• 한국동물생명공학회지
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• 제37권2호
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• pp.67-79
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• 2022

Currently, there is no treatment to reverse or cure heart failure caused by ischemic heart disease and myocardial infarction despite the remarkable advances in modern medicine. In addition, there is a lack of evidence regarding the existence of stem cells involved in the proliferation and regeneration of cardiomyocytes in adult hearts. As an alternative solution to overcome this problem, protocols for differentiating human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) into cardiomyocyte have been established, which further led to the development of cell therapy in major leading countries in this field. Recently, clinical studies have confirmed the safety of hPSC-derived cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs). Although several institutions have shown progress in their research on cell therapy using hPSC-derived cardiomyocytes, the functions of cardiomyocytes used for transplantation remain to be those of immature cardiomyocytes, which poses a risk of graft-induced arrhythmias in the early stage of transplantation. Over the last decade, research aimed at achieving maturation of immature cardiomyocytes, showing same characteristics as those of mature cardiomyocytes, has been actively conducted using various approaches at leading research institutes worldwide. However, challenges remain in technological development for effective generation of mature cardiomyocytes with the same properties as those present in the adult hearts. Therefore, in this review, we provide an overview of the technological development status for maturation methods of hPSC-derived cardiomyocytes and present a direction for future development of maturation techniques.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.105-110
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• 2008

The endogenous retrovirus-like elements (HERVs) found on several human chromosomes are somehow involved in gene regulation, especially during the transcription level. HERV-H, located on chromosome Xp22, may regulate gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) in connection with diverse diseases. By suppression subtractive hybridization screen on SV40-immortalized lung fibroblast (WI-38 VA-13), we discovered that expression of HERV-HX2, a clustered HERV-H sequence on chromosome X, was upregulated in immortalized lung cells, compared to that of normal cells. Expression of HERV-HX2 was then analyzed in various cell lines, including normal somatic cells, cancer cells, SV40-immortalized cells, and undifferentiated and differentiated human embryonic stem cells. Expression of HERV-HX2 was specifically upregulated in continuously-dividing cells, such as cancer cells and SV40-immortalized cells. Especially, HERV-HX2 in HeLa cells was highly upregulated during the S phase of the cell cycle. Similar results were obtained in hES cells, in which undifferentiated cells expressed more HERV-HX2 mRNA than differentiated hES cells, including neural precursor and endothelial progenitor cells. Taken together, our results suggest that HERV-HX2 is upregulated in cancer cells and undifferentiated hES cells, whereas downregulated as differentiation progress. Therefore, we assume that HERV-HX2 may playa role on proliferation of cancer cells as well as differentiation of hES cells in the transcriptional level.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.31-37
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• 2015

Purpose: We investigated the neurogenic potentials of amniotic fluid-derived stem cells (AFSCs) according to the expression levels of stem cell markers and ingredients in the neural induction media. Materials and Methods: Four samples of AFSCs with different levels of Oct-4 and c-kit expression were differentiated neurally, using three kinds of induction media containing retinoic acid (RA) and/or a mixture of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine/indomethacin/insulin (neuromix), and examined by immunofluorescence and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for their expression of neurospecific markers. Results: The cells in neuromix-containing media displayed small nuclei and long processes that were characteristic of neural cells. RT-PCR analysis revealed that the number of neural markers showing upregulation was greater in cells cultured in the neuromix-containing media than in those cultured in RA-only medium. Neurospecific gene expression was also higher in Oct-4 and c-kit double-positive cells than in c-kit-low or -negative cells. Conclusion: The stem cell marker c-kit (rather than Oct-4) and the ingredient neuromix (rather than RA) exert greater effects on neurogenesis of AFSCs.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.177-186
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• 2018

Background and Objectives: Glial scarring and inflammation after spinal cord injury (SCI) interfere with neural regeneration and functional recovery due to the inhibitory microenvironment of the injured spinal cord. Stem cell transplantation can improve functional recovery in experimental models of SCI, but many obstacles to clinical application remain due to concerns regarding the effectiveness and safety of stem cell transplantation for SCI patients. In this study, we investigated the effects of transplantation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) that were genetically modified to express Olig2 in a rat model of SCI. Methods: Bone marrow-derived hMSCs were genetically modified to express Olig2 and transplanted one week after the induction of contusive SCI in a rat model. Spinal cords were harvested 7 weeks after transplantation. Results: Transplantation of Olig2-expressing hMSCs significantly improved functional recovery in a rat model of contusive SCI model compared to the control hMSC-transplanted group. Transplantation of Olig2-expressing hMSCs also attenuated glial scar formation in spinal cord lesions. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that transplanted Olig2-expressing hMSCs were partially differentiated into Olig1-positive oligodendrocyte-like cells in spinal cords. Furthermore, NF-M-positive axons were more abundant in the Olig2-expressing hMSC-transplanted group than in the control hMSC-transplanted group. Conclusions: We suggest that Olig2-expressing hMSCs are a safe and optimal cell source for treating SCI.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.271-280
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• 2009

태반은 성체줄기세포의 보고이다. 특히 양막상피세포는 배아줄기세포의 줄기세포 능력을 나타내는 세포 표면 표시자들을 그대로 발현하는 줄기세포로 알려져 있다. 하지만 상피세포를 실험실에서 지지세포 없이 대량 증식 배양하는 것은 상피세포가 가지고 있는 내인성 성격으로 인해 어렵다. 본 연구에서는 디티오트레이톨(Dithiothreitol; DTT)과 ROCK 저해제(Rho-associated kinase inhibitor)를 이용하여 양막상피세포를 분리하고 배양하는데 있어서 임상적용이 가능한 수준의 세포를 얻었고, 최적의 세포상태를 유지하였다. 본 연구에서 분리배양된 양막상피세포는 상피세포의 특성과 줄기세포의 특성을 발현하였다. 결론적으로 줄기세포 치료를 이용한 재생의학의 관점에서 인간태반 유래 양막상피줄기세포는 아무런 윤리적인 논란을 일으키지 않는 주요한 줄기세포 치료제의 재료로서 여러 가지 질병 치료에 사용될 수 있을 것이다.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제35권2호
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• pp.209-218
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• 2011

Ginseng has been used as a general tonic agent to invigorate the human body as an adaptogenic agent. In a previous report, we have shown that ginseng contains a novel glycolipoprotein called gintonin. The main function of gintonin is to transiently enhance intracellular free $Ca^{2+}$ $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ levels in animal cells. The previous method for gintonin isolation included multiple steps using organic solvents. In the present report, we developed a simple method for the preparation of crude gintonin from ginseng root as well as stem and leaf, which produced a higher yield of gintonin than the previous one. The yield of gintonin was 0.20%, 0.29%, and 0.81% from ginseng root, stem, and leaf, respectively. The apparent molecular weight of gintonin isolated from stem and leaf through sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was almost same as that from root but the compositions of amino acids, carbohydrates or lipids differed slightly between them. We also examined the effects of crude gintonin from ginseng root, stem, and leaf on endogenous $Ca^{2+}$-activated $Cl^-$ channel (CaCC) activity of Xenopus oocytes through mobilization of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$. We found that the order of potency for the activation of CaCC was ginseng root > stem > leaf. The $ED_{50}$ was $1.4{\pm}1.4$, $4.5{\pm}5.9$, and $3.9{\pm}1.1$ mg/mL for root, stem and leaf, respectively. In the present study, we demonstrated for the first time that in addition to ginseng root, ginseng stem and leaf also contain gintonin. Gintonin can be prepared from a simple method with higher yield of gintonin from ginseng root, stem, and leaf. Finally, these results demonstrate the possibility that ginseng stem and leaf could also be utilized for ginstonin preparation after a simple procedure, rather than being discarded.

• 생약학회지
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• 제44권2호
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• pp.161-167
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• 2013

Aldose reductase (AR) has been shown to play an important role in the development of the diabetic complications. To discover novel treatments for diabetic complications from natural sources, 59 Chinese herbal medicines have been investigated for inhibitory activities on AR. Among them, 10 herbal medicines, Catalpa fargesii (stem and leaf), Saussurea Laniceps(whole plant), Alnus nepalensis(stem and leaf), Swertia macrosperma (whole plant), Woodfordia fruticosa (stem and leaf), Elsholtzia bodinieri (whole plant), Elsholtzia fruticosa (whole plant), Rosa multiflora (fruit), Nardostachys chinensis (whole plant), Eurya groffii (stem and leaf) exhibited a significant inhibitory activity compared with 3,3-tetramethyleneglutaric acid (TMG) as positive control. Particularly, 4 herbal medicines, C. fargesii (stem and leaf), S. Laniceps (whole plant), A. nepalensis (stem and leaf), S. macrosperma (whole plant) showed two times more potent inhibitory activity than TMG ($5.37{\mu}g/ml$).

• 한국수정란이식학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국수정란이식학회 2002년도 춘계학술세미나 및 워크숍
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• pp.19-25
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• 2002

Researches on manipulation pluripotent stem cells derived from blastocysts or promordial germ cells (PGCs) have a great advantages for developing innovative technologies in various fields of life science including medicine, pharmaceutics, and biotechnology. Since the first isolation in the mouse embryos, stem cells or stem cell-like colonies have been continuously established in the mouse of different strains, cattle, pig, rabbit, and human. In the animal species, stem cell biology is important for developing transgenic technology including disease model animal and bioreactor production. ES cell can be isolated from the inner cell mass of blastocysts by either mechanical operation or immunosurgery. So, mass production of blastocyst is a prerequisite factor for successful undertaking ES cell manipulation. In the case of animal ES cell research, various protocol of gamete biotechnology can be applied for improving the efficiency of stem cell research. Somatic cell nuclear transfer technique can be applied to researches on animal ES cells, since it is powerful tool for producing clone embryos containing genes of interest. In this presentation, a brief review was made for explaining how somatic cell nuclear transfer technology could contribute to improving stem cell manipulation technology.

• 공학교육연구
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.37-51
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• 2020

This study examined the differential effects of High-Impact Practices(HIPs) on the career aspiration of STEM college students by gender. Through the theoretical lens of Social Cognitive Career Theory(SCCT), a two-level model analysis was conducted. A sample of 2,101 third- and fourth-year undergraduate students majoring in STEM at 38 universities, which had been collected from the National Survey on College Student Experiences and Learning Outcomes funded by the Korea Research Foundation, was used. This study found that the three HIP domains(learning with peers, faculty support, content relevancy) had different influences depending on gender. These findings suggest that HIPs can benefit the development of female students' career aspiration and have gender-differential effects on students in STEM majors. Based on those findings, this study also deduced implications about the roles of faculty members and higher-education institutions that might foster the retention of women in STEM.

• 한국수학교육학회지시리즈D:수학교육연구
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.83-97
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• 2019

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education has been at the forefront of K-12 curricula in the technology-rich 21st century, with emphasis on how these fields reinforce each other in preparing students for a dynamic future. However, there is a need for greater attention to STEM education research in the mathematics education community, in particular to pedagogical approaches that facilitate integrating the mathematics component of STEM education. Toward this end, the authors report the outcomes of a Project-based Learning (PBL) unit in which upper elementary students integrated STEM elements by researching, crafting, testing, and evaluating kites they created by applying scientific knowledge of aerodynamics and mathematical knowledge of polygons, surface area, graphs, and data analysis. This unit, which the authors developed, implemented, and assessed, demonstrates how STEM subjects and in particular mathematics can be effectively integrated in upper elementary school classrooms through PBL.