• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.95-103
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• 1999

This experiment was conducted to investigate how the lactation regulation such as restricted-lactation and early weaning during the suckling period influences on ovarian functions and change in serum levels of progesterone in primiparous rats. All the rats were raised in the individual cage from a few days before parturition through the suckling period. The normal lactation(NL) groups were controled 8 pups. The restricted-lactation(RL) and weaned(W) groups were subdivided into 5 subgroups as RL0, RL5, RL10, RL15 and RL20 as well as W0, W5, W10, W15, and W20 according to the day of onset of suckling. The number of pups were regulated from 8 to 4 on experimental strating day in RL gropus, and also perfectly weaned on the each on-set day in W groups. The results obtained were summarized as follows: 1. During the whole suckling period of 25 days the pups in RL group grew significantly(P＜005) faster than those in normal-lactation(NL) group. The pups in earlier RL group grew significantly(P＜0.05) faster than those in later RL rats, and there was no found any significant difference in body weight of pups between RL20 and NL group. The gestation period and litter size were found to be 21.53$\pm$0.04 days and 13.75$\pm$0.07, respectively. 2. The estrous cycle was not expressed in the NL group through the whole suckling period. An irregular estrous cycle was found around day 20 in RL0 group, and the regular estrous cycles were exhibited continuously from day 10 in the day 0 weaned rats. 3. In the rats of NL group the serum progesterone concentration increased from 33.16$\pm$2.64ng/$m\ell$ on day 0 to 122.5$\pm$53.68 ng/$m\ell$ on day 10, and then decreased slightly to 97.30$\pm$3.21 ng/$m\ell$ on day 20, but then decreased abruptly. However, the serum level of progesterone decreased greatly(P＜0.05) in 5 to 10 days following suckling restriction in the rats from which suckling began to be under restriction on day 0 or day 15. In the early weaning group the significant ( (P＜0.05) decrease in progesterone concentration was found similarly in 48 hours following weaning in all the rats weaned on day 0 through day 20. It was suggested that lactation stimulation is a very pivotal on the function of ovary.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2003

Type II collagen (CII), major component of hyaline cartilage, has been considered as an auto-antigen in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the clinical and biological significances with regard to the CII autoimmunity need to be clarified in human RA. The presence of antibodies to CII has been identified in sera, synovial fluid, and cartilage of patients with RA. In our study, the increased titer of IgG anti-CII in sera was well correlated with C-reactive protein, suggesting that this antibody may reflect the inflammatory status of RA. The titer of anti-CII antibodies (anti-CII Abs) tended to be higher in early stages of diseases. In our extending study, among 997 patients with RA, 269 (27.0%) were positive for circulatory IgG antibody to CII, those levels were fluctuated over time. It is hard to assess the significant amount of T cell responses to CII and CII (255~274) in RA. By using a sensitive method of antigen specific mixed lymphocyte culture, we can detect the presence of CII-reactive T cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of RA patients. Sixty seven (46.9%) of 143 patients showed positive CII reactive T cell responses to CII or CII (255~274). The frequencies of CII reactive T cells were more prominent in inflamed synovial fluid (SF) than in peripheral blood. These T cells could be clonally expanded after consecutive stimulation of CII with feeding of autologous irradiated antigen presenting cells (APC). Moreover, the production of Th1-related cytokine, such as IFN-${\gamma}$, was strongly up-regulated by CII reactive T cells. These data suggest that T cells responding to CII, which are probably presenting the IFN-${\gamma}$ producing cells, may play an important role in the perpetuation of inflammatory process in RA. To evaluate the effector function of CII reactive T cells, we investigated the effect of CII reactive T cells and fibroblasts-like synoviocytes (FLS) interaction on the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. When the CII reactive T cells were co-cultured with FLS, the production of IL-15 and TNF-${\alpha}$ from FLS were significantly increased (2 to 3 fold increase) and this increase was clearly presented in accord to the expansion of CII reactive T cells. In addition, the production of IFN-${\gamma}$ and IL-17, T cell derived cytokines, were also increased by the co-incubation of CII reactive T cells with FLS. We also examined the impact of CII reactive T cells on chemokines production. When FLS were co-cultured with CII stimulated T cells, the production of IL-8, MCP-1, and MIP-1${\alpha}$ were significantly enhanced. The increased production of these chemokines was strongly correlated with increase the frequency of CII reactive T cells. Conclusively, immune response to CII was frequently found in RA. Activated T cells in response to CII contributed to increase the production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, which were critical for inflammatory responses in RA. The interaction of CII-reactive T cells with FLS further augmented this phenomenon. Taken together, our recent studies have suggested that autoimmunity to CII could play a crucial role not only in the initiation but amplification/perpetuation of inflammatory process in human RA.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.12
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• pp.1915-1923
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• 2013

The aim of this study is carried out to evaluate the fermentation characteristics and increased functionality when doenjang was prepared with bamboo salts. Grain type mejus were fermented with mixed starter cultures of Aspergillus oryzae, Bacillus subtilis, and Lactococcus lactis. These mejus were mixed with different kinds of salts-purified salt (PD), sea salt (SD), one-time baked bamboo salt ($1{\times}BD$), three-time baked bamboo salt ($3{\times}BD$), and nine-time baked bamboo salt ($9{\times}BD$)- when doenjangs were prepared. For doenjang fermentation period of 8 weeks at $37^{\circ}C$, the fermentation characteristics of all the groups were compared. The amino type nitrogen content and enzyme activities (protease and ${\alpha}$-amylase) in the samples were significantly increased. In DPPH radical scavenging activities and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities, $9{\times}BD$ (47% and 69%) showed the highest scavenging activities compared to PD (40% and 49%), SD (42% and 57%), $1{\times}BD$ (42% and 64%) and $3{\times}BD$ (45% and 65%) (P<0.05). The anticancer effects of doenjang in HT-29 cancer cells indicated all the groups, especially doenjang prepared with bamboo salts were higher than the others (P<0.05). Apoptosis related genes of Bax and Bcl-2, as well as inflammation related genes of iNOS and COX-2 were regulated by the treatment of doenjangs in HT-29 cancer cells. SD, $1{\times}BD$, $3{\times}BD$, and $9{\times}BD$ increased the expression level of Bax and decreased the expression level of Bcl-2, iNOS, and COX-2. These results suggest that sea salt and bamboo salt especially bamboo salt could improve fermentation characteristics and functionality of doenjang and play an important role in regulating apoptosis and inflammation related genes in cancer cells.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.209-217
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• 2007

Purpose: Multidrug resistance (MDR) of the cancer cells related to mdr1 gene expression can be effectively treated by selective short hairpin RNA for mdr1 gene (shMDR). Sodium/iodide symporter (NIS) gene is well known to have both reporter and therapeutic gene characteristics. We have co-transfected both shMDR and NIS gene into colon cancer cells (HCT15 cell) expressing MDR and Tc-99m sestamibi and I-125 uptake were measured. In addition, cytotoxic effects of doxorubicin and I-131 therapy were also assessed after transfection. Material and Methods: At first, shMDR was transfected with liposome reagent into human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293) and HCT cells. shMDR transfection was confirmed by RT-PCR and western blot analysis. Adenovirus expressing NIS (Ad-NIS) gene and shMDR (Ad-shMDR) were co-transfected with Ad-NIS into HCT15 cells. Forty-eight hours after infection, inhibition of P-gycoprotein (Pgp) function by shMDR was analyzed by a change of Tc-99m sestamibi uptake and doxorubicin cytotoxicity, and functional activity of induced NIS gene expression was assessed with I-125 uptake assay. Results: In HEK293 cells transfected with shMDR, mdr1 mRNA and Pgp protein expressions were down regulated. HCT15 cells infected with 20 MOI of Ad-NIS was higher NIS protein expression than control cells. After transfection of 300 MOI of Ad-shMDR either with or without 10 MOI of Ad-NIS, uptake of Tc-99m sestamibi increased up to 1.5-fold than control cells. HCT15 cells infected with 10 MOI of Ad-NIS showed approximately 25-fold higher I-125 uptake than control cells. Cotransfection of Ad-shMDR and Ad-NIS resulted in enhanced cytotoxic by doxorubicin in HCT15 cells. I-131 treatment on HCT15 cells infected with 20 MOI of Ad-NIS revealed increased cytotoxic effect. Conclusion: Suppression of mdr1 gene expression, retention of Tc-99m sestamibi, enhanced doxorubicin cytotoxicity and increases in I-125 uptake were achieved in MDR expressing cancer cell by co-transfection of shMDR and NIS gene. Dual therapy with doxorubicin and radioiodine after cotransfection shMDR and NIS gene can be used to overcome MDR.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2006

Ovarian follicular atresia in mammals is finely regulated by gonadotropins and sex steroid hormones. It is well known that granulosa cell pyknosis is a common cytological feature of atretic follicles in the ovary. The present study hypothesized that granulosa cell pyknosis during follicular atresia might be related to apoptotic process and associated with caspase-3 activation. Healthy (normal) and atretic follicles were isolated from porcine ovaries based on macro-morphological criteria. Isolated follicles were either processed for histological observation or used for collection of granulosa cells by aspiration. Hoechst 33258 staining of the cells showed a significantly higher number of fragmented nuclei, a typical morphological feature of apoptotic cell, in granulosa cells from atretic follicles than those from healthy follicles. In addition, the rate of cell death was significantly higher in granulosa cells from atretic follicles than healthy follicles, as measured by flow-cytometric cell cycle analysis. In situ detection of apoptotic cells by TUNEL revealed that apoptosis was mostly restricted to granulosa cells in follicles. Theca cells were TUNEL-negative. Finally, it has been shown by caspase-3 activity assay that granulosa cells from atretic follicles retain a higher caspase-3 activity compared to healthy follicles. Taken together, it is suggested that granulosa cell degeneration during folliclar atresia occurs by caspase-3-dependent apoptotic fashion.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.296-306
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• 2014

This study was conducted to survey and analyze the quantity of various organic wastes and to vitalize the utilization of agri-food by-products as raw materials for Total mixed ration (TMR), to improve feed cost savings and the quality of animal products. On-the-spot obstacles for animal farmers, along with legal and institutional alternatives are presented. The results are as follows. First, organic wastes in Korea are managed by the Allbaro system created in the Wastes Control Act, which processes 10,488 tons of cooking oil waste, 832,493 tons of animal and plant residues, 5,740 tons of animal carcasses, 1,171,892 tons of animal residues, and 2,172,415 tons of plant residues including 12,905 tons of rice hull and bran, for a total of 4,205,931 tons. Raw materials for TMR, namely rice hulls and bran as well as plant residues, accounted for 51.7% of the total national organic waste. The top 10 municipalities process 76~100% of all organic wastes and a supply management system is needed for the waste. Second, the 10 major agri-food by-products used as raw materials for TMR are bean curd by-product, rice bran, oil-cake, brewers dried grain, Distiller's Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS), barley bran, soy sauce by-product, citrus fruit by-product, mushroom by-product and other food by-product (bread, noodles, snacks, etc.). Third, the biggest difficulties in using agri-food by-products are legal obstacles. Because agri-food by-products are regulated as industrial wastes by the Waste Control Act, animal farmers that wish to use them have legal reporting obligations including the installation of recycling facilities. To enable the use of agri-food by-products as raw materials for TMR, waste management system improvements such as 'the end of waste status' and the establishment of more than 10 public distribution centers nationwide are deemed essential.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.241-247
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• 2004

Recently, we reported a satellite RNA (Paf-satRNA) which is encapsidated in a pepper isolate of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV-Paf) regulated symptom attenuation of the helper virus. To characterize mild symptom domain of Paf-satRNA, a series of chimeric cDNAs of satRNAs were created by using full-length cDNA clones of Paf-satRNA and a Pep-satRNA, chlorosis-inducing satRNA in pepper plants, and analyzed for determinants of symptom attenuation. When compared the nucleotide sequences, the 3' and 5' terminal sequences of the two wild-type (wt) satRNAs contained relatively conserved sequences which are the typical to CMV satRNA. Ten bases insertions were found in PepY-satRNA, and two variable regions, 81st to 113th and 183rd to 265th from the 5'-end, were located in the middle parts of the satRNAs. To delineate the attenuated symptom-related domain for the Paf-satRNA, in vitro transcripts RNAs transcribed from the wt cDNAs and constructed chimeric cDNAs were combined with genomic RNAs, RNA1, RNA2 and RNA3, of CMV-Fny and inoculated onto Nicotiana benthamiana plants. These transcripts were fully infectious onto the N. benthamiana and infectivity was confirmed by the RT-PCR. Chimeric Paf(H/N)-satRNA and PepY(N/A)-satRNA as well as Paf-satRNA induced very mild mosaic or symptomless infection on N. benthamiana. By contrast, typical mosaic symptom and stunting of infected plants were induced when PepY-satRNA, PepY(H/N)-satRNA and Paf(N/A)-satRNA were infected to N. benthamiana. Paf-satRNA coinfected with CMV-Fny RNAs induced very mild to sympomless on pepper plants whereas PepY-satRNA-infected pepper expressed typical chlorosis mosaic symptom. Two kinds of chimeric mutants, Paf(H/N)-satRNA and PepY(N/A)-satRNA, induced mild mosaic or symptomless infection onto pepper plants, while PepY(H/N)-satRNA and Paf(N/A)-satRNA showed typical chlorosis and mosaic symptom with stunting. This results suggest that mild symptom-related domain for the Paf-satRNA was located on HpaI-NarI region.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.177-186
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• 2009

It is well-known that unregulated over-expression of foreign gene may have unwanted physiological or toxic effects in transgenic animals. To circumvent these problems, we constructed retrovirus vector designed to express the foreign gene under the control of the tetracycline-inducible promoter. However, gene expressions in the tetracycline-inducible expression system (Tet system) are not completely regulated but a little leaky due to the inherent defects in conventional Tet-based systems. A more tightly controllable regulatory system can be achieved when the advanced versions ($rtTA2^SM2$) of rtTA and a minimal promoter in responsive components (pTRE-tight) are used in combination therein. In this study, we tried to produce human thrombopoietin (hTPO) from various target cells and transgenic chickens using the retrovirus vector combined with Tet system. hTPO is the primary regulator of platelet production and has an important role in the survival and expansion of hematopoietic stem cells. In a preliminary experiment in vitro, higher hTPO expression and tighter expression control were observed in chicken embryonic fibroblast (CEF) cells. We also measured the biological activity of the hTPO using Mo7e cells whose proliferation is dependant on hTPO. The biological activity of the recombinant hTPO from CEF was higher than both its commercial counterpart and hTPO from other target cells. The recombinant retrovirus was injected beneath the blastoderm of non-incubated chicken embryos (stage X). Out of 138 injected eggs, 15 chicks hatched after 21 days of incubation. Among them, 8 hatched chicks were hTPO positive. When the Go transgenic chicken was fed doxycycline (0.5 mg per 1 gram of feed), a tetracycline derivative, hTPO concentration of the transgenic chicken blood was 200 ng/mL. Germline transmission of the transgene was confirmed in sperm of the Go transgenic roosters. These results are informative to establish transgenic chickens as bioreactors for the mass production of commercially valuable and biological active human cytokine proteins.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.125-142
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• 2000

13). Analysis of a purified preparation of eCG revealed that its $\beta$ -subunit consists of 149 amino acids, which was confirmed by the molecular cloning of its cDNA. There seem to be at least four to six, or even as many as 11, O-glycosylation sites on the extended C-tenninal region of the eCG $\beta$-subunit. Interestingly, eCG is a unique member of this family, as it appear to be a single molecule that possesses both LH- and FSH-like activities. Using the cDNA prepared from mRNA extracted from equine placental and pituitary tissues, we cloned the cDNA of eCG $\alpha$- and $\beta$ -subunits and eFSH $\beta$ -subunit. The mRNA expression of each subunit seems to be independently regulated, which may account for differences in the quantities of $\alpha$ - and $\beta$ -subunits in the placenta and pituitary. Thus, eCG is a distinct molecule from the view points of its biological function and glycoresidue structures. Recombinant eCGs including the mutants which lack oligosaccharides will be useful tools for analyzing the structure-function relationships of gonadotropins in the horse as well as other species. Similar experiments will also clarify the proposed structure and biological functions for the glycoprotein hormones. These experimental are now possible, and hopefully a resolution of the existing controversy will be forthcoming in the near future.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.4773-4780
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• 2014

Background: To investigate the effects of small interference RNA (siRNA) targeting BCR/ABL mRNA on proliferation and apoptosis in the K562 human chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cell line and to provide a theoretical rationale and experimental evidence for its potential clinical application for anti-CML treatment. Materials and Methods: The gene sequence for BCR/ABL mRNA was found from the GeneBank. The target gene site on the BCR/ABL mRNA were selected according to Max-Planck-Institute (MPI) and rational siRNA design rules, the secondary structure of the candidate targeted mRNA was predicted, the relevant thermodynamic parameters were analyzed, and the targeted gene sequences were compared with BLAST to eliminate any sequences with significant homology. Inhibition of proliferation was evaluated by MTT assay and colony-formation inhibiting test. Apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry (FCM) and the morphology of apoptotic cells was identified by Giemsa-Wright staining. Western blotting was used to analyze the expression of BCR/ABL fusion protein in K562 cells after siRNA treatment. Results: The mRNA local secondary structure calculated by RNA structure software, and the optimal design of specific siRNA were contributed by bioinformatics rules. Five sequences of BCR/ABL siRNAs were designed and synthesized in vitro. Three sequences, siRNA1384, siRNA1276 and siRNA1786, which showed the most effective inhibition of K562 cell growth, were identified among the five candidate siRNAs, with a cell proliferative inhibitory rate nearly 50% after exposure to 12.5nmol/L~50nmol/L siRNA1384 for 24,48 and 72 hours. The 50% inhibitory concentrations ($IC_{50}$) of siRNA1384, siRNA1276 and siRNA1786 for 24hours were 46.6 nmol/L, 59.3 nmol/L and 62.6 nmol/L, respectively, and 65.668 nmol/L, 76.6 nmol/L, 74.4 nmol/L for 72 hours. The colony-formation inhibiting test also indicated that, compared with control, cell growth of siRNA treated group was inhibited. FCM results showed that the rate of cell apoptosis increased 24 hours after transfecting siRNA. The results of annexinV/PI staining indicated that the rate of apoptosis imcreased (1.53%, 15.3%, 64.5%, 57.5% and 21.5%) following treamtne with siRNAs (siRNA34, siRNA372, siRNA1384, siRNA1276 and siRNA1786). Morphological analysis showed td typical morphologic changes of apoptosis such as shrunken, fragmentation nucleus as well as "apoptotic bodies" after K562 cell exposure to siRNA. Western blot analysis showed that BCR/ABL protein was reduced sharply after a single dose of 50nmol/L siRNA transfection. Conclusions: Proliferation of K562 cells was remarkbly inhibited by siRNAs (siRNA1384, siRNA1276 and siRNA1786) in a concentration-dependent manner in vitro, with effective induction of apoptosis at a concentration of 50 nmol/L. One anti-leukemia mechanism in K562 cells appeared that BCR/ABL targeted protein was highly down-regulated. The siRNAs (siRNA1384, siRNA1276 and siRNA1786) may prove valuable in the treatment of CML.