• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2016

The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity of cadmium chloride ($CdCl_2$), toxicant, and the protective effect of Chelidonium majus (CM) extract on $CdCl_2$-induced cytotoxicity in cultured NIH3T3 fibroblasts. Cell viability, the effect of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) against $CdCl_2$, and the antioxidative effects including DPPH-free radical scavenging activity, superoxide anion-radical scavenging activity (SSA), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity were assessed. $CdCl_2$ caused a significant dose-dependent decrease in cell viability, and $XTT_{50}$ value was determined at 38.7uM of $CdCl_2$. It was determined as highly-toxic by Borenfreund and Puerner' toxic criteria. BHT of antioxidant significantly increased cell viability severely damaged by $CdCl_2$-induced cytotoxicity in these cultures. In the protective effect of CM extract on $CdCl_2$-induced cytotoxicity, CM extract significantly increased cell viability, DPPH-free radical scavenging activity, SSA and inhibitory activity of LDH. From these results, it is suggested that oxidative stress is involved in the cytotoxicity of $CdCl_2$, and CM extract showed protective efficacy on $CdCl_2$-induced cytotoxicity via antioxidative effects. Conclusively, natural resources like CM extract may be a putative antioxidative agent for the detoxification or diminution of toxicity correlated with oxidative stress.

• Journal of Apiculture
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 2020

Bee (Apis mellifera L.) venom is used for the treatment of various human diseases due to its known anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. This study investigated the effect of purified bee venom (PBV) on adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. There was no cytotoxicity while cells were treated with PBV by various concentrations. In the PBV treated cells increases in fat storage were inhibited and also confirmed by oil red o staining. To understand the underlying mechanism at the molecular level were examined on the expression of the genes involved in adipogenesis by using real-time PCR. In this cell model, the mRNA level of adipogenic genes such as peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptors gamma (PPARγ) and CAAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha(C/EBPα) were decreased by PAE treatment, comparing with those of control group. Theses results suggest that PBV inhibits adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells and can be used as an efficient natural substance to manage anti-obesity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.356-364
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• 2024

Lymph nodes (LNs) are crucial sites where immune responses are initiated to combat invading pathogens in the body. LNs are organized into distinctive compartments by stromal cells. Stromal cell subsets constitute special niches supporting the trafficking, activation, differentiation, and crosstalk of immune cells in LNs. Fibroblastic reticular cells (FRC) are a type of stromal cell that form the three-dimensional structure networks of the T cell-rich zones in LNs, providing guidance paths for immigrating T lymphocytes. FRCs imprint immune responses by supporting LN architecture, recruiting immune cells, coordinating immune cell crosstalk, and presenting antigens. During inflammation, FRCs exert both spatial and molecular regulation on immune cells through their topological and secretory responses, thereby steering immune responses. Here, we propose a model in which FRCs regulate immune responses through a three-part scheme: setting up, supporting, or suppressing immune responses. FRCs engage in bidirectional interactions that enhance T cell biological efficiency. In addition, FRCs have profound effects on the innate immune response through phagocytosis. Thus, FRCs in LNs act as gatekeepers of immune responses. Overall, this study aims to highlight the emerging roles of FRCs in controlling both innate and adaptive immunity. This collaborative feedback loop mediated by FRCs may help maintain tissue function during inflammatory responses.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1173-1181
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• 1996

The causes of degenerative changes in allograft cardiac valves are not well known to this day. Today's preserved allografts possess highly viable endothelial cells and degeneration of allografts can be facilitated by immune reaction which may be mediated by these viable cells. To test the antigenicity of endothelial cells, pieces from aortic wall were obtained from fresh and cryo-preserved rat allograft. Timings of sampling were prior to sterilization, after sterilization, after 1, 2, 7, 14 days of fresh preservation and cryopreservation. Endothelial cells were tested by immunohistochemical methods using monoclonal antibodies to MHC class I(MRC OX-18), class II(MRC OX-6) and ICAM-1 antigens. After transplantation of each group of aortic allograft at the subcutaneous layers of rats, population of CD4$^{+}$ T cell and CD8$^{+}$ T cell were analyzed with monoclonal antibodies after 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 weeks. MHC class I expression was 23.95% before preservation and increased to 35.53~48.08% after preservation(p=0.0183). MHC Class II expression was 9.72% before preservation and 10.13~13.39% after preservation(P=0.1599). ICAM-1 expression was 15.02% before preservation and increased to 19.85~35.33% after preservation(P=0.001). The proportion of CD4$^{+}$ T-cell was 42.13% before transplantation. And this was 49.23~36.8% after transplantation in No treat group (p=0.955), decreased to 29.56~32.80% in other group(p=0.0001~0.008). In all the groups, the proportion of CD8$^{+}$ T-cell increased from 25.57% before transplantation to 42.32~58.92% after transplantation(p=0.000l~0.0002). The CD4$^{+}$/CD8$^{+}$ ratio decreased from 1.22~2.28 at first week to 0.47~0.95 at eighth week(p=0.0001). The results revealed that the expression of MHC class I and ICAM-1 in aortic allograft endothelium were increased but that of MHC class II were not changed, despite the different method of preservation. During 8 weeks after transplantation of aortic allograft, the subpopulations of CD4$^{+}$ T cell were not changed or only slightly decreased but those of CD8$^{+}$ T cell were progressively increased.ely increased.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.482-487
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• 2014

This study is to investigate the effects of testosterone on adipogenesis and its molecular mechanism using RT-PCR analysis and transient transfection assays. Castrated(CAST) mice treated with testosterone had lower white adipose tissue weights and expression of adipocyte-specific genes($PPAR{\gamma}$ and aP2) than CAST control mice. Consistent with the in vivo data, testosterone treatment inhibited triglyceride accumulation and expression of adipocyte-specific genes($PPAR{\gamma}$ and aP2) in differentiated 3T3-L1 cells compared with control group. Testosterone-activated androgen receptor(AR) repressed the luciferase reporter gene activity induced by $PPAR{\gamma}$ transfection. Thus, these results suggest that testosterone downregulates the actions of $PPAR{\gamma}$ on adipogenesis through AR.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.62 no.4
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• pp.417-424
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• 2019

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of Lespedeza maximowiczii var. tricolor Nakai (LMTN) on glucose metabolism. LMTN extract significantly enhanced the glucose uptake and lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes compared with control. Also, LMTN extract in 3T3-L1 adipocytes significantly increased the protein expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ, insulin receptor substrate-1, and glucose transporter (GLUT)4. The regulatory effect on glucose uptake or insulin signal transduction of LMTM extract was lower than troglitazone or pinitol such as the positive control, but increased PPARγ activation. Additionally, LMTM extract has an insulin-mimetic effect. In db/db mice, LMTN extract (250 mg/kg BW) significantly reduced water and food intake, blood glucose, and level of plasma triglyceride and total cholesterol. Furthermore, the expression of PPARã and GLUT4 mRNA in adipose or muscle tissue effectively was increased by oral treatment of LMTN extract. Thus, our results suggest that LMTN extract improves the glucose metabolism through PPARγ and insulin-mimetic effect in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and db/db mice.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1071-1079
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• 2019

In this study, we investigated the antioxidant and anti-aging activities of Schisandra chinensis seed fractions by adding them to UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells and analyzing the suppression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). An electron-donating assay, ABTS radical scavenging assay, and hydrogen peroxide scavenging assay showed that the ethyl acetate fraction of S. chinensis seed (SCEAf) has scavenging activities. A collagenase inhibition activity assay showed that SCEAf had inhibitory effects of over 92.3% at $500{\mu}g/ml$ concentration. An MTT assay was performed to determine the cytotoxicity of SCEAf in HaCaT cells and the results showed that SCEAf increased cellular viability in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, SCEAf was found to increase the viability of cells irradiatged by UVB $50mJ/cm^2$. To examine the anti-aging effects of SCEAf on HaCaT cells irradiated with UVB $50mJ/cm^2$, the expression of MMP-1 and -3 was analyzed by Western blotting and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. The results showed that MMP-1 and -3 proteins and mRNA levels were downregulated in a concentration-dependent manner in response to SCEAf. These results suggest that SCEAf can prevent aging and alleviate aging symptoms by inhibiting collagenase activity in skin keratinocytes damaged by UVB. Therefore, S. chinensis seeds may have the potential for use as functional ingredients with anti-aging effects in the cosmetic and food industries.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2021

Brown seaweeds have been shown to decrease blood glucose levels and improve insulin sensitivity previously. In this study, we investigated the effect of fucoidan, a complex polysaccharide derived from brown seaweeds, on glucose uptake to improve insulin resistance, and examined its mechanism of action in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. We observed that fucoidan significantly increased glucose uptake and it was related to an increased expression of plasma membrane-glucose transporter 4 (PM-GLUT4) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Fucoidan treatment increased the activation of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) and the phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1tyr) compared with that of the control cells. Fucoidan also promoted the phosphorylation of Akt and protein kinase C (PKC)-λ/ζ compared to that of the control cells. Moreover, fucoidan significantly upregulated acetyl-CoA-carboxylase (ACC) and adenosine monophosphate - activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation. As a result, translocation of GLUT4 was significantly enhanced in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, which significantly promoted glucose uptake via the PI3K/AMPK pathways. The elevation of glucose uptake by fucoidan was blocked by inhibitor of PI3K and inhibitor of AMPK in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. These findings indicate that fucoidan might ameliorate glucose uptake through GLUT4 translocation to the plasma membrane by activating the PI3K/Akt and AMPK pathways in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Fucoidan is thought to be of high material value to diabetes treatments and functional foods.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.11
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• pp.1532-1536
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• 2011

In this study, the antioxidative activity of Artemisia capillaris T. extract on the proliferation and differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells under $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress was investigated in order to determine its protective effect against oxidative stress as well as its availability as an antioxidant material related to treatment of bone diseases. As a result, the total polyphenol content of A. capillaris extract was 90.10 mg/g, whereas the flavonoid content was 4.45 mg/g. A. capillaris extract increased proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells under $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress, and also increased the proliferation of differentiated osteoblast cells under oxidative stress. In addition, two differentiation markers, alkaline phosphatase activity and mineralization level, in A. capillaris extract tended to increase. These results indicate that A. capillaris extract suppresses the damage to osteoblasts caused by oxidative stress, which demonstrates its availability as an antioxidant material for preventing bone diseases.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.227-236
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• 2020

Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (P. ginseng) is known to exert a wide range of pharmacological effects both in vitro and in vivo. Although studies on ginsenoside, antioxidant activity, and anticancer effect of the cultivated wild Panax ginseng (CWP) have been conducted, there is little research on the effect of CWP extract on bone metabolism. In this study, we investigated the potential anti-osteoporotic properties of CWP on the growth and differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells. CWP significantly increased the viability and proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells. CWP activated intracellular alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in MC3T3-E1 cells. In addition, CWP increased the mineralized nodules in MC3T3-E1 cells. Furthermore, CWP increased the expression of genes such as Runx2, ALP, OPN and OCN associated with osteoblast growth and differentiation in a dose-dependent manner.