021

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) forms a monolayer sheet separating the retina and choroid in vertebrate eyes. The polarized nature of RPE is maintained by distributing membrane proteins differentially along apico-basal axis. We found the distributions of these proteins differ in embryonic, post-natal, and mature mouse RPE, suggesting developmental regulation of protein trafficking. Thus, we deleted tumor susceptibility gene 101 (Tsg101), a key component of endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT), in embryonic and mature RPE to determine whether ESCRT-mediated endocytic protein trafficking correlated with the establishment and maintenance of RPE polarity. Loss of Tsg101 severely disturbed the polarity of RPE, which forms irregular aggregates exhibiting non-polarized distribution of cell adhesion proteins and activation of epidermal growth factor receptor signaling. These findings suggest that ESCRT-mediated protein trafficking is essential for the development and maintenance of RPE cell polarity.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.718-721
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• 1993

Reexpansion pulmonary edema[ RPE ] with hypoxemia and hypotension is a very rare complication of the treatment of lung collapse secondary to pneumothorax and pleural effusion. We experienced two cases of RPE. One is a 29 year old male with complete right pneumothorax and the other is a 20 year old female with massive right pleural effusion. Life threatening pulmonary edema was developed soon after insertion of chest tube in both. Fortunately, RPE was detected early and intensive treatment was performed. They were discharged without complication. Although RPE with hypoxemia and hypotension is rare , it is very serious and occasionally life-threatening. So, chest surgeon treating lung collapse must be aware of the possibility of RPE and make an effort to prevent the occurence of this condition.

• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.84-89
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• 2023

The implications of nutrient starvation due to aging on the degeneration of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is yet to be fully explored. We examined the involvement of AMPK activation in mitochondrial homeostasis and its relationship with the maintenance of a healthy mitochondrial population and epithelial characteristics of RPE cells under nutrient starvation. Nutrient starvation induced mitochondrial senescence, which led to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in RPE cells. As nutrient starvation persisted, RPE cells underwent pathological epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) via the upregulation of TWIST1, a transcription regulator which is activated by ROS-induced NF-κB signaling. Enhanced activation of AMPK with metformin decelerated mitochondrial senescence and EMT progression through mitochondrial biogenesis, primed by activation of PGC1-α. Thus, by facilitating mitochondrial biogenesis, AMPK protects RPE cells from the loss of epithelial integrity due to the accumulation of ROS in senescent mitochondria under nutrient starvation.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.44 no.8
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• pp.613-622
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• 2021

In vertebrate eyes, the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) provides structural and functional homeostasis to the retina. The RPE takes up retinol (ROL) to be dehydrogenated and isomerized to 11-cis-retinaldehyde (11-cis-RAL), which is a functional photopigment in mammalian photoreceptors. As excessive ROL is toxic, the RPE must also establish mechanisms to protect against ROL toxicity. Here, we found that the levels of retinol dehydrogenases (RDHs) are commonly decreased in phosphatase tensin homolog (Pten)-deficient mouse RPE, which degenerates due to elevated ROL and that can be rescued by feeding a ROL-free diet. We also identified that RDH gene expression is regulated by forkhead box O (FOXO) transcription factors, which are inactivated by hyperactive Akt in the Pten-deficient mouse RPE. Together, our findings suggest that a homeostatic pathway comprising PTEN, FOXO, and RDH can protect the RPE from ROL toxicity.