• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• 제37권4호
• /
• pp.373-380
• /
• 2004

Objectives : There has been gradually increasing concern about the adverse health effects of electromagnetic radiation originating from cell phones which are widely used in modern life. Cell phone radiation may affect human health by increasing free radicals of human blood cells. This study has been designed to identify DNA damage of blood cells by electromagnetic radiation caused by cell phone use. Methods : This study investigated the health effect of acute exposure to commercially available cell phones on certain parameters such as an indicator of DNA damage for 14 healthy adult volunteers. Each volunteer during the experiment talked over the cell phone with the keypad facing the right side of the face for 4 hours. The single cell gel electrophoresis assay (Comet assay), which is very sensitive in detecting the presence of DNA strand-breaks and alkali-labile damage in individual cells, was used to assess peripheral blood cells (T-cells, B-cells, granulocytes) from volunteers before and after exposure to cell phone radiation. The parameters of Comet assay measured were Olive Tail Moment and Tail DNA %. Results : The Olive Tail Moment of B-cells and granulocytes and Tail DNA % of B-cells and granulocytes were increased by a statistically significant extent after 4-hour use of a cell phone compared with controls. Conclusion : It is concluded that cell phone radiation caused the DNA damage during the 4 hours of experimental condition. Nonetheless, this study suggested that cell phone use may increase DNA damage by electromagnetic radiation and other contributing factors.

• 한국환경성돌연변이발암원학회지
• /
• 제21권2호
• /
• pp.99-105
• /
• 2001

Sophoricoside was isolated as the inhibitor of IL-5 bioactivity from Sophora japonica (Leguminosae). It has been reported to has an anti-inflammatory effect on rat paw edema model. To develope as an anti-allergic drug, genotoxicity of sophoricoside was investigated in bacterial and mammalian cell system such as Ames bacterial reversion test, chromosomal aberration assay and single cell gel electrophoresis (Comet) assay. As results, in the range of 1,250~40 $\mu\textrm{g}$/plate sophoricoside concentrations was not shown significant mutagenic effects in Salmonella typhimurium TA 98, TA 100, TA 1535 and TA 1537 strains in Ames test. The 80% cell growth inhibition concentration (IC/SUB 80/) of sophoricoside was determined as above 5,000 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ in Chinese hamster lung (CHL) fibroblast cell and L5178Y mouse lymphoma cell line for the chromosomal aberration and comet assay, respectively. Sophoricoside was not induced chromosomal aberration in CHL fibroblast cell at concentrations of 700, 350 and 175 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ or 600, 300 and 150 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ in the absence or presence of S-9 metabolic activation system, respectively. Also, in the comet assay, the induction of DNA damage was not observed in L5178Y mouse lymphoma cell line both in the absence or presence of S-9 metabolic activation system. From these results, no genotoxic effects of sophoricoside were observed in bacterial and mammalian cell systems used in these experiments.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• 제14권6호
• /
• pp.724-730
• /
• 1999

본 연구에서는 인뇨에서 분리 정제한 urokinase와 유전자 재조합 CHO(Chinese Hamster Ovary) 세포 배양액으로부터 분리 정제한 pro-urokinase의 물리화학적 특성과 혈액 내에서의 효소활성을 비교 분석하였다. Two chain form인 urokinase와 single chain form인 pro-urokinase를 각각 순수 분리한 후, electrophoresis한 결과 모두 54 kd의 단일밴드를 나타냈다. 그러나 urokinase는 환원시켰을 때 33 kd과 21 kd으로 나누어짐을 확인하였으나 gel filtration결과 분자량이 54 kd 정도임을 확인되어 용액 내에서 단일분자로 존재함을 알 수 있었다. Urokinase와 pro-urokinase가 물리화학적으로 거의 동일한 구조를 가졌다는 사실은 isoelectro focusing에 의한 pI 값이 모두 8.6으로 동일하다는 점과, 아미노산 조성을 분석한 결과 동일하다는 사실로도 알 수 있었다. N-terminal 아미노산 서열을 분석한 결과, urokinase는 이중사슬구조이므로 N-terminal이 두개 존재하여 pro-urokinase의 서열(Ser-Asn-Glu-Leu-His-Gln-Val-Pro-Ser-Asn)이외에도, 159번째의 Ile다음부터 Ile-Gly-Gly-Glu-Phe-Thr-Thr-Ile-Glu가 같은 peak로 나타남을 확인하였다. 효소활성 조사결과 pro-urokinase와 urokinase는 모두 농도 의존적으로 혈전용해 활성을 보였으나, 특이하게도 짧은 반응시간동안에는 urokinase가 동일 농도 하에서 강한 활성을 보인 반면, 2시간이 지난 오랜 반응조건에서는 pro-urokinase가 혈전용해활성을 나타내었다. Fibrinogen에 대한 분해활성을 조사한 결과, urokinase는 혈장 내 fibrinogen을 상당히 손상시키지만, pro-urokinase는 거의 영향을 주지 않아 혈전선택성이 매우 좋음을 알 수 있었다.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
• /
• 제1권4호
• /
• pp.230-236
• /
• 2005

Formaldehyde is a common environmental contaminant found in tobacco smoke, paint, garments, diesel and exhaust, and medical and industrial products. Formaldehyde has been considered to be potentially carcinogenic, making it a subject of major environmental concern. However, only a little information on the mechanism of immunological sensitization and asthma by this compound has been known. So, we performed with Jurkat cell line, a human T lymphocyte, to assess the induction of DNA damage and to identify the DEGs related to immune response or toxicity by formaldehyde. In this study, we investigated the induction of DNA single strand breaks by formaldehyde using single cell gel electrophoresis assay (comet assay). And we compared gene expression between control and formaldehyde treatment to identify genes that are specifically or predominantly expressed by employing annealing control primer (ACP)-based $GeneFishing^{TM}$ method. The cytotoxicity ($IC_{30}$) of formaldehyde was determined above the 0.65 mM in Jurkat cell in 48 h treatment. Based on the $IC_{30}$ value from cytotoxicity test, we performed the comet assay in this concentration. From these results, 0.65 mM of formaldehyde was not revealed significant DNA damages in the absence of S-9 metabolic activation system. And the one differentially expressed gene (DEG) of formaldehyde was identified to zinc finger protein 292 using $GeneFishing^{TM}$ method. Through further investigation, we will identify more meaningful and useful DEGs on formaldehyde, and then can get the information on the associated mechanism and pathway with immune response or other toxicity by formaldehyde exposure.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제16권4호
• /
• pp.1615-1619
• /
• 2015

Background: Promoter hypermethylation mediated gene silencing of tumor suppressor genes is considered as most frequent mechanism than genetic aberrations such as mutations in the development of cancers. BRD7 is a single bromodomain containing protein that functions as a subunit of SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling complex to regulate transcription. It also interacts with the well know tumor suppressor protein p53 to trans-activate genes involved in cell cycle arrest. Loss of expression of BRD7 has been observed in breast cancers and nasopharyngeal carcinomas due to promoter hypermethylation. However, the genetic status of BRD7 in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) is not known, although OSCC is one of the most common among all reported cancers in the Indian population. Hence, in the present study we investigated OSCC samples to determine the occurrence of hypermethylation in the promoter region of BRD7 and understand its prevalence. Materials and Methods: Genomic DNA extracted from biopsy tissues of twenty three oral squamous cell carcinomas were digested with methylation sensitive HpaII type2 restriction enzyme that recognizes and cuts unmethylated CCGG motifs. The digested DNA samples were amplified with primers flanking the CCGG motifs in promoter region of BRD7 gene. The PCR amplified products were analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis along with undigested amplification control. Results: Methylation sensitive enzyme technique identified methylation of BRD7 promoter region seventeen out of twenty three (74%) well differentiated oral squamous cell carcinoma samples. Conclusions: The identification of BRD7 promoter hypermethylation in 74% of well differentiated oral squamous cell carcinomas indicates that the methylation dependent silencing of BRD7 gene is a frequent event in carcinogenesis. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to report the occurrence of BRD7and its high prevalence in oral squamous cell carcinomas.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• 제37권1호
• /
• pp.49-55
• /
• 1994

벼잎의 산성용액 추출물로부터 ion exchange chromatography chitin affinity chromatography chromatofocusing gel slicing 등의 방법으로 단백질 RCG-2를 순수분리하였다. 본 단백질은 chitin과 laminarin을 가수분해하므로 chitinase와 ${\beta}-1,3-glucanase$ 활성을 함께 보유하고 있는 것으로 나타났으며, 이외에도 M. lysodeiktikus cell wall을 가수분해하는 lysozyme 활성도 보유하는 것으로 판명되었다. 분자량이 29.77 kd인 본 효소의 chitinase 활성은 pH 4.0에서, ${\beta}-1,3-glucanase$ 활성은 pH 7.0에서 최대로 나타났고, 최적온도는 두 효소 활성 모두 $40^{\circ}C$ 이었다. chitin에 대한 $K_M$ 값은 7.86 mM, $V_{max}$는 $0.025\;{\mu}M/min$, laminarin $({\beta}-1,3-glucan)$에 대한 것은 각각 5.95 mM, $0.16{\mu}\;M/min.$ 이었으며, 정제된 효소는 chitin을 chitooligosaccharide로 분해하는 것으로 나타나서 endochitinase로 판명되었다.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
• /
• 제1권2호
• /
• pp.111-115
• /
• 2005

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation to mammalian skin is known to alter cellular function via generation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), DNA damage and DNA lesions, such as pyrimidine dimmers and photoproducts, which could lead to DNA mutation if they are not repaired. In this study, we have investigated the reduction of DNA damage and of apoptosis with a particular attention to genetic effect of paeoniflorin in Normal Human Epidermal Keratinocytes (NHEK). After UVB irradiation from $10\;to\;500mJ/cm^{2}$ to NHEK, Mean Tail Moments (MTM) were increased with UVB dose increase. The greatest amount of strand breaks was induced at $500mJ/cm^{2}$ of UVB. Even at the lowest dose of UVB ($10mJ/cm^{2}$), change in MTM was detected (P<0.0001). Pretreated cell with 0.1% paeoniflorin maximally reduced the level of DNA damage to about 21.3%, compared to untreated cell. In the lower concentrations less than 0.01% of paeoniflorin, MTM had a small increase but paeoniflorin still had reductive effects of DNA damage. We measured the apoptosis suppression of paeoniflorin with annexin V flous staining kit. As we observed under the fluorescence microscopy to detect apoptosis in the irradiated cell, the fluorescence intensity was clearly increased in the untreated cell, but decreased in treated cells with paeoniflorin. These results suggest that paeoniflorin reduces the alteration of cell membranes and prevents DNA damage. Therefore, the use of paeoniflorin as a free radical scavenger to reduce the harmful effects of UV lights such as chronic skin damage, wrinkling and skin cancer can be useful to prevent the formation of photooxidants that result in radical damage.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제23권1호
• /
• pp.109-114
• /
• 1996

General PCR technique alone has a limitation for preimplantation genetic diagnosis(PGD) using single blastomere. Recntly developed primer extension preamplification(PEP) technology amplifies the whole genome and thus, simultaneous multiple locus analysis became possible. In this study, we report the efficacy of PEP-PCR for PGD in three muscular dystrophy carriers undergoing IVF-ET. A total of 37 blastomeres were obtained from 40 embryos at six to eight cell stage in three IVF cycles in two DMD and one BMD carriers. Whole genome from single blastomeres were amplified using I5-base oligonucleotide random primers. PCR amplified products of exon 45 in the dystrophin gene and alphoid X/Y loci for gender determination were analysed by 2% metaphor gel electrophoresis. A total of 37 PEP-PCR replicates from 37 single blastomeres from 40 embryos and 37 blanks were performed. We obtained the reliable results for exon 45 and alphoid X/Y. Transfer of female embryos and unaffected male embryo was attempted in three couples. Unfortunately, pregnancy was not achieved in these cases. PEP-PCR is a reliable and efficient PGD method in multiple locus analysis using single blastomere.

• 약학회지
• /
• 제52권5호
• /
• pp.376-383
• /
• 2008

Chungkookjang (CKJ) is a fermented soybean product and one of favorite traditional foods in Korea. In this study, the alcoholic extract from Korean fermented soybean (CKJ) and its one of major flavonoids, genistein were evaluated for their protective effect against B(a)P induced cytotoxicity and DNA damage in HepG2 cells. CKJ extract and genistein decreased B(a)P-induced cell cytotoxicity. CKJ extract inhibited DNA single strand breaks evaluated by single cell gel electrophoresis. From RT-PCR study, it was revealed that CKJ extract decrease DNA damage induced in HepG2 cells expressing CYP1A1 and 1A2 by B(a)P. The metabolizing activities of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2, as measured by the 7-alkoxy resorufin O-deethylation (AROD) assay, showed that CKJ extract and genistein inhibited CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 activities. Genistein may contribute to these biological effects of CKJ extract at least in part. All these results indicate that CKJ extract and genistein may be useful for protection against B(a)P-induced cytotoxicity and DNA damage. Therefore, the alcoholic extract of Korean fermented soybean (CKJ) is suggested to be promising functional food which can prevent the cellular genotoxicity of dietary and lifestyle related carcinogens.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• 제14권1_2호
• /
• pp.1-12
• /
• 1999

Recently, several new methods for the detection of genetic damages in vitro and in vivo based on molecular biological techniques were introduced according to the rapid progress in toxicology combined with cellular and molecular biology. Among these methods, mouse lymphoma thymidine kanase (tk) gene forward mutation assay, single cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay) and transgenic animal and cell line model as a target gene of lac I (Big Blue) and lac Z (Muta Mouse) gene mutation are newly introduced based on molecular toxicological approaches. The mouse lymphoma tk$\^$+/-/ gene assay (MOLY) using L5178Y tk$\^$+/-/ mouse lymphoma cell line is one of the mammalian forward mutation assays, and has many advantages and more sensitive than hprt assay. The target gene of MOLY is a heterozygous tk$\^$+/-/ gene located in 11 chromosome, so it is able to detect the wide range of genetic changes like point mutation, deletion, rearrangement, and mitotic recombination within tk gene or deletion of entire chromosome 11. The comet assay is a rapid, simple, visual and sensitive technique for measuring and analysing DNA breakages in mammalian cells, Also, transgenic animal and cell line models, which have exogenous DNA incorporated into their genome, carry recoverable shuttle vector containing reporter genes to assess endogenous effects or alteration in specific genes related to disease process, are powerful tools to study the mechanism of mutation in vivo and in vitro, respectively. Also in vivo acridine orange supravital staining micronucleus assay by using mouse peripheral reticulocytes was introduced as an alternative of bone marrow micronucleus assay. In this respect, there was an International workshop on genotoxicity procedure (IWGTP) supported by OECD and EMS (Environmental Mutagen Society) at Washington D. C. in March 25-26, 1999. The objective of IWGTP is to harmonize the testing procedures internationally, and to extend to finalization of OECD guideline, and to the agreement of new guidelines under the International Conference of Harmonization (ICH) for these methods mentioned above. Therefore, we introduce and review the principle, detailed procedure, and application of MOLY, comet assay, transgenic mutagenesis assay and supravital staining micronucleus assay.