• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.129-138
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• 2019

In many cases, obesity is associated with metabolic disorders. Recently, natural compounds that may be beneficial for improving obesity have received increasing attention. Bitter melon has received attention as a diabetes treatment. $NAD^+$-dependent deacetylase (Sirtuin 1, SIRT1) has emerged as a novel therapeutic target for metabolic diseases. In this study, ethanol extract of bitter melon (BME) suppressed adipocyte differentiation and significantly increased the expression of SIRT1 in fully differentiated 3T3-L1 cells. Moreover, it enhanced the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). In high-fat diet (HFD)-fed induced-obesity mice, BME suppressed HFD-induced increases in body weight and white adipose tissue (WAT) weight. BME also increased the expression of SIRT1 and suppressed peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor and sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 expressions of WAT from HFD-fed mice. These findings suggest that BME prevents obesity by activating the SIRT1 and AMPK pathway and that it may be a useful dietary supplement for preventing obesity.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제36권1호
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• pp.33-37
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• 2012

Differential capacity of the parthenogenetic embryonic stem cells (PESCs) is still under controversy and the mechanisms of its neural induction are yet poorly understood. Here we demonstrated neural lineage induction of PESCs by addition of insulin-like growth factor-2 (Igf2), which is an important factor for embryo organ development and a paternally expressed imprinting gene. Murine PESCs were aggregated to embryoid bodies (EBs) by suspension culture under the leukemia inhibitory factor-free condition for 4 days. To test the effect of exogenous Igf2, 30 ng/ml of Igf2 was supplemented to EBs induction medium. Then neural induction was carried out with serum-free medium containing insulin, transferrin, selenium, and fibronectin complex (ITSFn) for 12 days. Normal murine embryonic stem cells derived from fertilized embryos (ESCs) were used as the control group. Neural potential of differentiated PESCs and ESCs were analyzed by immunofluorescent labeling and real-time PCR assay (Nestin, neural progenitor marker; Tuj1, neuronal cell marker; GFAP, glial cell marker). The differentiated cells from both ESC and PESC showed heterogeneous population of Nestin, Tuj1, and GFAP positive cells. In terms of the level of gene expression, PESC showed 4 times higher level of GFAP expression than ESCs. After exposure to Igf2, the expression level of GFAP decreased both in derivatives of PESCs and ESCs. Interestingly, the expression level of $Tuj1$ increased only in ESCs, not in PESCs. The results show that IGF2 is a positive effector for suppressing over-expressed glial differentiation during neural induction of PESCs and for promoting neuronal differentiation of ESCs, while exogenous Igf2 could not accelerate the neuronal differentiation of PESCs. Although exogenous Igf2 promotes neuronal differentiation of normal ESCs, expression of endogenous $Igf2$ may be critical for initiating neuronal differentiation of pluripotent stem cells. The findings may contribute to understanding of the relationship between imprinting mechanism and neural differentiation and its application to neural tissue repair in the future.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.45-52
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• 2000

Membrane-type matrix metalloproteinase(MT-MMP)는 세포막에 부착된 채로 작용하는 단백질 가수분해효소로서 최근들어 정상 및 암세포 등 각종 조직세포의 재구성에 중요한 역할을 하는 것으로 알려지고 있다. 본 연구에서는 RT-PCR 방법을 사용하여 생쥐 난자와 초기배아에서의 MT1-MMP와 MT2-MMP 유전자 발현 양상을 조사하였다. 생후 3주 및 8주된 생쥐의 난소로부터 얻은 미성숙난자와 체외 및 체내에서 성숙시킨 난자에서의 MTl-MMP와 MT2-MMP mRMA의 발현을 조사하였다. 그 결과 미성숙난자와 체외 및 체내에서 성숙시킨 난자 모두에서 MT1-MMP 및 MT2-MMP의 mRNA가 발현되었으나 미성숙난자에서는 매우 약하게 발현되는 것이 관찰되었다. 2세포기 배아, 4세포기 배아, 상실배, 포배 및 탈각한 포배를 대상으로 MT2-MMP mRNA의 발현양상을 조사한 결과 2세포기에서는 발현이 일어나지 않았고 4세포기에 이르러서야 뚜렷한 발현이 관찰되었다. 상실배와 포배에서는 현저히 강한 발현이 관찰되었다. 생쥐의 난소조직에서도 MT1-과 MT2-MMP모두 발현되는 것이 관찰되었는데 각각은 배란을 전후로 한 시기에 상관없이 항상 같은 정도의 mRNA발현을 나타내었다. 생쥐의 수란관조직도 난소조직과 유사하게 배란시기에 상관없이 같은 수준의 MT1-과 MT2-MMP mRNA 발현양상을 보여주었다. 이러한 결과들로 미루어 생쥐 배아에서 발현되는 MT2-MMP는 초기배아의 분화과정에서 중요한 역할을 할 것으로 사료된다. 난소와 수란관의 조직재구성과 관련한 MT1-과 MT2-MMP의 역할은 앞으로 더 연구되어야 할 것이다.

• 한국발생생물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국발생생물학회 2003년도 제3회 국제심포지움 및 학술대회
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• pp.81-81
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• 2003

DNA methylation is a covalent modification of DNA that can modulate gene expression and is now recognized as a major component of the epigenome. During evolution, the dinucleotide CpG has been progressively eliminated from the genome of higher eukaryotes and is present at only 5% to 10% of its predicted frequency. Approxymately 80% of the remaining CpG sites contain methylated cytosines in most vertebrates and they are distributed in a pattern that is unique in each tissue and is inversely correlated with gene expression. The pattern of methylation is faithfully maintained during cell division by the enzyme Dnmt1, the maintenance DNA methyltransferase, which catalyzes the transfer of a methyl group from S-adenosyl-methionine to the 5'-position of the cytosine ring. We have been identified bovine Dnmt1 cDNA full-length recently (AY173048) Little is known on the functions of Dnmt1 in bovine preimplantation embryos. Thus, we analyzed the specific pattern of Dnmt1 in in vitro derived/nuclear transfer bovine and in vivo derived mouse embryos to monitor the epigenetic reprogramming process. We investigated these process by using indirect immunofluresence with an antibody to Dnmt1. According to other studies, Dnmt1 accumulates in nuclei of early growing oocytes but is sequestered in the cytoplasm of mature oocytes. In 2-cell and 4-cell embryos, Dnmt1 is cytoplasmic, but at the 8-cell stage, it is present only in the nucleus. By the blastocyst stage, Dnmt1o is again found only in the cytoplasm. Thus, nuclear localization of Dnmt1o in preimplantation embryos is limited to the 8-cell stages After implantation, Dnmt1 is localized in the nucleus in mouse. However, we have found different patterns of Dnmt1 nuclear localization. Though we used the common antibody, immune-localization data revealed that Dnmt1 antibody have been detected at the nucleus in 1-cell to blastocyst embryos. Therefore, maybe we think that the functions of Dnmt1 between bovine and mice are different. In order to Identify the mechanisms that regulate DNA methylation in bovine preimplantation embryo, we have plans on using bovine oocyte and somatic specific Dnmt1 antibodies.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.83-91
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• 2005

Somatic cell nuclear transfer in cattle has limited efficiency in terms of production of live offspring due to high incidence of fetal failure after embryo transfer to recipients. Such low efficiency of cloning could possibly arise from abnormal and poorly developed placenta. In the present study the placental proteome in late pregnancy established from in vitro fertilization (IVF) and nuclear transfer (NT) was analysed. Proteome alternation was tested using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI- TOF). Comparing placenta from NT embryos to those from IVF counterparts, significant changes in expression level were found in 18 proteins. Of these proteins 12 were not expressed in NT placenta but expressed in IVF counterpart, whereas the expression of the other 6 proteins was limited only in NT placenta. Among these proteins, cytokeratin 8 and vimentin are considered to be involved in regulation of post-implantation development. In particular, cytokeratin 8 and vimentin may be used as makers for placental development during pregnancy because their expression levels changed considerably in NT placental tissue compared with its IVF counterpart. Data from 2-DE suggest that protein expression was disorientated in late pregnancy from NT, but this distortion was eliminated with progression of pregnancy. These findings demonstrate abnormal placental development during late pregnancy from NT and suggest that alterations of specific placental protein expression may be involved in abnormal function of placenta.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.265-272
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• 2011

It is well known that adipose tissue or body fat has been proved as a crucial component of brain-peripheral axis which can modulate the activities of reproductive hormonal axis in female mammals including rodents and human. Concerning the male reproduction, however, the role of adipose tissue has not been thoroughly studied. The present study was carried out to elucidate the effect of a high-fat (HF) diet on the reproductive system of postpubertal male rats. The HF diet (45% energy from fat, HF group) was applied to male rats from week 8 after birth for 4 weeks. The blood glucose levels, body and tissue weights were measured. Histological studies were performed to assess the structural alterations in the reproductive tissues. To determine the transcriptional changes of reproductive hormone-related genes in hypothalamus and pituitary, total RNAs were extracted and applied to the semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Body weights (p<0.01) and blood glucose levels (p<0.01) of HF group were significantly higher than those of control animals. Similarly, the weights of epididymis (p<0.05), prostate (p<0.01), seminal vesicle (p<0.01) in HF group were higher than control levels. The weights of testis were not changed. The weights of kidney (p<0.001) and spleen (p<0.01) were significantly higher than control levels while the adrenal and pancreas weights were not changed. There were only slight alterations in the microstructures of accessory sex organs; the shape of luminal epithelial cells in epididymis from HF group were relatively thicker and bigger than those from control animals. In the semi-quantitative RT-PCR studies, the mRNA levels of hypothalamic GnRH (p<0.05) in HF group were significantly higher than those from the control animals. The mRNA levels of kisspeptin in HF group tend to be higher than control levels, the difference was not significant. Unlike the hypothalamic GnRH expression, the mRNA levels of pituitary $LH{\beta}$ and $FSH{\beta}$ were significantly decreased in HF group (p<0.05). The present study indicated that the 4-weeks feeding HF diet during the postpubertal period can alter the hypothalamus-pituitary (H-P) neuroendocrine reproductive system These results suggest that the increased body fat and the altered leptin input might disturb the H-P reproductive hormonal activities in male rats, and the changed activities seem to be responsible for the changes of tissue weights in accessory sex organs.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.67-77
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• 2000

심해에서 서식하며 특이한 조직형태를 갖고 있는 꼼치조직에서 cDNA를 제작하여 클로닝을 통해서, 꼼치에서 특이하게 발현하는 유전인자를 검색하였다. 그 결과 62례의 클론이 알려진 유전자에 동질성이 있었는데 이들은 thioesterase가 9례, myosin이 8례, creatine kinase가 7례, skeletal alpha-actin이 6례, parvalbumin b와 ribosomal protein이 각각 5례, type I collagen과 muscle troponin이 각각 3례, dopamine receptor, histatin, 그리고 heat shock protein이 각각 2례, cystatin, lectin, statherin, secretory carrier membrane protein, keratin type I, desmin, chloroplast, muscle tropomyosin, reticulum calcium ATPase, ribonucleoprotein이 각각 1례로 나타났다. 나머지 클론은 동질성이 낮거나 비반복성으로 나타났으며, 이 중 in situ hybridization으로 조직에서 특이하게 발현되는 5종류의 클론을 선택하여 분석하였으며, C 말단 단백질 구조와 특색(motif)을 분석하였다. 5종류의 클론에서 C9O-77은 약 5000bp 크기로 상피조직, 점액조직, 섬유조직 그리고 교원질 조직에서 강한 양성반응을 보이는 세포의 기질단백질로 예상되었다. C9O-116은 약 1500bp 크기로 섬유조직, 상피조직 그리고 점액조직에서 약한 양성반응을 보였고, 근육 다발 주변 부위 세포에서 매우 강한 양성반응을 보이는 막투과성 단백질로 예상되었다. C9O-130은 약 1200bp 크기로 상피조직, 근육조직 그리고 점액조직에서 양성반응을 나타냈으며, 특히 상피조직에서 강한 양성반응을 나타내는 세포내 단백질로 예상되었다. C9O-161은 약 2000bp 크기로 상피조직 과 근육조직 그리고 점액성 섬유조직에서 약한 양성반응을 보였고, 상피세포에서 강한 양성반응을 보였으며, 근육다발을 둘러싸는 섬유성 세포에서도 강한 양성반응을 보이는 세포외 기질단백질로 추측되었다. C9O-171은 약 1000bp크기로 상피조직, 근육조직 그리고 섬유기질 조직에 널리 강한 양성반응을 나타냈으며 교원띠조직에서도 양성반응을 보이는 전사인자로 추측되었다.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.225-232
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• 2013

Satellite cells were derived from muscular tissue in postnatal pig. Satellite cell is an important to growth and development in animal tissues or organs. However, the progress underlying induced differentiation is not clear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the morphologic and the transcriptome changes in porcine satellite cell (PSC) treated with insulin, rosiglitazone, or dexamethasone respectively. PSC was obtained from postnatal muscle tissue. In study 1, for study the effect of insulin and FBS on the differentiated satellite cells, cells were cultured at absence or presence of insulin treated with FBS. Total RNA was extracted for determining the expression levels of myogenic PAX3, PAX7, Myf5, MyoD, and myogenin genes by real-time PCR. Myogenic genes decreased expression levels of mRNA in treated with insulin. In study 2, in order to clarify the relationship between rosiglitazone and lipid in differentiated satellite cells, we further examined the effect of FBS on lipid accumulation in the presence or absence of the rosiglitazone and lipid. Significant differences were observed between rosiglitazone and lipid by FBS. The mRNA of FABP4 and $PPAR{\gamma}$ increased in rosiglitazone treatment. In study 3, we examined the effect of dexamethasone on osteogenic differentiation in PSC. The mRNA was increased osteoblasotgenic ALP and ON genes treated with dexamethasone in 2% FBS. Dexamethasone induces osteoblastogenesis in differentiated PSC. Taken together, in differentiated PSCs, FABP4 and $PPAR{\gamma}$ increased to rosiglitazone. Whereas, no differences to FBS and lipid. These results were not comparable with previous reports. Our results suggest that adipogenic, myogenic, and osteoblastogenic could be isolated from porcine skeletal muscle, and identify culture conditions which optimize proliferation and differentiation formation of PSC.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.16-26
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• 2007

Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is a serine protease catalyzing the proteolytic conversion of plasminogen into plasmin, which is involved in thrombolysis. During last two decades, the role of tPA in brain physiology and pathology has been extensively investigated. tPA is expressed in brain regions such as cortex, hippocampus, amygdala and cerebellum, and major neural cell types such as neuron, astrocyte, microglia and endothelial cells express tPA in basal status. After strong neural stimulation such as seizure, tPA behaves as an immediate early gene increasing the expression level within an hour. Neural activity and/or postsynaptic stimulation increased the release of tPA from axonal terminal and presumably from dendritic compartment. Neuronal tPA regulates plastic changes in neuronal function and structure mediating key neurologic processes such as visual cortex plasticity, seizure spreading, cerebellar motor learning, long term potentiation and addictive or withdrawal behavior after morphine discontinuance. In addition to these physiological roles, tPA mediates excitotoxicity leading to the neurodegeneration in several pathological conditions including ischemic stroke. Increasing amount of evidence also suggest the role of tPA in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis even though beneficial effects was also reported in case of Alzheimer's disease based on the observation of tPA-induced degradation of $A{\beta}$ aggregates. Target proteins of tPA action include extracellular matrix protein laminin, proteoglycans and NMDA receptor. In addition, several receptors (or binding partners) for tPA has been reported such as low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) and annexin II, even though intracellular signaling mechanism underlying tPA action is not clear yet. Interestingly, the action of tPA comprises both proteolytic and non-proteolytic mechanism. In case of microglial activation, tPA showed non-proteolytic cytokine-like function. The search for exact target proteins and receptor molecules for tPA along with the identification of the mechanism regulating tPA expression and release in the nervous system will enable us to better understand several key neurological processes like teaming and memory as well as to obtain therapeutic tools against neurodegenerative diseases.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.155-163
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• 2018

This study aimed to investigate changes in the activity and mRNA expression of plasminogen activators (PAs) induced by $17{\beta}$-estradiol ($E_2$), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and interleukin-$1{\beta}$ ($IL-1{\beta}$) in porcine endometrial cells. Endometrial cells were isolated from the epithelium and cultured to 80% confluence. They were then treated for 24 h with $E_2$ (0.2, 2, 20, and 200 ng/mL), $IL-1{\beta}$ (0.1, 1, 10, and 100 ng/mL), and hCG (0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 IU/mL). mRNA expressions of urokinase-type (uPA) and tissue-type (tPA) PAs were analyzed using reverse transcription PCR, and activities were measured using a PA activity assay. mRNA expressions of uPA and tPA increased with $E_2$ treatment; however, this was not significant. Similarly, treatment with hCG did not influence the mRNA expressions of PAs. Interestingly, treatment with 0.1 ng/mL $IL-1{\beta}$ significantly reduced the mRNA expression of uPA, but did not affect that of tPA. Treatment with 2, 20, and 200 ng/mL $E_2$ increased PA activity compared with the control group; treatment with 0.1 and 1 ng/mL $IL-1{\beta}$ significantly increased PA activity compared with the other $IL-1{\beta}$ treatment groups, whereas treatment with 10 and 100 ng/mL $IL-1{\beta}$ decreased. Treatment with 2 IU/mL hCG increased PA activity compared with the other treatment groups, although there were no significant differences between the hCG and control groups. In conclusion, the activity and mRNA expression of PAs were differently regulated by the hormone/cytokine and its concentration in porcine endometrial cells. Therefore, understanding PA regulatory mechanisms may help to improve the reproductive potential of domestic animals.