• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.206-211
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• 2010

Background: Dendritic cell (DC)-based tumor vaccine is an attractive modality for the treatment of colon cancer because it has been recurred and produced few side effects in patients. Secretory glycoprotein 90K has been found at elevated level in various cancer tissues and sera. We investigated to establish a more effective DC vaccine for the treatment of colon cancer in which the levels of 90K are elevated. Methods: We obtained the concentrated 90K from 293T cells stably expressing 90K. DCs were cultured from peripheral blood monocytes, and a DC vaccine pulsed with tumor lysate was compared with a DC vaccine pulsed with 90K. We measured the functional activity for CTLs by using IFN-${\gamma}$-enzyme linked immunoabsorbent spot (ELISPOT) assay. Results: DCs pulsed with tumor lysate+90K exhibited the enhanced T cell stimulation, polarization of $\ddot{i}$ T cell toward Th1. The CTLs generated by DCs pulsed with 90K efficiently lysed HCT116 cells. The results indicate that 90K-speicifc-CTLs can recognize 90K proteins naturally presented by colon cancer cells. Conclusion: Our study suggests that 90K-specific CTLs generated by 90K-pulsed DCs could be useful effector cells for immunotherapy in colon cancer.

• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.51-59
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• 2014

Cellular senescence is a physiological process of irreversible cell-cycle arrest that contributes to various physiological and pathological processes of aging. Whereas replicative senescence is associated with telomere attrition after repeated cell division, stress-induced premature senescence occurs in response to aberrant oncogenic signaling, oxidative stress, and DNA damage which is independent of telomere dysfunction. Recent evidence indicates that cellular senescence provides a barrier to tumorigenesis and is a determinant of the outcome of cancer treatment. However, the senescence-associated secretory phenotype, which contributes to multiple facets of senescent cancer cells, may influence both cancer-inhibitory and cancer-promoting mechanisms of neighboring cells. Conventional treatments, such as chemo- and radiotherapies, preferentially induce premature senescence instead of apoptosis in the appropriate cellular context. In addition, treatment-induced premature senescence could compensate for resistance to apoptosis via alternative signaling pathways. Therefore, we believe that an intensive effort to understand cancer cell senescence could facilitate the development of novel therapeutic strategies for improving the efficacy of anticancer therapies. This review summarizes the current understanding of molecular mechanisms, functions, and clinical applications of cellular senescence for anticancer therapy.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.125-130
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• 2000

To overproduce endoxylanase from a recombinant Bacillus subtilis harboring the pJHKJ4 plasmid, the effects of carbon and nitrogen sources on the cell growth and expression level of endoxylanase were investigated in the flask cultures. Among the various carbon and nitrogen sources tested, glucose and maltose as carbon source and yeast extract as nitrogen source were found to be the most effective for the cell growth and the endoxylanase expression. When the concentration of glucose was increased from 0.5% to 5%, the highest activity of extracellular endoxylanse, 166 unit/$m\ell$, was observed at 2% glucose. In case of maltose, the endoxylanase was stably produced at the level of 180 unit/$m\ell$, regardless of the concentration of maltose. The higher the concentration of yeast extract, the greater cell growth and endoxylanase expression were obtained. However, the highest endoxylanase activity per unit cell mass was observed with 1% yeast extract. With the optimized medium (2% glucose, 1% yeast extract, etc), about 630 unit/$m\ell$ of endoxylanse was expressed through the batch fermentation in a fermentor, which expression level corresponded to about 0.7 g-endoxylanase protein /$\ell$. It was also found that the plasmid was stably maintained above 70% level, and more than 90% of endoxylanase activity was detected in the extracellular medium.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.9
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• pp.610-619
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• 2022

Cellular senescence plays a paradoxical role in tumorigenesis through the expression of diverse senescence-associated (SA) secretory phenotypes (SASPs). The heterogeneity of SA gene expression in cancer cells not only promotes cancer stemness but also protects these cells from chemotherapy. Despite the potential correlation between cancer and SA biomarkers, many transcriptional changes across distinct cell populations remain largely unknown. During the past decade, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technologies have emerged as powerful experimental and analytical tools to dissect such diverse senescence-derived transcriptional changes. Here, we review the recent sequencing efforts that successfully characterized scRNA-seq data obtained from diverse cancer cells and elucidated the role of senescent cells in tumor malignancy. We further highlight the functional implications of SA genes expressed specifically in cancer and stromal cell populations in the tumor microenvironment. Translational research leveraging scRNA-seq profiling of SA genes will facilitate the identification of novel expression patterns underlying cancer susceptibility, providing new therapeutic opportunities in the era of precision medicine.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.1-20
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• 1988

The species of the slug used in the experiment is Limax flavus L. For identifying the chemical characteristics of the epidermis, granules and mucus-producing cell of this animal is examined with methylene blue-basic fuchsin double stain and PAS-alcian blue reagent. For the ultrastructural research of the epidermal free surface, the epitheial cell and the parenchymal cell are used with scanning electron microscope and transmission elec-tron microscope respectively. I . Epidermal tissue The epidermal tissue of the slug is observed being divided into the dorsal and the ventral side(toot pad) respectively. 1) Dorsal epidermal tissue The dorsal epidermis of the slug is constituted with the simple columnar epithelium and the microvilli are compacted on the epidermal free surface. Two different types of the secretory granules of the neutral and the acid mucus are observed between the epithelial cells, and the neutral mucous granules are highest electron-dense but the acid mucous granules are observed to be electron-lucent. 2) Foot epidermal tissue The Foot epidermis is formed with the taller simple columnar epithelium than the dorsal epidermis and these cells have both a large number of the microvilli and a few number of the large villi. The secretory granules of three different types, which are acid, neutral and mixed mucous granule of two different types are observed between the epithelial cells. The neutral mucous granules are highest electron dense but the acid mucous granules are observed to be electron-lucent. II . Mucous granule-producing cell and mucus-producing cells Seven different types of the granules-producing cell and the mucus-producing cells are observed between the parenchyma. 1) A-type of acid mucous granule-producing cell The electron-lucent granules are largely occupied in the cytoplasm of these cells and then the granules are surrounded by irregular membrane. These electron-lucent granules exhibit alcianophilia with PAS-alcian blue reaction, so these granules are certified to be acid mucopolysaccharide. 2) B-type of acid mucus-producing cell The nucleus and the cytoplasm of these cells are pushed by the acid mucus of the electron-lucent toward the cell membrane. This mucus has been confirmed to be the acid mucopolysaccharide with PAS-alcian blue reagent. 3) A-type of neutral mucous granule-producing cell These cells contain the electron-dense round granules with approximately $1{\mu}m$ in diameter, which exhibit strongly PAS-positive reaction. These granules are confirmed to be the neutral mucoplysaccharide. 4) B-type of neutral mucous granule-producing cell These cells contain two different types of electron dense granules and electron-lucent granules; The former exhibits to be strongly PAS-positive and the latter to have alcianophilia reaction respectively. 5) C-type of neutral mucus-producing cell These cells are similar to the shape and the size of the B-type of mucus-producing cell but these two different types of cells are stained with reversing properties to each other. The mucus of the C-type cell that electron-lucent is largely occupied in the cytoplasm that exhibits strongly PAS-positive reaction. 6) D-type of neutral mucous granule-producing cell These cells contain round granules about $1{\mu}m$ in size which are observed to be medium electron-dense granules and those granules are stained brightly red with PAS-weak positive reaction. The granules are certified to be neutral mucopolysaccharide. 7) E-type of neutral mucous granule-producing cell These cells are similar to the shape and the size of the D-type of neutral mucous granule-producing cell. These cells contain a large number of granules with about $1{\mu}m$ in diameter showing electron-lucent and then granules are seen to be PAS-weak positive reaction. III. Parenchyma The clear cell and dark cell are found in the parenchyma of the Limax flavus L. 1) Clear cell These cells are round formed and the nucleus of the cells are larger than cytoplasm. These cells which have the electron-lucent cytosol possess poorly developed organelles. 2) Dark cell These cells are found to be dark cells due to high electron-density, which exhibit strongly methylene-blue reaction from double stain of methylene blue-basic fuchsin.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 2004

Objective: This study was to examine the in vitro neural cell differentiation patterns of human embryonic stem (hES) cells following treatment of various neurotrophic factors [basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), retinoic acid (RA), brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-$\alpha$], particulary in dopaminergic neuron formation. Methods: The hES cells were induced to differentiate by bFGF and RA. Group I) In bFGF induction method, embryoid bodies (EBs, for 4 days) derived from hES were plated onto gelatin dish, selected for 8 days in ITSFn medium and expanded at the presence of bFGF (10 ng/ml) for another 6 days followed by a final differentiation in N2 medium for 7, 14 and 21 days. Group II) For RA induction, EBs were exposed of RA ($10^{-6}M$) for 4 days and allowed to differentiate in N2 medium for 7, 14 and 21 days. Group III) To examine the effects of additional neurotrophic factors, bFGF or RA induced cells were exposed to either BDNF (10 ng/ml) or TGF-$\alpha$ (10 ng/ml) during the 21 days of final differentiation. Neuron differentiation and dopamine secretion were examined by indirect immunocytochemistry and HPLC, respectively. Results: The bFGF or RA treated hES cells were resulted in similar neural cell differentiation patterns at the terminal differentiation stage, specifically, 75% neurons and 11% glial cells. Additionally, treatment of hES cells with BDNF or TGF-$\alpha$ during the terminal differentiation stage led to significantly increased tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression of a dopaminergic neuron marker, compared to control (p<0.05). In contrast, no effect was observed on the rate of mature neuron (NF-200) or glutamic acid decarboxylase-positive neurons. Immunocytochemistry and HPLC analyses revealed the higher levels of TH expression (20.3%) and dopamine secretion (265.5 $\pm$ 62.8 pmol/mg) in bFGF and TGF-sequentially treated hES cells than those in $\alpha$ RA or BDNF treated hES cells. Conclusion: These results indicate that the generation of dopamine secretory neurons from in vitro differentiated hES cells can be improved by TGF-$\alpha$ addition in the bFGF induction protocol.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.1919-1927
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• 2006

Tumor cells genetically engineered to secrete cytokines are effective in tumor therapy, but various unexpected side effects are observed, which may result from the bulk activation of various bystander cells. In this study, we tested tumor vaccines expressing various membrane-bound forms of IL-2 (mbIL-2) on MethA fibrosarcoma cells to focus antitumor immune responses to CTL. Chimeric forms of IL-2 with whole CD4, deletion forms of CD4, and TNF were expressed on the tumor cell surface, respectively. Tumor clones expressing mbIL-2 or secretory form of IL-2 were able to support the cell growth of CTLL-2, an IL-2-dependent T cell line, and the proliferation of spleen cells from 2C TCR transgenic mice that are responsive to the $p2Ca/L^d$ MHC class I complex. Expression of mbIL-2 on tumor cells reduced the tumorigenicity of tumor cells, and the mice that once rejected the live IL-2/TNF tumor clone acquired systemic immunity against wild-type MethA cells. The IL-2/TNF clone was inferior to other clones in tumor formation, and superior in the stimulation of the CD8+ T cell population in vitro. These results suggest that the IL-2/TNF clone is the best tumor vaccine, and may stimulate CD8+ T cells by direct priming. Expression of IL-2/TNF on tumor cells may serve as an effective gene therapy method to ameliorate the side effects encountered in the recombinant cytokine therapy and the conventional cytokine gene therapy using the secretory form of IL-2.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 2005

Plant epidermis consists of relatively unspecialized cells and more specialized cells of various structure and function. Trichomes are specialized cells originated from the epidermis and much attention has been paid to the plants developing trichomes with peculiar structure and function. The present study has been undertaken to examine the trichome type noticed in the leaf epidermis of Althaea rosea using scanning electron microscopy. Four types, namely simple, short-and long-tufted, and glandular hairs, were detected in their epidermis. Their Distribution, frequency and structure varied by the development and epidermal surface. The most frequently distinguished type was the tufted ones growing in young leaves of the abaxial epidermis, while the simple hairs were rare throught the examination. The short-tufted hairs branched up to seven times having each branchlet about $160{\sim}210{\mu}m$ in length at maturity. The long-tufted hairs exhibited up to ten branchlets, where branchlets could reach up to $900{\sim}1,000{\mu}m$ long when fully expanded. Glandular trichome was the peltate type comprising $1{\sim}2$ secretory head cells, 2 stalk cells and a basal cell. The short peltate glandular hairs, usually not exceeding $40{\mu}m$, differentiated more along the areoles in the adaxial epidermis. The function of these trichomes in A. rosea has been still obscure, but it has been speculated that they probably play a role in protection; non-glandular ones possibly providing a defense against insects and secretory glandular type participating in chemical defense. Structural features of these trichomes at cellular level will be discussed in the following study of transmission electron microscopy.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.22-27
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• 1990

The gastro-endocrine cells were examined in the fundic region of stomach of the frog, Rana rugosa, by transmission electron microscope. In the present paper, at least three kinds of cell type distributed in this region were idendfted according to their morphological charactedstics based on the size, shape and electron density of the secretory granules. Type I cells were characterized by the presence of round or oval granules (300-5OOnm in diameter) with high electron density. The granules showed a wide lucent between the contents and the limiting membrane. This cell was reminiscent of the ECL cell in the human alimentary mucosa. Type II cells were characterized by the presence of spherical or oval granules (11O-230nm in diameter) with low or high electron density. The granules showed a clear halo between the homogenous contents and the limiting membrane. This cell was reminiscent of the G cell in the human alimentary mucosa. Type Ill cells were characterized by the presence of elongated oval or pheomorphic granules (50-2OOnm in diameter) with low or moderate electron density and abundant microfilament bundles in the cytoplasm. The granules contained a very thin halo.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.342-351
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• 2021

Liver colonization is initiated through the interplay between tumor cells and adhesion molecules present in liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs). This crosstalk stimulates tumor COX-2 upregulation and PGE2 secretion. To elucidate the role of the LSEC intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in the prometastatic response exerted by tumor and stromal COX-2, we utilized celecoxib (CLX) as a COX-2 inhibitory agent. We analyzed the in vitro proliferative and secretory responses of murine C26 colorectal cancer (CRC) cells to soluble ICAM-1 (sICAM-1), cultured alone or with LSECs, and their effect on LSEC and hepatic stellate cell (HSC) migration and in vivo liver metastasis. CLX reduced sICAM-1-stimulated COX-2 activation and PGE2 secretion in C26 cells cultured alone or cocultured with LSECs. Moreover, CLX abrogated sICAM-1-induced C26 cell proliferation and C26 secretion of promigratory factors for LSECs and HSCs. Interestingly, CLX reduced the protumoral response of HSC, reducing their migratory potential when stimulated with C26 secretomes and impairing their secretion of chemotactic factors for LSECs and C26 cells and proliferative factors for C26 cells. In vivo, CLX abrogated the prometastatic ability of sICAM-1-activated C26 cells while reducing liver metastasis. COX-2 inhibition blocked the creation of a favorable tumor microenvironment (TME) by hindering the intratumoral recruitment of activated HSCs and macrophages in addition to the accumulation of fibrillar collagen. These results point to COX-2 being a key modulator of processes initiated by host ICAM-1 during tumor cell/LSEC/HSC crosstalk, leading to the creation of a prometastatic TME in the liver.