• Molecules and Cells
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.53-60
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• 2008

We characterized the human endogenous retrovirus (HERV-W) family in humans and primates. In silico expression data indicated that 22 complete HERV-W families from human chromosomes 1-3, 5-8, 10-12, 15, 19, and X are randomly expressed in various tissues. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis of the HERV-W env gene derived from human chromosome 7q21.2 indicated predominant expression in the human placenta. Several copies of repeat sequences (SINE, LINE, LTR, simple repeat) were detected within the complete or processed pseudo HERV-W of the human, chimpanzee, and rhesus monkey. Compared to other regions (5'LTR, Gag, Gag-Pol, Env, 3'LTR), the repeat family has been mainly integrated into the region spanning the 5'LTRs of Gag (1398 bp) and Pol (3242 bp). FISH detected the HERV-W probe (fosWE1) derived from a gorilla fosmid library in the metaphase chromosomes of all primates (five hominoids, three Old World monkeys, two New World monkeys, and one prosimian), but not in Tupaia. This finding was supported by molecular clock and phylogeny data using the divergence values of the complete HERV-W LTR elements. The data suggested that the HERV-W family was integrated into the primate genome approximately 63 million years (Myr) ago, and evolved independently during the course of primate radiation.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.309-314
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• 1996

The purpose of this study is to explain the relationship between the pharmacological mechanism of levamisole and the cellular activity of cellular alkaline phosphatase (ALPase) in kidney cells. The results of our investigation were as follows. 1. Cellular ALPase activity in Macacus rhesus monkey kidney cells (MA 104 cells) and primary cultured rabbit kidney proximal tubular cells treated with levamisole was increased about two or three times than control. However, 50% of ALPase activity in cultured medium was inhibited by levamisole itself. 2. The proliferation of MA 104 and cultured rabbit kidney proximal tubular cells was linearly decreased in paralleled with increase of levamisole concentration $(50\;and\;500\;{mu}M)$ with MTT test. 3. In the heat stability tests, the inhibition of ALPase activity with and without levamisole at $56^{\circ}C$ in MA 104 cells showed different $IC_{50}$ values. 4. HPLC analysis of levamisole metabolites produced by cultured MA 104 cells suggested that the formation of a metabolite, that may be associated with its increase of cellular ALPase activity. Based on these results, we assumed that the increase of cellular ALPase activity by levamisole was evoked by modification of the ALPase catalytic sites.