• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.11
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• pp.1557-1567
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• 2012

Glutathione reductase (GR, E.C. 1.6.4.2) is an important enzyme that reduces glutathione disulfide (GSSG) to a sulfydryl form (GSH) in the presence of an NADPH-dependent system. This is a critical antioxidant mechanism. Owing to the significance of GR, this enzyme has been examined in a number of animals, plants, and microbes. We performed a study to evaluate the molecular properties of GR (OsGR) from rice (Oryza sativa). To determine whether heterologous expression of OsGR can reduce the deleterious effects of unfavorable abiotic conditions, we constructed a transgenic Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain expressing the GR gene cloned into the yeast expression vector p426GPD. OsGR expression was confirmed by a semiquantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (semiquantitative RT-PCR) assay, Western-blotting, and a test for enzyme activity. OsGR expression increased the ability of the yeast cells to adapt and recover from $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress and various stimuli including heat shock and exposure to menadione, heavy metals (iron, zinc, copper, and cadmium), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), ethanol, and sulfuric acid. However, augmented OsGR expression did not affect the yeast fermentation capacity owing to reduction of OsGR by multiple factors produced during the fermentation process. These results suggest that ectopic OsGR expression conferred acquired tolerance by improving cellular homeostasis and resistance against different stresses in the genetically modified yeast strain, but did not affect fermentation ability.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.840-849
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• 2006

Severe brain injuries induced by toxin pose one of the most important problems on our health care because of their high morbidity and mortality, are implicated to leucocyte infiltration more premature or immature brain than mature brain. Chemokines are the induction meditators for infiltration of inflammatory cells to the inflammation sites. In order to study the mechanism of leucocyte infiltration, the expression of several chemokines, MCP-1, $MIP-1{\alpha}$ and MIP-2 was studied in lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-stimulated neonatal and adult brain. One week old Sprague-Dawley rats or adult male rats weighing 300-350 g were used for the experiment. After anesthetization, $1\;{\mu}l$ LPS (0.5 mg/ml) subsequently was injected in the right caudate nucleus of the brain with stereotaxic frame. Animals were sacrificed at 6 hours, 24 hours, and 72 hours after injection. The present study was carried out using RT-PCR for the mRNA and immunohistochemistry for the expression of the proteins. In the neonatal rat brain, prominent interstitial edema with significant accumulation of leukocytes was detected at 24 and 72 hours after LPS injection. A semiquantitative analysis of RT-PCR revealed that the MCP-1, $MIP-1{\alpha}$, and MIP-2 mRNA expression peaked at 24 hours in neonatal and adult rat brain. Neonatal rats showed about 2.6, 1.4, and 1.2 times more expression of the MCP-1, $MIP-1{\alpha}$, and MIP-2 than that of the adult rats in the brain tissue. Immunohistochemical analysis also showed that MCP-1 immunoreactivity was paralleled with the RT-PCR results. MCP-1 protein was significantly detected at 24 and 72 hours in the brain parenchyma. $MIP-1{\alpha}$protein was highly expressed at 24 hours. The results of leukocyte infiltration in H&E stain was parallelled with that of the immunohistochemistry. Chemokine proteins were markedly detected at 24 hours after injection of LPS and neutrophil influx into intraparenchymal was prominent at 24 hours. These results suggest that the leukocyte infiltration in the intracranial infection may be controlled by mechanisms influenced by chemokine producing cells in the central nervous system such as microglia, astrocyte and endothelial cell.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.171-178
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• 2003

연구 목적: Microarray data에 의해 밝혀진 생쥐자궁에서의 Id 유전자의 hormonal effect와 implantation process 동안의 관계를 조사하고자 실험을 수행하였다. 연구재료 및 방법: 난소절제한 생쥐에 estrogen을 주사하고 6시간, 12시간이 지난 후 자궁을 적출하여 두 가지 방법으로 sample을 준비하였다. 먼저 자궁전체의 RNA를 추출하여 실험하거나 laser capture microdissection (LCM) 방법으로 자궁내막상피세포, 자궁기질세포, 자궁근육층으로 분리하여 RNA를 추출하고 semi-quantative RT-PCR을 수행하여 Id 유전자의 발현을 조사하였다. 임신 4.5일째 생쥐에 Chicago blue dye를 주사하여 착상부위와 비착상부위를 분리하고 RNA를 추출하여 Id 유전자의 발현을 semiquantitative RT-PCR 방법으로 실험하였다. 결 과: Estrogen을 처리한 난소절제된 생쥐 자궁에서의 cDNA microarray 자료에서 Id-1 mRNA는 점진적으로 두 배 이상 증가하였고 Id-2 mNRA는 반대로 시간이 지날수록 두 배 이상 감소하였다. Microarray 자료를 재확인하기 위해 semi-quantitative RT-PCR을 이용하여 실험하였고, 그 결과 Id-1 유전자는 estrogen 처리 6시간까지는 큰 변화가 없었으나 12시간에서는 4배 이상의 높은 발현을 보였으며, Id-2 mRNA의 발현은 estrogen 처리 6시간과 12시간 모두에서 대조군에 비해 4배 가량 감소하였다. 이 실험군을 LCM을 이용하여 자궁내막상피세포, 자궁기질세포, 자궁근육층을 각각 분리하여 실험한 결과 estrogen 처리군에서 Id-1의 발현은 자궁내막상피세포에서만 높은 발현을 보였으며, estrogen 처리 6시간과 12시간에는 큰 차이를 보이지 않았다. 그러나, Id-2 mRNA는 자궁내막상피세포에서 estrogen 처리 6, 12시간 모두에서 높은 발현을 보였고, 근육세포층에서는 estrogen 처리 6시간에서는 변화가 거의 없었으나 12시간에는 현저하게 증가하였다. 단, 자궁기질세포에서는 대조군에 비해 estrogen 6, 12시간에서 Id-2 mRNA의 발현이 감소하였다. 임신한 생쥐 자궁의 착상부위에서는 Id-1 mNRA의 발현은 비착상부 위보다 월등하게 높은 증가를 보였다. 결 론: 난소절제 생쥐를 이용한 실험에서 Id-1, -3는 estrogen에 의해 발현이 증가하고, Id-2는 발현이 감소하였다. LCM을 이용한 실험에서는 Id-2는 이와는 달리 부위별 발현양상은 다르게 나타났지만 이는 넓은 부위를 차지하는 자궁기질에서의 발현감소가 전체적인 Id-2의 발현양상으로 나타난 것으로 추측된다. 착상부위에서의 Id의 발현은 Id-1만이 유일하게 월등한 증가를 보였다. 위의 결과를 종합해 볼 때 생쥐 자궁에서 Id 유전자는 estrogen에 의해 조절되며 직, 간접적으로 착상시기에 다양한 작용을 할 것으로 사료된다.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.133-152
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• 2005

1. 목적 Prostaglandin은 치주질환과 관련된 국소적 골 대사에 중요한 역할을 한다. ${\Delta}^{12}PGJ_2$는 생체 내에서 혈장의 존재 하에 형성되는 천연 $PGD_2$ 대사산물이며 peroxisome- proliferator에 의해 활성화되는 감마 수용체 (PPAR ${\Gamma}$)에 대해 높은 친화성을 갖는 리간드로서 핵 수용체군에 속하는 전사조절인자이다. 이 연구의 목적은 골화 과정에서 ${\Delta}^{12}PGJ_2$의 역할을 규명하기 위해, 조골세포주의 증식과 분화에 미치는 영향과 그에 관련된 세포기전을 조사하는 데에 있다. 2. 방법 인간 골육종세포주인 Saos-2 (ATCC.HTB 85)와 쥐의 조골세포주 (MC3T3-E1)를 배양한 후 실험군에 농도가 각각 $10^{-5}$, $10^{-6}$, $10^{-7}$, $10^{-8}$, $10^{-9}$ 몰인 ${\Delta}^{12}PGJ_2$와 ciglitazone (합성 PPAR 감마 길항체)를 첨가하였다. 조골세포에서 PPAR 감마의 발현을 관찰하기 위해 역전사효소-중합효소연쇄반응(RT-PCR)을 특정한 primer를 이용하여 시행하였다. 세포 증식은 1일, 2일, 3 일째에 MIT 분석법으로 측정하였고, 2 일째에 알칼리성 인산효소 (ALPase) 생산을 측정하였다. 위의 결과에서 얻은 적정한 농도에서 다양한 조골세포 분화의 표지자들-제 1 형 교원질, 알칼리성 인산효소, osteopontin 및 bone sialoprotein-에 대한 간이 정량적 역전사효소-중합효소연쇄반응 (semiquantitative RT-PCR)을 실시하였으며 골결절 형성에 대한 효과를 알아보고자 석회화 분석도 시행하였다. 3. 결과 ${\Delta}^{12}PGJ_2$와 ciglitazone 모두 Saos-2 세포주의 증식을 촉진시켰다 .$10^{-8}$ 몰의 ${\Delta}^{12}PGJ_2$와 $10^{-6}$몰의 ciglitazone을 첨가한 실험군을 대조군과 비교했을 때, 시간에 비례하여 세포 증식률이 증가되었다. 알칼리성 인산효소의 활성화 검사에서도 증식률에서와 유사한 결과를 보여주었다. 간이 정량적 RT-PCR에서는 ${\Delta}^{12}PGJ_2$로 처리한 군의 경우 제 1 형 교원질, 알칼리성 인산효소, osteopontin, 그리고 bone sialoprotein의 상대적 mRNA 수준이 유의하게 높았다. 석회화 분석에서는 MC3T3-E1 세포를 $10^{-6}$ 몰의 ${\Delta}^{12}PGJ_2$로 처리한 군과 $10^{-5}$ 몰의 ciglitazone으로 처리한 군에서 현저한 골결절 형성을 보였다. 이러한 결과들은 ${\Delta}^{12}PGJ_2$가 유용한 골 유도물질이 될 수 있으며 또한 그 작용기전이 PPAR 감마-의존형 경로와 연관되어 있음을 보여준다.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.95-100
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• 1999

Growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9) is a member of the transforming growth factor $\beta$ (TGF-$\beta$) superfamily. It has been known that GDF-9 is a growth factor having a crucial role in normal folliculogenesis and its expression is oocyte-specific. The present study was aimed to elucidate the expression of GDF-9 mRNA in the mouse primordial follicles as well as in the other developmental stages. The semiquantitative analysis of GDF-9 mRNA expression was conducted. Total RNA was extracted from the ICR mice ovaries at gestational day 19, postnatal day 1, day 10, day 21, and day 28, and RT-PCR was performed to measure GDF-9 and $\beta$-actin mRNA levels. Level of GDF-9 mRNA were normalized against the level of $\beta$-actin mRNA, and compared among different stages. GDF-9 mRNA was detected in all samples including the fetal ovaries that mainly consists of primordial follicles. The highest level of mRNA was observed in ovaries obtained at day 10 that mainly consists of growing follicles. The present result suggests that GDF-9 may play an important role in the early stage of folliculogenesis.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.75-75
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• 2003

Transition of the resting primordial follicle to the growing primary follicle is a critical process for female reproduction, but its mechanism is poorly understood. The present study was conducted to investigate gene expression profile at the primordial-primary follicle transition process. We isolated total RNA of female mouse ovary at day1 (contains only primordial follicles) and day5 (contains primordial and primary follicles) and synthesized cDNA using annealing control primers (ACP; Seegene, Inc., Seoul, Korea). ACP provides annealing specificity and sensitivity to the template and allows to identify only authentic differentially expressed genes (DEGs). We used total 80 ACPs for PCR, observed PCR products on 2% agarose gel, cloned 42 DEGs using TOPO TA cloning vector, sequenced, and analyzed by BLAST search. Sequences of 34 clones significantly matched database entries while 4 clones were novel and 4 clones were EST. Two of 34 genes were specifically expressed only in day 5 ovaries (Sui1-rs1, Apg3p/Aut1p-like), and rest of 32 genes were expressed in both stages but were differential in amount. Differential expression was confirmed using semiquantitative RT-PCR, and there was no false positive. Anx11 and Pepp2-pending were highly expressed genes in day1-, while BPOZ, Ches1, Kcmf1, NHE3, Nid2, Ninj1, SENP3 and Survivin were highly expressed genes in day5-ovary. List of genes would provide insight for further study of mechanism regulating primordial-primary follicle transition.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.416-420
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• 2017

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress induces unfolded protein response (UPR) via inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1) activation, which sends a molecular signal for X box-binding protein 1 (XBP1) mRNA splicing in the cytosol. IRE1 endoribonuclease activity induces cleavage of XBP1 mRNA. The XBP1 mRNA is then ligated by an uncharacterized RNA ligase and translated to produce spliced XBP1 by 23 nt removed in which contains the PstI restriction enzyme site. The splicing of XBP1 mRNA can be detected by semiquantitative RT-PCR, and then splicing of XBP1 is a useful tool to measure the genetic variability in ER stress. In this study, we have estimated IRE1-dependent splicing of XBP1 mRNA under conditions of various hypothermia. The results indicated that hypothermia regulated ER stress. This study demonstrated that hypothermia is closely related to ER stress and may be useful for early diagnosis of ER-associated disease.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.186-194
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• 2001

Scrub typhus, caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi infection, is clinically and histopathologically characterized by local as well as systemic inflammatory reactions, indicating that orientiae induce mechanisms that amplify the inflammatory response. To reveal underlying mechanisms of chemoattraction and activation of responding leukocytes, expression of chemokine and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-$\alpha$) genes in murine peritoneal macrophages after infection with the obligate intracellular bacterium Ο.tsutsugamushi was investigated. The genes that were unregulated included macrophage inflammatory proteins l$\alpha$/$\beta$(MIP-l$\alpha$/$\beta$), MIP-2, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1(MCP-1), RANTES (regulated upon activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted), gamma-interferon-inducible protein 10(IP-10) and TNF-$\alpha$. Peak expression of these chemokines and TNF-$\alpha$ was observed between 1 and 3 h after infection. These responses returned to or approached baseline preinfection levels 6 h after challenge. Semiquantitative reverse transcription (RT)-PCR analysis revealed dramatic Increases during infection in the steady-state levels of mRNA ceding for the inhibitory subunit of NF-kB (IkB$\alpha$), whose transcription is enhanced by binding of NF-kB within the IkB$\alpha$promoter region. Thus, Ο. tsutsugamushi appears to be a stung inducer of chemokines and TNF-$\alpha$ which may significantly contribute to inflammation and tissue damage observed in scrub typhus by attracting and activating phagocytic leukocytes.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.7-11
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• 2010

Purpose: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is known as a growth factor of endothelium and fibroblast. The purpose is to know the VEGF effects on fibroblast proliferation and fibroblast's notch receptor expression. Methods: CCD-986sk fibroblast was purchased from the Korean Cell Bank and was used in XTT assay for proliferation and wound healing assay for migration. Immunofluorescent (IF) staining and western blotting were used in testing notch expression of fibroblast. Semiquantitative RT-PCR was used in checking notch 1 mRNA production by fibroblast. Student-t test was used for analyzing results. Results: Cell proliferation assay using XTT showed significant higher proliferation in VEGF treated fibroblast, $2.324{\pm}0.0026$ vs. $2.463{\pm}0.017$ (p=0.002). Wound healing assay showed longer migration in VEGF treated fibroblast (p=0.062). The fluorescence was brighter in VEGF treated cells of notch 1 IF staining. Notch 1 expressions and mRNA productions increased more in VEGF treated cells. Conclusion: VEGF stimulates fibroblast to proliferate, migrate and to express Notch 1 simultaneously. Notch receptor could be related to VEGF mediated wound healing.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.271-279
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• 2007

Black rice (Oryza sativa L. var. japonica) has been used in folk medicine in Asia. To understand the effects of black rice hydrolyzed peptides (BRP) from germinated black rice, we assessed the expression levels of about 20,000 transcripts in BRP-treated HaCaT keratinocytes using human 1A oligo microarray analysis. As a result, the BRP treatment showed a differential expression ratio of more than 2-fold: 745 were activated and 1,011 were repressed. One of the most interesting findings was a 2-fold increase in hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS2) gene expression by BRP. Semiquantitative RT-PCR showed that BRP increased HAS2 mRNA in dose-dependent manners. ELISA showed that BRP effectively increased hyaluronan (HA) production in HaCaT keratinocytes.