• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.275-288
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• 2009

The Korean government strengthened the environmental polices to manage and enhance Metropolitan Area air quality, and also has enforced "Special Act on Seoul Metropolitan Air Quality Improvement (SASMAQI)" issued in Dec. 2004. Recently government expanded the Seoul Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (SMAQMD) to the outskirts satellite cities of Seoul area through the "Revised Law Draft of SASMAQI". The SMAQMD has been alloted the allowable emission loads to the local governments on the basis of the carrying $PM_{10}$ capacity. However, in order to establish the effective air quality control strategy for $PM_{10}$, it is necessary to understand the corresponding sources which have a potential to directly impact ambient $PM_{10}$ concentration. To deal with the situations, many receptor methodologies have been developed to identify the origins of pollutants and to determine the contributions of sources of interests. The objective of this study was to extensively identify $PM_{10}$ sources and to estimate their contributions at the metropolitan area. $PM_{10}$ samples were simultaneously collected at the 3 semi-industrialized local cities in the Seoul metropolitan area such as Hwasung-si, Paju-si, and Icheon-si sites from April 15 to May 31, 2007. The samples collected on the teflon membrane filter by one $PM_{10}$ cyclone sampler were analyzed for trace metals and soluble ions and samples on the quartz fiber filter by another sampler were analyzed for OC and EC. Source apportionment study was then performed by using a positive matrix factorization (PMF) receptor model. A total of 6 sources were identified and their contributions were estimated in each monitoring site. Contribution results on Hwasung, Paju, and Icheon sites were as follows: 33%, 27%, and 27% from soil source, 26%, 26%, and 21% from secondary aerosol source, 11%, 11%, and 12% from biomass burning, 12%, 6%, and 5% from sea salt, 7%, 15%, and 19% from industrial related source, and finally 11%, 15%, and 16% from mobile and oil complex source, respectively. This study provides information on the major sources affecting air quality in the receptor sites and thus it will help to manage the ambient air quality in the metropolitan area by establishing reasonable control strategies, especially for the anthropogenic emission sources.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.9
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• pp.656-663
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• 2014

Gintonin, a novel, ginseng-derived G protein-coupled lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor ligand, elicits $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ transients in neuronal and non-neuronal cells via pertussis toxin-sensitive and pertussis toxin-insensitive G proteins. The slowly activating delayed rectifier $K^+$ ($I_{Ks}$) channel is a cardiac $K^+$ channel composed of KCNQ1 and KCNE1 subunits. The C terminus of the KCNQ1 channel protein has two calmodulin-binding sites that are involved in regulating $I_{Ks}$ channels. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms of gintonin-mediated activation of human $I_{Ks}$ channel activity by expressing human $I_{Ks}$ channels in Xenopus oocytes. We found that gintonin enhances $I_{Ks}$ channel currents in concentration- and voltage-dependent manners. The $EC_{50}$ for the $I_{Ks}$ channel was $0.05{\pm}0.01{\mu}g/ml$. Gintonin-mediated activation 1 of the $I_{Ks}$ channels was blocked by an LPA1/3 receptor antagonist, an active phospholipase C inhibitor, an $IP_3$ receptor antagonist, and the calcium chelator BAPTA. Gintonin-mediated activation of both the $I_{Ks}$ channel was also blocked by the calmodulin (CaM) blocker calmidazolium. Mutations in the KCNQ1 $[Ca^{2+}]_i$/CaM-binding IQ motif sites (S373P, W392R, or R539W)blocked the action of gintonin on $I_{Ks}$ channel. However, gintonin had no effect on hERG $K^+$ channel activity. These results show that gintonin-mediated enhancement of $I_{Ks}$ channel currents is achieved through binding of the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$/CaM complex to the C terminus of KCNQ1 subunit.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.367-376
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• 2022

Objective: The highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) is a threat to the poultry industry as well as the economy and remains a potential source of pandemic infection in humans. Antiviral genes are considered a potential factor for HPAIV resistance. Therefore, in this study, we investigated gene expression related to cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions by comparing resistant and susceptible Ri chicken lines for avian influenza virus infection. Methods: Ri chickens of resistant (Mx/A; BF2/B21) and susceptible (Mx/G; BF2/B13) lines were selected by genotyping the Mx dynamin like GTPase (Mx) and major histocompatibility complex class I antigen BF2 genes. These chickens were then infected with influenza A virus subtype H5N1, and their lung tissues were collected for RNA sequencing. Results: In total, 972 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were observed between resistant and susceptible Ri chickens, according to the gene ontology and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathways. In particular, DEGs associated with cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions were most abundant. The expression levels of cytokines (interleukin-1β [IL-1β], IL-6, IL-8, and IL-18), chemokines (C-C Motif chemokine ligand 4 [CCL4] and CCL17), interferons (IFN-γ), and IFN-stimulated genes (Mx1, CCL19, 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthase-like, and protein kinase R) were higher in H5N1-resistant chickens than in H5N1-susceptible chickens. Conclusion: Resistant chickens show stronger immune responses and antiviral activity (cytokines, chemokines, and IFN-stimulated genes) than those of susceptible chickens against HPAIV infection.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.303-310
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• 2002

Cell therapy applied to wound healing or tissue regeneration presents a revolutionary realm to which principles of gene engineering and delivery may be applied. One promising application is the transplantation of cells into the wounded tissue to help the tissue repair. However, when cells are transplanted from in vitro to in vivo, immune rejection occurs due to the immune response triggered by the activation of T-cell, and the transplanted cells are destroyed by the attack of activated T-cell and lose their function. Immune suppressant such as FK506 is commonly used to suppress immune rejection during transplantation. However, such kind of immune suppressants not only suppresses immune rejection in the periphery of transplanted cells but also suppresses whole immune response system against pathogenic infection. In order to solve this problem, we developed a method to protect the desired cells from immune rejection without impairing whole immune system during cell transplantation. Previously, we reported the success of constructing glomerular epithelial cells for removal of immune complex, in which complement receptor of type 1 (CR1) was over-expressed on the membrane of renal glomerular epithelial cells and could bind immune complex of DNA/anti-DNA-antibody to remove immune complex through phagocy-tosis [1]. Attempting to apply the CR1-expressing cells to cell therapy and evade immune rejection during cell transplantation, we constructed three plasmids containing genes encoding a soluble fusion protein of cytolytic T lymphocyte associated antigen-4 (CTLA4Ig) and an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). The plasmids were transfected to the above-mentioned glomerular epithelial cells to express both genes simultaneously. Using the clone cells for cell transplantation showed that mice with autoimmune disease prolonged their life significantly as compared with the control mice, and two injections of the cells at the beginning of two weeks resulted in remarkable survivability, whereas it requires half a year and 50 administrations of proteins purified from the same amount of cells to achieve the same effect.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.177-184
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• 2010

The structure of the ovary, ultrastructure of oocytes and morphological characteristics of vitellogenesis during oogenesis in female Gomphina veneriformis were investigated in clams collected from coastal waters of Samchok, Gangwon-do, Kore. In the previtellogenic oocytes, the Golgi complex was involved in the formation of a number of vacuoles. In the early vitellogenic oocytes, lipid droplets appeared among the Golgi complex, endoplasmic reticulum, and mitochondria in the cytoplasm of the oocyte were involved in the formation of lipid droplets. Coated vesicles, resulting from endocytosis appeared at the basal region of the early vitellogenic oocyte. The uptake of nutritive materials in the coated vesicles formed by receptor-mediated endocytosis appeared through the formation of coated endocytotic pits on the oolemma. In the late vitellogenic oocytes, large yolk granules were formed by a combination of small yolk granules. In the mature oocyte, a mature yolk granule in composed of three components: crystaline core, electron lucent cortex, and a limiting membrane. According to cytological and histological observations, vitellogenesis occurred by way of endogenous autosynthesis and exogenous heterosynthesis. Autosynthesis involved the conbined activities of the Golgi complex, mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum, whereas heterosynthesis involved endocytotic incorporation of extraovarian precursors at the basal region of the early vitellogenic oocyte. The follicle cells which was attached to oocytes, were involved in the development of the previtellogenic and early vitellogenic oocytes as a kind of nutritive cells containing a number of glycogen particles and lipid droplets in the cytoplasm.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.24-36
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• 2017

The stability of peptide-MHC complex (pMHC) is an important factor to shape the fate of peptide-specific T cell immune response, but how it influences on T cell activation process is poorly understood. To better understand that, we investigated various T cell activation events driven by $L^d$ MHCI loaded with graded concentrations of P2Ca and QL9 peptides, respectively, with 2C TCR Tg T cells; the binding strength of P2Ca for $L^d$ is measurably weaker than that of QL9, but either peptides in the context of $L^d$ interact with 2C TCR with a similar strength. When their concentrations required for early T cell activation events, which occur within several minutes to an hour, were concerned, $EC_{50}s$ of QL9 were about 100 folds lower than those of P2Ca, which was expected from their association constants for $L^d$. When $EC_{50}s$ for late activation events, which takes over several hours to occur, were concerned, the differences grew even larger (> 300 folds), suggesting that, due to weak binding, $L^d/P2Ca$ dissociate from each other more easily to lose its antigenicity in a short time. Accordingly, fixation of $L^d/P2Ca$ with paraformaldehyde resulted in a significant improvement in its immunogenicity. These results imply that binding strength of a peptide for a MHC is a critical factor to determine the duration of pMHC-mediated T cell activation and thus the attainment of productive T cell activation. It is also suggested that paraformaldehyde fixation should be an effective tool to ameliorate the immunogenicity of pMHC with a poor stability.

• BMB Reports
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.397-402
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• 2019

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) uses the spike (S) glycoprotein to recognize and enter target cells. In this study, we selected two epitope peptide sequences within the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the MERS-CoV S protein. We used a complex consisting of the epitope peptide of the MERS-CoV S protein and CpG-DNA encapsulated in liposome complex to immunize mice, and produced the monoclonal antibodies 506-2G10G5 and 492-1G10E4E2. The western blotting data showed that both monoclonal antibodies detected the S protein and immunoprecipitated the native form of the S protein. Indirect immunofluorescence and confocal analysis suggested strong reactivity of the antibodies towards the S protein of MERS-CoV virus infected Vero cells. Furthermore, the 506-2G10G5 monoclonal antibody significantly reduced plaque formation in MERS-CoV infected Vero cells compared to normal mouse IgG and 492-1G10E4E2. Thus, we successfully produced a monoclonal antibody directed against the RBD domain of the S protein which could be used in the development of diagnostics and therapeutic applications in the future.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.157-168
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• 1995

The neuropsychiatric sequelae of traumatic brain unjury(TBI) are effects on complex aspect of behavior, cognition and emotional expression. They include psychiatric disorders such as depression, psychosis, personality change, dementia, and postconcussion syndrome. The damage is done not only to the cortex of the brain but also to subcortical and axial structures. The diffuse degeneration of cerebral white mailer is axonal damage that is caused by mechanical forces shearing the neuronal fiber at the moment of impact(diffuse axonal injury, DAI). The DAI and the changed receptor-agonist mechanism ore the most important mechanisms in genesis of neuropsychiatric sequalae by mild TBI. The most important instrument for diagnosis of neuropsychiatric sequalae of TBI is a physician or psychiatrist with experience and knowledge. The most effective therapeutic tool is a professional who understands the nature of the problem.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 2014

Beta-catenin (CTNNB1, catenin (cadherin-associated protein), beta 1) is involved in various biological processes, including embryogenesis, tumorigenesis, angiogenesis and progression of metastasis. CTNNB1, as a multifunctional and oncogenic protein, has important roles in adhesion between Sertoli cells through an N-cadherin-dependent manner and in various cancer types through its over-activation. In addition, CTNNB1 can interact with estrogen/estrogen receptor alpha complex, which regulates the transcription of WNT (wingless-type MMTV integration site family)/CTNNB1 target genes. Recently, we investigated the functional roles and expression pattern of CTNNB1 during the morphological changes of embryonic gonads of chickens and the estrogen-dependent regulation of CTNNB1 in oviduct development and potential functions as a biomarker of CTNNB1 in human epithelial ovarian cancer using the chicken as a biological research model. Therefore, in this review, we provide a new insight of potential role of CTNNB1 in the development of the female reproductive tract during early embryogenesis and ovarian carcinogenesis of laying hen models.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.4301-4305
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• 2014

Tanshinone IIA is a pharmacologically active ingredient extracted from Danshen, a Chinese traditional medicine. Its molecular mechanisms are still unclear. The present study utilized computational approaches to uncover the potential targets of this compound. In this research, PharmMapper server was used as the inverse docking tool andnd the results were verified by Autodock vina in PyRx 0.8, and by DRAR-CPI, a server for drug repositioning via the chemical-protein interactome. Results showed that the retinoic acid receptor alpha ($RAR{\alpha}$), a target protein in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), was in the top rank, with a pharmacophore model matching well the molecular features of Tanshinone IIA. Moreover, molecular docking and drug repurposing results showed that the complex was also matched in terms of structure and chemical-protein interactions. These results indicated that $RAR{\alpha}$ may be a potential target of Tanshinone IIA for APL. The study can provide useful information for further biological and biochemical research on natural compounds.