• Development and Reproduction
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.451-459
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• 2013

The biological activity of tissue specific stem cell is under the control of their specific microenvironment and the exogenous chemicals derived from digestive tract can be one of the constructing factors of that. It is suggested that the extract of brown algae Ishige okamurae has antioxidant-, apoptosis induction-, and antiinflammatory-effects. On the other hand, a few studies have shown that antioxidant assist inhibition of accumulation of fat. So we studied the effect of the extract of I. okamura on the cellular activity and differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocyte to adipose cell. The viability of cell was analyzed using 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazo-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 cell was analyzed after induction in the induction medium containing the I. okamurae extract. The cellular activity was high compared with the vehicle and 0.05 mM caffeine in all groups of I. okamurae extract treated cells. The extract of I. okamura inhibited accumulation of lipids in 10 and $50{\mu}g/ml$. The expression of the marker genes for adipocyte differentiation coincided with cytochemical results. These results suggest that the extract of I. okamurae increases the cellular viability of adipose precursor cells. On the other hand, it suppresses the differentiation of preadipocyte to adipocyte and accumulation of lipids in concentration-dependent manners. It may be possible that the major component of the extract can be applied in the control of adipose tissuegenesis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.471-478
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• 2013

Human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hADSCs) have therapeutic potential, including the ability to self-renew and differentiate into multiple lineages. Understanding of molecular mechanisms of stem cell differentiation is important for improving the therapeutic efficacies of stem cell transplantation. In this study, we determined the role of nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT5) in the osteogenic differentiation of hADSCs. The down-regulation of NFAT5 expression by the transfection of a specific siRNA significantly inhibited osteogenic differentiation of hADSCs and decreased the activity of the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-${\kappa}B$) promoter without affecting their proliferation and adipogenic differentiation. The inhibition of NFAT5 expression inhibited the basal and Tumor Necrosis Factor ${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) induced activation of NF-${\kappa}B$, but it did not affect TNF-${\alpha}$-induced degradation of the $I{\kappa}B$ protein. These findings indicate that NFAT5 plays an important role in the osteogenic differentiation of hADSCs through the modulation of the NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.3-11
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• 2020

Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related dacryoadenitis and sialoadenitis (IgG4-DS) are part of a multiorgan fibroinflammatory condition of unknown etiology termed IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD), which has been recognized as a single diagnostic entity for less than 15 years. Histopathologic examination is critical for diagnosis of IgG4-RD. CD4+ T and B cells, including IgG4-expressing plasma cells, constitute the major inflammatory cell populations in IgG4-RD and are thought to cause organ damage and tissue fibrosis. Patients with IgG4-RD who have active, untreated disease exhibit significant increase of IgG4-secreting plasmablasts in the blood. Considerable insight into the immunologic mechanisms of IgG4-RD has been achieved in the last decade using novel molecular biology approaches, including next-generation and single-cell RNA sequencing. Exploring the interactions between CD4+ T cells and B lineage cells is critical for understanding the pathophysiology of IgG4-RD. Establishment of pathogenic T cell clones and identification of antigens specific to these clones constitutes the first steps in determining the pathogenesis of the disease. Herein, the clinical features and mechanistic insights regarding pathogenesis of IgG4-RD were reviewed.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.507-514
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• 2015

Deer velvet antler (DVA) is one of the most popular medicines in China. Numerous studies have demonstrated that velvet antler possess biological effects. However, data regarding its anti-migration activity on prostate cancer is scarce. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of top DVA (T-DVA) on the expression of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and migration-related genes in the human prostate cancer cell, LNCaP. The T-DVA down-regulated the expression of PSA. In addition, the Radius^TM assay revealed that T-DVA inhibited the migration behavior of prostate cancer cells. Furthermore, the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was also decreased with T-DVA. On the contrary, T-DVA increased the tissue inhibition of metallo-proteinase (TIMP)-1 and (TIMP)-2. Taken together, our findings indicate that the T-DVA possesses anti-migration activity on prostate cancer cells. This is the first study of DVA to report the anti-migration activity on prostate cancer.

• BMB Reports
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.287-292
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• 2024

Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), the predominant primary hepatic malignancy, is the prime contributor to mortality. Despite the availability of multiple surgical interventions, patient outcomes remain suboptimal. Immunotherapies have emerged as effective strategies for HCC treatment with multiple clinical advantages. However, their curative efficacy is not always satisfactory, limited by the dysfunctional T cell status. Thus, there is a pressing need to discover novel potential biomarkers indicative of T cell exhaustion (Tex) for personalized immunotherapies. One promising target is Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2 (CDKN2) gene, a key cell cycle regulator with aberrant expression in HCC. However, its specific involvement remains unclear. Herein, we assessed the potential of CDKN2 expression as a promising biomarker for HCC progression, particularly for exhausted T cells. Our transcriptome analysis of CDKN2 in HCC revealed its significant role involving in HCC development. Remarkably, single-cell transcriptomic analysis revealed a notable correlation between CDKN2 expression, particularly CDKN2A, and Tex markers, which was further validated by a human cohort study using human HCC tissue microarray, highlighting CDKN2 expression as a potential biomarker for Tex within the intricate landscape of HCC progression. These findings provide novel perspectives that hold promise for addressing the unmet therapeutic need within HCC treatment.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.309-318
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• 2018

The present study was conducted to investigate the regulatory mechanism of plasminogen activators (PAs) activation by $17{\beta}$-estradiol ($E_2$) and progesterone ($P_4$) in porcine uterine epithelial cells (pUECs). pUECs were collected from porcine uterine horn and cultured at 80% confluence. Then, 0.1% (v/v) DMSO, 20 ng/mL $E_2$, and $P_4$ with or without fetal bovine serum (FBS) treated to cultured cells for 24 hours. The supernatants were used for measurement of PAs activity and expression of urokinase-type PA (uPA), tissue-type PA (tPA), uPA specific receptor (uPAR), and type-1 PA inhibitor (PAI-1) mRNA were analyzed by real-time PCR. The expression of PAs-related genes was not affect by steroid hormones in both of serum treatment groups. However, PAs activity was increased by treatment of $E_2$ compared to 0.1% DMSO treatment in serum-free group (p<0.05). Then, $E_2$ and $P_4$ were diluted with 0.002% (v/v) DMSO for reduction of its effect and treated to cultured cells without FBS. Only tPA mRNA was significantly increased by $E_2$ treatment (p<0.05). PAs activity was enhanced in $E_2$ treated group compared to control groups (p<0.05). These results indicate that serum-free condition is more proper to evaluate effect of steroid hormones and activation of PAs in pUECs was mainly regulated by estrogen. These regulation of PAs activation may be associated with uterine remodeling during pre-ovulatory phase in pigs, however, further studies are needed to investigate precise regulatory mechanism.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.129-137
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• 2018

Acute vascular rejection has been known as a main barrier occurring in a xenograted tissue of alpha 1,3-galactosyltransferase knock-out (GalT KO) pig into a non-human primate (NHP). Adenosine which is a final metabolite following sequential hydrolysis of nucleotide by ecto-nucleotidases such as CD39 and CD73, act as a regulator of coagulation, and inflammation. Thus xenotransplantation of CD39 and CD73 expressing pig under the GalT KO background could lead to enhanced survival of recipient NHP. We constructed a human CD39 and CD73 expression cassette designed for endothelial cell-specific expression using porcine Icam2 promoter (pIcam2-hCD39/hCD73). We performed isolation of endothelial cells (pAEC) from aorta of 4 week-old GalT KO and membrane cofactor protein expressing pig ($GalT^{-MCP/-MCP}$). We were able to verify that isolated cells were endothelial-like cells using immunofluorescence staining analysis with von Willebrand factor antibody, which is well known as an endothelial maker, and tubal formation assay. To find optimal condition for efficient transfection into pAEC, we performed transfection with GFP expression vector using four programs of nucleofection, M-003, U-023, W-023 and Y-022. We were able find that the program W-023 was optimal for pAEC with regard to viability and transfection efficiency by flow cytometry and fluorescent microscopy analyses. Finally, we were able to obtain $GalT^{-MCP/-MCP}/CD39/CD73$ pAEC expressing CD39 and CD73 at levels of 33.3% and 26.8%, respectively. We suggested that pACE isolated from $GalT^{-MCP/-MCP}$ pig might be provided as a basic resource to understand biochemical and molecular mechanisms of the rejections and as an alternative donor cells to generate $GalT^{-MCP/-MCP}/CD39/CD73$ pig expressing CD39 and CD73 at endothelial cells.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.11
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• pp.1293-1299
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• 2017

Obesity contributes to the development of diseases, such as type II diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, and cancer. In addition, oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) is recognized widely as a contributing factor in the development of chronic diseases. This study was examined the antioxidant and anti-adipogenic activities of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. 3T3-L1 cells were differentiated with or without EGCG for 6 days. The production of glutathione (GSH) and the activities of the antioxidant enzymes, such as glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured. EGCG inhibited significantly the lipid accumulation and the expression of adipogenic specific proteins including CCAAT/enhancer binding protein ${\alpha}$ and adipocyte fatty acid binding protein. The production of intracellular ROS was decreased significantly by EGCG in 3T3-L1 cells. EGCG increased the GSH production and the activities of GPx, GR, CAT, and SOD. Moreover, EGCG increased the protein expression of glutamate-cysteine ligase and heme oxygenase-1 in 3T3-L1 cells. These results suggest that EGCG increased the activity and expression of antioxidant enzymes and suppressed the lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells. Therefore, the use of phytochemicals that can maintain the GSH redox balance in adipose tissue could be promising for reducing obesity.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.1688-1697
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• 2024

The current study aimed to determine whether Strongylocentrotus intermedius (S. intermedius) extract (SIE) exerts anti-obesity potentials employing 3T3-L1 cells as in vitro model. Herein we reported that treatment of SIE for 6 days reduced lipid accretion and triglyceride content whereas it increased the release of free glycerol. The inhibited lipid accumulation and induced lipolysis were evidenced by the downregulation of lipogenesis proteins, such as fatty acid synthase and lipoprotein lipase, and the upregulation of hormone-sensitive lipase expression. Furthermore, the downregulation of adipogenic transcription factors, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α, and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1, highlights that reduced lipid accumulation is supported by lowering adipocyte differentiation. Additionally, treatment activates brown adipocyte phenotype in 3T3-L1 cells by inducing expression of brown adipose tissue-specific proteins, such as uncoupling protein 1 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1α. Moreover, SIE induced the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). The pharmacological approach using AMPK inhibitor revealed that the restraining effect of SIE on adipogenesis and promotion of adipocyte browning were blocked. In GC-MS analysis, SIE was mainly composed of cholest-5-en-3-ol (36.71%) along with saturated and unsaturated fatty acids which have favorable anti-obesity potentials. These results reveal that SIE has the possibility as a lipid-lowering agent for the intervention of obesity.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.195-207
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• 2006

Stem cells are the primordial, initial cells which usually divide asymmetrically giving rise to on the one hand self-renewals and on the other hand progenitor cells with potential for differentiation. Zygote (fertilized egg), with totipotency, deserves the top-ranking stem cell - he totipotent stem cell (TSC). Both the ICM (inner cell mass) taken from the 6 days-old human blastocyst and ESC (embryonic stem cell) derived from the in vitro cultured ICM have slightly less potency for differentiation than the zygote, and are termed pluripotent stem cells. Stem cells in the tissues and organs of fetus, infant, and adult have highly reduced potency and committed to produce only progenitor cells for particular tissues. These tissue-specific stem cells are called multipotent stem cells. These tissue-specific/committed multipotent stem cells, when placed in altered environment other than their original niche, can yield cells characteristic of the altered environment. These findings are certainly of potential interest from the clinical, therapeutic perspective. The controversial terminology 'somatic stem cell plasticity' coined by the stem cell community seems to have been proved true. Followings are some of the recent knowledges related to the stem cell. Just as the tissues of our body have their own multipotent stem cells, cancerous tumor has undifferentiated cells known as cancer stem cell (CSC). Each time CSC cleaves, it makes two daughter cells with different fate. One is endowed with immortality, the remarkable ability to divide indefinitely, while the other progeny cell divides occasionally but lives forever. In the cancer tumor, CSC is minority being as few as 3-5% of the tumor mass but it is the culprit behind the tumor-malignancy, metastasis, and recurrence of cancer. CSC is like a master print. As long as the original exists, copies can be made and the disease can persist. If the CSC is destroyed, cancer tumor can't grow. In the decades-long cancer therapy, efforts were focused on the reducing of the bulk of cancerous growth. How cancer therapy is changing to destroy the origin of tumor, the CSC. The next generation of treatments should be to recognize and target the root cause of cancerous growth, the CSC, rather than the reducing of the bulk of tumor, Now the strategy is to find a way to identify and isolate the stem cells. The surfaces of normal as well as the cancer stem cells are studded with proteins. In leukaemia stem cell, for example, protein CD 34 is identified. In the new treatment of cancer disease it is needed to look for protein unique to the CSC. Blocking the stem cell's source of nutrients might be another effective strategy. The mystery of sternness of stem cells has begun to be deciphered. ESC can replicate indefinitely and yet retains the potential to turn into any kind of differentiated cells. Polycomb group protein such as Suz 12 repress most of the regulatory genes which, activated, are turned to be developmental genes. These protein molecules keep the ESC in an undifferentiated state. Many of the regulator genes silenced by polycomb proteins are also occupied by such ESC transcription factors as Oct 4, Sox 2, and Nanog. Both polycomb and transcription factor proteins seem to cooperate to keep the ESC in an undifferentiated state, pluripotent, and self-renewable. A normal prion protein (PrP) is found throughout the body from blood to the brain. Prion diseases such as mad cow disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) are caused when a normal prion protein misfolds to give rise to PrP$^{SC}$ and assault brain tissue. Why has human body kept such a deadly and enigmatic protein? Although our body has preserved the prion protein, prion diseases are of rare occurrence. Deadly prion diseases have been intensively studied, but normal prion problems are not. Very few facts on the benefit of prion proteins have been known so far. It was found that PrP was hugely expressed on the stem cell surface of bone marrow and on the cells of neural progenitor, PrP seems to have some function in cell maturation and facilitate the division of stem cells and their self-renewal. PrP also might help guide the decision of neural progenitor cell to become a neuron.