• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.311-320
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• 1999

Background: In recent years, tuberculosis has re-emerged as a major health problem in both industrialized & developing countries. Recent advances in identifying & purifying antigens secreted in active tuberculosis infection have lead to the development of serological assays based on a number of immunodominant antigens. To date, the most sensitive and specific of these antigens has been the 38-kDa antigen. Method: Two rapid membrane-based serologic assays using antigen(38-kDa) from mycobacterium tuberculosis for the diagnosis of tuberculosis were evaluated in 22 patients with smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis, 14 patients with inactive pulmonary tuberculosis, and 9 patients with non-tuberculous lung disease. Result: The evaluation of validity(sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, false positivity and false negativity) of STAT-PAK ULTRA FAST$^{(R)}$ were 77.3%, 28.6%, 63.0%, 44.4%, 71.4 %, and 22.7% for differential diagnosis of active pulmonary tuberculosis and inactive pulmonary tuberculosis, respectively. The evaluation of validity of STAT-PAK ULTRA FAST$^{(R)}$ were 77.3%, 33.3%, 73.9%, 37.5%, 66.7%, and 22.7% for differential diagnosis of active pulmonary tuberculosis and non-tuberculosis. The evaluation of validity of ICT Tuberculosis$^{(R)}$ were 54.5%, 57%, 66.7%, 44.4%, 42.9%, and 45.5% for differential diagnosis of active pulmonary tuberculosis and inactive pulmonary tuberculosis. The evaluation of validity of ICT Tuberculosis$^{(R)}$ were 54.5%, 100%, 100%, 47.4%, 0%, and 45.4% for differential diagnosis of active pulmonary tuberculosis and non-tuberculosis. Conclusion: We concluded no effectiveness of STAT-PAK ULTRA FAST$^{(R)}$ & ICT tuberculosis$^{(R)}$on serologic diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. In the future, further large-scale study should be needed for serologic diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.82-88
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• 2006

The global pattern of growth-dependent gene expression in Streptococcus pneumoniae strains was evaluated using a high-density DNA microarray. Total RNAs obtained from an avirulent S. pneumoniae strain R6 and a virulent strain AMC96-6 were used to compare the expression patterns at seven time points (2.5, 3.5, 4.5, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, and 8.0 h). The expression profile of strain R6 changed between log and stationary growth (the Log-Stat switch). There were clear differences between the growth-dependent gene expression profiles of the virulent and avirulent pneumococcal strains in 367 of 1,112 genes. Transcripts of genes associated with bacterial competence and capsular polysaccharide formation, as well as clpP and cbpA, were higher in the virulent strain. Our data suggest that late log or early stationary phase may be the most virulent phase of S. pneumoniae.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.321-324
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• 2001

Two recombinant Escherichia coli strains, GCSC6576 harboring a plasmid pSYL107 containing the Ralstonia eutropha polyhyclroxyalkanoate (PHA) biosynthesis genes and a fadR atoC mutant LS5218 harboring a plasmid pJC4 containing the Alcaligenes latus PHA biosynthesis genes were compared for their ability to synthesize poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) [P(3HB-co-3HV)] from whey as the sale carbon source. With the pH-stat fed-batch culture of E. coli LS5218, 、 ,ve obtained a cell concentration, a P(3HB-co-3HV) concentration. a P(3HB-co-3HV) content, and a 3HV fraction of 31.8 g/L, 10.6 g/L, 33.4 wt%. and 6.26 mol%, respectively at 39 h.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.253-259
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• 2016

Previously, we found that KTH-13 isolated from the butanol fraction of Cordyceps bassiana (Cb-BF) displayed anti-cancer activity. To improve its antiproliferative activity and production yield, we employed a total synthetic approach and derivatized KTH-13 to obtain chemical analogs. In this study, one KTH-13 derivative, 4-(tert-butyl)-2,6-bis(1-phenylethyl)phenol (KTH-13-t-Bu), was selected to test its anti-cancer activity. KTH-13-t-Bu diminished the proliferation of C6 glioma, MDA-MB-231, LoVo, and HCT-15 cells. KTH-13-t-Bu induced morphological changes in C6 glioma cells in a dose-dependent manner. KTH-13-t-Bu also increased the level of early apoptotic cells stained with annexin V-FITC. Furthermore, KTH-13-t-Bu increased the levels of cleaved caspase-3 and -9. In contrast, KTH-13-t-Bu upregulated the levels of pro- and cleaved forms of caspase-3, -8, and -9 and Bcl- 2. Phospho-STAT3, phospho-Src, and phospho-AKT levels were also diminished by KTH13-t-Bu treatment. Therefore, these results strongly suggest that KTH-13-t-Bu can be considered a novel anti-cancer drug displaying pro-apoptotic activity.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.5069-5073
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• 2015

The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1053004 in Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) was recently reported to be associated with chronic hepatitis B (CHB)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a Chinese cohort. This study was aimed at investigating whether the SNP might also contribute to HCC susceptibility in the Thai population. Study subjects were enrolled and divided into 3 groups including CHB-related HCC (n=211), CHB without HCC (n=233) and healthy controls (n=206). The SNP was genotyped using allelic discrimination assays based on TaqMan real-time PCR. Data analysis revealed that the distribution of different genotypes was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P>0.05). The frequencies of allele T (major allele) in HCC patients, CHB patients and healthy controls were 51.4%, 58.6% and 61.4%, respectively, whereas the frequencies of C allele (minor allele) were 48.6%, 41.4% and 38.6%. The C allele frequency was higher in HCC when compared with CHB patients (odds ratio (OR)=1.34, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.02-1.74, P=0.032). The genotype of SNP rs1053004 (CC versus TT+TC) was significantly associated with an increased risk when compared with CHB patients (OR=1.83, 95% CI=1.13-2.99, P=0.015). In addition, we observed a similar trend of association when comparing HCC patients with healthy controls (OR=1.77, 95% CI=1.07-2.93, P=0.025) and all controls (OR=1.81, 95% CI=1.19-2.74, P=0.005). These findings suggest that the SNP rs1053004 in STAT3 might contribute to HCC susceptibility and could be used as a genetic marker for HCC in the Thai population.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.2439-2445
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• 2014

Cryptotanshinone (CPT), is a quinoid diterpene isolated from the root of the Asian medicinal plant, Salvia miotiorrhiza bunge. Numerous researchers have found that it could work as a potent antitumor agent to inhibit tumor growth in vitro, buith there has been much less emphasis on its in vivo role against breast tumors. Using a mouse tumor model of MCF7 cells, we showed that CPT strongly inhibited MCF7 cell growth in vivo with polarization of immune reactions toward Th1-type responses, stimulation of naive CD4+ T cell proliferation, and also increased IFN-${\gamma}$ and perforin production of CD4+ T cells in response to tumor-activated splenocytes. Furthermore, data revealed that the cytotoxic activity of CD4+ T cells induced by CPT was markedly abrogated by concanamycin A(CMA), a perforin inhibitor, but not IFN-${\gamma}$ Ab. On the other hand, after depletion of CD4+ T cells or blocked perforin with CMA in a tumor-bearing model, CPT could not effectively suppress tumor growth, but this phenomenon could be reversed by injecting naive CD4+ T cells. Thus, our results suggested that CPT mainly inhibited breast tumor growth through inducing cytotoxic CD4+ T cells to secrete perforin. We further found that CPT enhanced perforin production of CD4+ T cells by up-regulating JAK2 and STAT4 phosphorylation. These findings suggest a novel potential therapeutic role for CPT in tumor therapy, and demonstrate that CPT performs its antitumor functions through cytotoxic CD4+ T cells.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.16-23
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• 2011

This study was conducted to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of Pruns mume, Schisandra chinensis, Chaenomeles sinensis-- Prunus mume mixtrue (PM) treatment on colitis induced in mice by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) treatment. A total of 25 male BALB/c mice (average weight $20.7\;{\pm}\; 1.6 \;g$) were divided into 5 treatment groups and fed a commercial diet (A), PM administration (B), commercial diet + induced colitis by DSS (C), PM administration + induced colitis by DSS (D) and sulfasalazine + induced colitis by DSS (E). We found that PM treatment (D) and sulfasalazine (E) decreased the expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and COX-2 compared to the DSS-induced colitis group (C). The expression of IL-4, STAT6, $IFN-{\gamma}$, STAT1 was decreased in group D and group E compared to the colitis group (C), COX-2 and STAT1 were more decreased in group D. The serum IgE levels decreased in the PM treatment groups (C and D) compared to the non-PM treatment groups (A and B) although there was no significant difference between the PM treatment groups. It is notable that a therapeutic application of the PM extracts ameliorated DSS-induced colitis in mice.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.451-457
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• 2005

Experimental studies have demonstrated that the triple combination of amantadine (A)/ ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA, U)/ biphenyl dimethyl dicarboxylate (DDB, D) might have a preferential antiviral effect compared with that observed in interferon-induced antiviral signal pathways, such as those of $STAT1\alpha$ and the 6-16 genes. To confirm the results, this study examined whether th signal transduction for the antiviral activity in HepG2 2.2.15 was induced dependently or independently of interferon. To accomplish this, the correlation between the $STAT1\alpha$ and 6-16 genes, and nitric oxide, for the mediation of the antiviral activity was assessed. The increase in nitric oxide in the UDCA groups suggests that the inhibition of viral gene replication was enhanced by the amantadine combinations (AU and AUD), and might be more effective if incubated for longer periods. It was found that $STAT1\alpha$ was activated by the amantadine combination, although to a lesser extent than that of $interferon-\alpha$, and the primary endpoints examined for the inhibition of gene expression (HBsAg and HBcAg) were remarkably well regulated. This suggests that the amantadine triple, or at least the double, combination had better clinical benefits than those of $IFN-\alpha$ and the nucleoside analogue single treatment. This demonstrates that the amantadine combination might be a substitute for the existing HBV therapy if the results of in vivo and in vitro studies concur.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.874-882
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• 2018

Curcumin is known to possess various biological functions, including anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and anti-cancer activities. Natural killer (NK) cells are large lymphocytes that directly kill cancer cells. However, many aggressive cancers, including breast cancer, were reported to escape the successful killing of NK cells in a tumor microenvironment. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer effect of curcumin in coculture of human breast carcinoma MDA-MB-231 and NK (NK-92) cells. We found that curcumin had an immune-stimulatory effect on NK-92 by increasing the surface expression of the $CD16^+$ and $CD56^{dim}$ population of NK-92. We confirmed that the cytotoxic effect of NK-92 on MDA-MB-231 was significantly enhanced in the presence of curcumin, which was highly associated with the activation of Stat4 and Stat5 proteins in NK-92. Finally, this improved anticancer effect of curcumin was correlated with decreased expression of pErk and PI3K in MDA-MB-231.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.553-561
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• 2018

Icariside II (ICA II) is used in erectile dysfunction treatment. Adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are efficient at improving erectile function. This study aimed to explore the action mechanism of ADSCs in improving erectile function. ADSCs were isolated from the adipose tissues of rats. Cell proliferation was determined using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. The expressions of mRNA and protein were determined separately through qRT-PCR and western blot. The endogenous expressions of related genes were regulated using recombinant plasmids and cell transfection. A Dual-Luciferase Reporter Assay was performed to determine the interaction between miR-34a and STAT3. Rat models with bilateral cavernous nerve injuries (BCNIs) were used to assess erectile function through the detection of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and intracavernosal pressure (ICP). ICA II promoted ADSCs' proliferation and differentiation to Schwann cells (SCs) through the inhibition of miR-34a. Suppressed miR-34a promoted the differentiation of ADSCs to SCs by upregulating STAT3. ICA II promoted the differentiation of ADSCs to SCs through the miR-34a/STAT3 pathway. The combination of ICA II and ADSCs preserved the erectile function of the BCNI model rats. ADSCs treated with ICA II markedly preserved the erectile function of the BCNI model rats, which was reversed through miR-34a overexpression. ICA II promotes the differentiation of ADSCs to SCs through the miR34a/STAT3 pathway, contributing to erectile function preservation after the occurrence of a cavernous nerve injury.