• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2010

Neutrophils play an important role in the human immune system for protection against such microorganisms as a protozoan parasite, Trichomonas vaginalis; however, the precise role of neutrophils in the pathogenesis of trichomoniasis is still unknown. Moreover, it is thought that trichomonal lysates and excretory-secretory products (ESP), as well as live T. vaginalis, could possibly interact with neutrophils in local tissues, including areas of inflammation induced by T. vaginalis in humans. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of T. vaginalis lysate on the fate of neutrophils. We found that T. vaginalis lysate inhibits apoptosis of human neutrophils as revealed by Giemsa stain. Less altered mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and surface CD16 receptor expression also supported the idea that neutrophil apoptosis is delayed after T. vaginalis lysate stimulation. In contrast, ESP stimulated-neutrophils were similar in apoptotic features of untreated neutrophils. Maintained caspase-3 and myeloid cell leukemia-1 (Mcl-1) in neutrophils co-cultured with trichomonad lysate suggest that an intrinsic mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis was involved in T. vaginalis lysate-induced delayed neutrophil apoptosis; this phenomenon may contribute to local inflammation in trichomoniasis.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.99-105
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• 1979

In order to know the histological changes of rat preputial gland during normal sexual cycle and sex hormone treatment, matured Wistar rats (B.W.about 200g) were used for the experiment. Rats were subcutaneously given $2{\mu}g$ 17-${\beta}$-estradiol (Sigma) and 2.5g progesterone (Nakarai Chem., Japan) daily in 0.5ml propylen glycol for ten days respectively. The results obtained are as follow: At the stage of estrus and metestrus, the eosinophilic crystalloid granules and large vacuoles in the acinar cells appeared numerously, and the excretory ducts were severely extended. The developed connective tissue between the acinus were also found. At the stage of proestrus and diestrus, however, the small vacuoles and a few eosinophilic crystalloid granules appeared in the acinar cell. In the estradiol treatment, on the other hand, severely extended excretory ducts and a small number of the eosinophilic crystalloid granules compared with the progesterone treatment were found. The cyst-like structure was found, and in that the acinus disappeared completely. In the progesterone treatment, remarkably extended excretory ducts and nomerous appearance of oval formed eosinophilic granules in the acinar cells were found. As these findings, it could be suggested that the secretion of rat preputial gland was active at the estrus and metestrus stage, and estrogen may concerned in the secretion, land progesterone in the formation of secretory products.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.591-597
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• 2003

Human urokinase kringle domain, sharing homology with angiostatin kringles, has been shown to be an inhibitor of angiogenesis, which can be used for the treatment of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and retinopathy. Here, the expression of the kringle domain of urokinase (UK1) as a secreted protein in high levels is reported. UK1 was expressed in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris GS115 by fusion of the cDNA spanning from Ser47 to Lys135 to the secretion signal sequence of ${\alpha}-factor$ prepro-peptide. In a flask culture, the secreted UK1 reached about 1 g/l level after 120h of methanol induction and was purified to homogeneity by ion-exchange chromatography. Amino-terminal sequencing of the purified UK1 revealed that it was cleaved at the Ste13 signal cleavage site. The molecular mass of UK1 was determined to be 10,297.01 Da. It was also confirmed that the purified UK1 inhibited endothelial cell proliferation stimulated by basic fibroblast growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, or epidermal growth factor, in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that a P. pastoris sytem can be employed to obtain large amounts of soluble and active UK1.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.31-34
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• 2004

This paper reviews the effects of Spirulina platensis and its extracts and phycocyanin, a blue photosynthetic pigment protein in Spirulina on the mucosal immune functions in humans and animals as follows: TEX>$\bullet$ IgA antibody response and other classes in mucosal immunity of mice treated with Spirulina platensis and its extract. $\bullet$ Effect of Spirulina phycocyanin ingestion on the mucosal antibody responses in mice. - Distinct effects of phycocyanin on secretory IgA and allergic IgE antibody responses in mice following oral immunization with antigen-entrapped biodegradable microparticles. $\bullet$ Influence of dietary Spirulina platensis on IgA level in human saliva. $\bullet$ A study on enhancement of bone-marrow cell-proliferation and differentiation by Spirulina platensis in mice: in vivo and in vitro study

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.42-48
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• 1998

In order to maximize the secretory expression of human serum albumin (HSA) in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a series of HSA expression vectors were constructed with a combination of different promoters, 5' untranslated regions (5'UTR), and secretion signal sequences. The expression vector composed of the galactose-inducible promoter GALl0, the natural 5'UTR, and the natural signal sequence of HSA directed the most efficient expression and secretion of HSA among the constructed vectors when introduced into several S. cerevisiae strains. Although the major form of HSA expressed and secreted in the yeast transformants was the mature form of 66 kDa, the truncated form of 45 kDa was also detected both in the cell extract and in the culture supernatant. The level of the intact HSA protein in the culture supernatant reached up to 30 mg/l at 24 h of cultivation in a shake-flask culture but began to decrease afterwards, indicating that the secreted HSA protein was unstable in a prolonged culture of yeast.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.5-14
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• 2010

Background: There have been several reports describing the capability of ginseng extracts as an adjuvant. In this study, we tested if ginsan, a polysaccharide extracted from Panax ginseng, was effective in enhancing antibody response to orally delivered Salmonella antigen. Methods: Ginsan was treated before oral salmonella antigen administration. Salmonella specific antibody was determined by ELISA. mRNA expression was determined by RT-PCR. Cell migration was determined by confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. COX expression was detected by western blot. Results: Ginsan treatment before oral Salmonella antigen delivery significantly increased both secretory and serum antibody production. Ginsan increased the expression of COX in the Peyer's patches. Various genes were screened and we found that CCL3 mRNA expression was increased in the Peyer's patch. Ginsan increased dendritic cells in the Peyer's patch and newly migrated dendritic cells were mostly found in the subepithelial dome region. When COX inhibitors were treated, the expression of CCL3 was reduced. COX inhibitor also antagonized both the migration of dendritic cells and the humoral immune response against oral Salmonella antigen. Conclusion: Ginsan effectively enhances the humoral immune response to orally delivered antigen, mediated by CCL3 via COX. Ginsan may serve as a potent vaccine suppliment for oral immunization.

• BMB Reports
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.453-458
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• 1998

Human thrombopoietin (hTPO) was expressed to high levels in insect cells using the baculovirus expression system. Full-length hTPO cDNA containing a native signal peptide sequence was amplified by PCR from a human fetal liver cDNA library and cloned into the Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) expression vector. Immunoblot analysis with antiserum against hTPO indicated that an approximately 55 kDa protein was produced in recombinant AcNPV infected insect cells. Recombinant hTPO was produced 4-fold higher in Trichoplusia ni (Tn5) cells than in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells. with most of the hTPO produced in Tn5 cells secreted into the culture medium. Addition of tunicamycin in the culture medium resulted in the reduction of the size of hTPO to 35-38 kDa, and most of the protein remained within the cell. These results suggest that N-glycosylation of hTPO is required for the secretion of the protein into the culture medium in insect cells. hTPO produced in insect cells induced proliferation and maturation of megakaryocyte progenitors, indicating that it is in a biologically active form.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.8
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• pp.445-453
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• 2015

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) is an organelle where most secretory and membrane proteins are synthesized, folded, and undergo further maturation. As numerous conditions can perturb such ER function, eukaryotic cells are equipped with responsive signaling pathways, widely referred to as the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR). Chronic conditions of ER stress that cannot be fully resolved by UPR, or conditions that impair UPR signaling itself, are associated with many metabolic and degenerative diseases. In recent years, Drosophila has been actively employed to study such connections between UPR and disease. Notably, the UPR pathways are largely conserved between Drosophila and humans, and the mediating genes are essential for development in both organisms, indicating their requirement to resolve inherent stress. By now, many Drosophila mutations are known to impose stress in the ER, and a number of these appear similar to those that underlie human diseases. In addition, studies have employed the strategy of overexpressing human mutations in Drosophila tissues to perform genetic modifier screens. The fact that the basic UPR pathways are conserved, together with the availability of many human disease models in this organism, makes Drosophila a powerful tool for studying human disease mechanisms. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(8): 445-453]

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.251-254
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• 2006

Monoclonal antibody (mAb) Tg786 against Toxoplasma gondii has been found to detect a 42-kDa rhoptry protein (ROP6) which showed protease activity and host cell binding characteristics after secretion. Using the mAb, a colony containing a 3'-UTR was probed in a T. gondii cDNA expression library. A full length cDNA sequence of the rhoptry protein was completed after 5'-RACE, which consisted of 1,908 bp with a 1,443 bp ORF. The deduced amino acid sequence of ROP6 consisted of a polypeptide of 480 amino acids without significant homology to any other known proteins. This sequence contains an amino terminal stop transfer sequence downstream of a short neutral sequence, hydrophilic middle sequence, and hydrophobic carboxy terminus. It is suggested that the ROP6 is inserted into the rhoptry membrane with both N- and C-termini.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.440-445
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• 2000

Thirty lactating Javanese thin-tail ewes (12 ewes had been injected, prior to mating, with 700 IU pregnant mare serum gonadotropin, and 18 ewes with saline as a control) were used to evaluate the effect of superovulation on milk production during lactation and mammary chemical indices at the end of lactation. Thirteen ewes (9 control and 4 superovulated ewes) were fed at low and the other 17 ewes (9 control and 8 superovulated ewes) were fed at high quality ration. Superovulated ewes, either fed at low or high quality ration, had dramatically higher milk yields (57%). At the end of lactation, superovulated ewes had higher mammary dry fat-free tissue, mammary DNA concentration, total mammary DNA and RNA contents than nonsuperovulated ewes. Superovulation did not affect mammary RNA and collagen concentrations, and total collagen content. Ration quality did not significantly increase milk production during lactation and mammary chemical indices at the end of lactation. The observed increase in milk production in the superovulated ewes was probably due to the increased mammary secretory cell number and their synthetic activities during lactation as a result of the increased endogenous hormonal stimulation of mammary growth and development during pregnancy.