• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제48권4호
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• pp.439-446
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• 2020

Two Bacillus strains, K3 and K208, both demonstrating strong fibrinolytic activities were isolated from Kimchi, a traditional Korean preparation of fermented vegetables. Isolates were subjected to various molecular biology based identification methods including RAPD-PCR and identified as B. subtilis and B. velezensis, respectively. Tryptic soy broth (TSB) was found to best maintain both the growth and the fibrinolytic activity of these strains. Culture supernatants were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and fibrin zymography, and the results indicate that a 40 and 27 kDa band seem to be responsible for the fibrinolytic activities of these two isolates and the 27 kDa band was subsequently identified as the mature form of AprE, the major fibrinolytic enzyme. Thus the aprE genes were cloned and the translated amino acid sequences demonstrated 99.3% identity with each other, and 86.5% identity with BsfA, a fibrinolytic enzyme from B. subtilis ZA400 also isolated from Kimchi, and AprE2, a fibrinolytic enzyme from B. subtilis CH3-5 isolated from Cheonggukjang, a traditional Korean fermented soy. Given this B. subtilis K3 and B. velezensis K208 may be promising starter cultures in the production of fermented foods.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제31권6호
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• pp.833-839
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• 2021

Bacillus subtilis CH3-5 isolated from cheonggukjang secretes a 28 kDa protease with a strong fibrinolytic activity. Its gene, aprE3-5, was cloned and expressed in a heterologous host (Jeong et al., 2007). In this study, the promoter of aprE3-5 was replaced with other stronger promoters (P_cry3A, P₁₀, P_SG1, P_srfA) of Bacillus spp. using PCR. The constructed chimeric genes were cloned into pHY300PLK vector, and then introduced into B. subtilis WB600. The P10 promoter conferred the highest fibrinolytic activity, i.e., 1.7-fold higher than that conferred by the original promoter. Overproduction of the 28 kDa protease was confirmed using SDS-PAGE and fibrin zymography. RT-qPCR analysis showed that aprE3-5 expression was 2.0-fold higher with the P10 promoter than with the original promoter. Change of the initiation codon from GTG to ATG further increased the fibrinolytic activity. The highest aprE3-5 expression was observed when two copies of the P₁₀ promoter were placed in tandem upstream of the ATG initiation codon. The construct with P10 promoter and ATG and the construct with two copies of P10 promoter in tandem and ATG exhibited 117% and 148% higher fibrinolytic activity, respectively, than that exhibited by the construct containing P10 promoter and GTG. These results confirmed that significant overproduction of a fibrinolytic enzyme can be achieved by suitable promoter modification, and this approach may have applications in the industrial production of AprE3-5 and related fibrinolytic enzymes.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제24권4호
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• pp.77-86
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• 2009

Objectives : The proliferation and migration of human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMC) in response to activation by various stimuli plays a critical role in the initiation and development of atherosclerosis. This study was conducted to examine the effects of Nelumbo nucifera leaves (NNL) on the proliferation and migration of HASMC. Additionally, the mechanisms involved in any observed effects were also evaluated. Methods : Apoptotic cells were measured by staining with FITC-labeled annexin V, followed by flow cytometric analysis. The expression level of apoptosis related proteins was confirmed by western blot. And MMP-9 activity was measured by gelatin zymography and MMP-9 expression was measured by ELISA Results : NNL completely inhibited the proliferation of HASMC via induction of the expression of apoptotic proteins including annexin V, cleaved poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), and caspase-3 and -8. NNL treatment resulted in the release of cytochrome c into cytosol, a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, a decrease in Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL and an increase in Bax expression. NNL also blocked HASMC migration via suppression of MMP-9. Conclusions : Taken together, these results indicate that NNL has the potential for use as an anti-artherosclerosis agent.

• Animal Bioscience
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• 제36권8호
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• pp.1167-1179
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• 2023

Objective: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of endoproteases produced by various tissues and cells and play important roles in angiogenesis, tissue repair, immune response, and endometrial remodeling. However, the expression and function of MMPs in the pig endometrium during the estrous cycle and pregnancy have not been fully elucidated. Thus, we determined the expression, localization, and regulation of MMP2, MMP8, MMP9, MMP12, and MMP13 in the endometrium throughout the estrous cycle and at the maternal-conceptus interface during pregnancy in pigs. Methods: Endometrial tissues during the estrous cycle and pregnancy and conceptus and chorioallantoic tissues during pregnancy were obtained and the expression of MMPs was analyzed. The effects of steroid hormones and cytokines on the expression of MMPs were determined in endometrial explant cultures. Results: Expression levels of MMP12 and MMP13 changed during the estrous cycle, while expression of MMP2, MMP9, MMP12, and MMP13 changed during pregnancy. Expression of MMP2, MMP8, and MMP13 mRNAs was cell type-specific at the maternal-conceptus interface. Gelatin zymography showed that enzymatically active MMP2 was present in endometrial tissues. In endometrial explant cultures, estradiol-17β induced the expression of MMP8 and MMP12, progesterone decreased the expression of MMP12, interleukin-1β increased the expression of MMP2, MMP8, MMP9, and MMP13, and interferon-γ increased the expression of MMP2. Conclusion: These results suggest that MMPs expressed in response to steroids and cytokines play an important role in the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy by regulating endometrial remodeling and processing bioactive molecules in pigs.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.321-329
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• 2023

Anaplastic thyroid cancer has the highest mortality rate of all thyroid cancers and shows low responsiveness to most treatments. Hongyoung, a reddish-colored potato, is an excellent source of dietary polyphenol containing a large amount of anthocyanins, which has anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects. This study investigated the effects of Hongyoung extract on apoptosis and invasiveness in SNU-80 anaplastic thyroid cancer cells. The quantification of the total polyphenol content was done by spectrophotometric measurement. Cell growth was measured by using 2-(2-methoxy-4-nitrophenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-(2,4-disulfophenyl) 2H tetrazolium, monosodium salt (MTS) assay. Cell cycle was analyzed through FACS analysis. Induction of apoptosis in cells was investigated by annexin V staining using flow cytometer and the expression of caspase-3 and Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) through western blot. mRNA expression and protein activation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2/-9 were examined by RT-PCR and zymography. As a result, the TPC of Hongyoung was 292.43±8.42 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/100 g dry extract. Hongyoung showed a dose-dependent cell growth inhibition, and the IC₅₀ values was 1,000 ㎍/mL. sub-G1 phase was more than doubled compared to the control group, and S and G2/M phase arrest were also induced. Hongyoung induced apoptosis by increasing FITC-Annexin V-positive cells and increased the activation of caspase-3 (cleaved caspase-3) and PARP (fragmented PARP). Hongyoung significantly inhibited mRNA expression and protein activation of MMP-2/-9 in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-treated SNU-80 cells. Therefore, this study suggests the possibility of development of Hongyoung extract as an anti-cancer agent.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.239-252
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• 2024

Dexmedetomidine displays multiple mechanisms of neuroprotection in ameliorating ischemic brain injury. In this study, we explored the beneficial effects of dexmedetomidine on blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity and neuroinflammation in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 1.5 h and reperfusion for 24 h to establish a rat model of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Dexmedetomidine (9 ㎍/kg) was administered to rats 30 min after MCAO through intravenous injection, and SB203580 (a p38 MAPK inhibitor, 200 ㎍/kg) was injected intraperitoneally 30 min before MCAO. Brain damages were evaluated by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining, hematoxylin-eosin staining, Nissl staining, and brain water content assessment. BBB permeability was examined by Evans blue staining. Expression levels of claudin-5, zonula occludens-1, occludin, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) as well as M1/M2 phenotypes-associated markers were assessed using immunofluorescence, RT-qPCR, Western blotting, and gelatin zymography. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to examine inflammatory cytokine levels. We found that dexmedetomidine or SB203580 attenuated infarct volume, brain edema, BBB permeability, and neuroinflammation, and promoted M2 microglial polarization after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Increased MMP-9 activity by ischemia/reperfusion injury was inhibited by dexmedetomidine or SB203580. Dexmedetomidine inhibited the activation of the ERK, JNK, and p38 MAPK pathways. Moreover, activation of JNK or p38 MAPK reversed the protective effects of dexmedetomidine against ischemic brain injury. Overall, dexmedetomidine ameliorated brain injury by alleviating BBB permeability and promoting M2 polarization in experimental cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury model by inhibiting the activation of JNK and p38 MAPK pathways.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제33권11호
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• pp.1484-1494
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• 2023

NUC1 (Nutraceutical compound 1) is an ethanol extract composed of a formulation based on medicinal herbs traditionally used for the treatment of arthritis in Korea and China. This study investigated the therapeutic effects of NUC1 on osteoarthritis (OA). The protective effect of NUC1 on OA was tested in a rabbit model of collagenase-induced arthritis (CIA) for 4 weeks. Results were compared among four groups (n = 9 per group): the normal group (untreated), the CIA group (vehicle control), the NUC1 group (CIA rabbits treated with 200 mg/kg NUC1), and the JOINS group (positive control, CIA rabbits treated with 200 mg/kg JOINS tablet). NUC1 significantly inhibited NO production (p < 0.05 at 125 ㎍/ml, p < 0.01 at 250 ㎍/ml, and p < 0.001 at 500 ㎍/ml) and iNOS expression in macrophages, in a concentration-dependent manner. NUC1 also inhibited the release and protein expression of MMP-1, 3, and 13, in TNF-α-induced chondrosarcoma cells in a concentration-dependent manner. In vivo, the MMP-1 and MMP-3 levels in synovial fluids were significantly (p < 0.05) lower in NUC1 group (77.50 ± 20.56 and 22.50 ± 7.39 pg/ml, respectively) than in the CIA group (148.33 ± 68.58 and 77.50 ± 20.46 pg/ml, respectively). Also, in histopathological, NUC1 ameliorated articular cartilage damage in OA by increasing the abundance of chondrocytes and proteoglycan in the articular cartilage. Thus, NUC1 showed promise as a potential therapeutic agent, and it can be generalized to a broader study population in different OA animal models.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제67권3호
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• pp.364-375
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• 2024

Objective : Kinesin family member C1 (KIFC1), a non-essential kinesin-like motor protein, has been found to serve a crucial role in supernumerary centrosome clustering and the progression of several human cancer types. However, the role of KIFC1 in glioma has been rarely reported. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the role of KIFC1 in glioma progression. Methods : Online bioinformatics analysis was performed to determine the association between KIFC1 expression and clinical outcomes in glioma. Immunohistochemical staining was conducted to analyze the expression levels of KIFC1 in glioma and normal brain tissues. Furthermore, KIFC1 expression was knocked in the glioma cell lines, U251 and U87MG, and the functional roles of KIFC1 in cell proliferation, invasion and migration were analyzed using cell multiplication, wound healing and Transwell invasion assays, respectively. The autophagic flux and expression levels matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2) were also determined using imaging flow cytometry, western blotting and a gelation zymography assay. Results : The results revealed that KIFC1 expression levels were significantly upregulated in glioma tissues compared with normal brain tissues, and the expression levels were positively associated with tumor grade. Patients with glioma with low KIFC1 expression levels had a more favorable prognosis compared with patients with high KIFC1 expression levels. In vitro, KIFC1 knockdown not only inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of glioma cells, but also increased the autophagic flux and downregulated the expression levels of MMP2. Conclusion : Upregulation of KIFC1 expression may promote glioma progression and KIFC1 may serve as a potential prognostic biomarker and possible therapeutic target for glioma.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제61권3호
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• pp.256-264
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• 2006

연구배경: 급성폐손상에서 염증세포의 모집과 활성, 그 염증세포의 부산물인 활성산소, 사이토카인, 기질단백분해효소등과 기획성 세포사멸이 폐실질 파괴와 재구성에 중요한 역할을 하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 또한 당뇨환자에서 세균 감염 시 중성구의 기능 이상과 활성 산화기의 기능이상, 살균 능의 저하를 가져온다고 알려져 있으나 단백분해효소 대한 견해가 부족한 편이다. 본 연구에서는 동물 모델에서 내독소로 유발된 급성폐손상의 기전에 중요한 역할을 하는 단백분해효소와 그 억제제의 분비를 비교 관찰하였다. 방 법: 생후 6주된 수컷 쥐 40마리를 정상군, 당뇨군, 내독소군, 당뇨-내독소군으로 나누어 당뇨군은 streptozotocin을 투여하였고 내독소군은 지질다당질을 투여하고서 희생시켰다. 각각 혈액, 기관지폐포세척액을 얻어 gelatin zymography를 이용하여 MMP-9의 활성을 측정하였고 Western blot으로 TIMP-1을 측정하였다. 결 과: 1) 내독소군과 당뇨-내독소군은 정상과 당뇨군에 비해 폐 무게의 증가와 기관지폐포세척액과 폐 조직 소견상 염증세포, 특히 중성구의 증가를 보였고 기관지폐포세척액 내 단백질 양의 증가를 보였다 (p < 0.05). 또한 당뇨-내독소군은 내독소군과 달리 기관지폐포세척액 내 총 염증세포 수가 유의하게 감소하였다 (p = 0.001). 2) MMP-9의 활성은 혈청에서는 당뇨-내독소군이 다른 세 군보다 가장 높은 활성을 보였고 기관지폐포세척액에서는 내독소군과 당뇨-내독소군은 차이가 없었으나 정상과 당뇨군에 비해 높은 활성을 보였다 (p < 0.05). TIMP-1 발현은 혈청에서는 네 군간의 차이가 없었고 기관지폐포세척액은 당뇨-내독소군이 가장 낮은 발현을 보였다 (p < 0.05). MMP-9/ TIMP-1 density ratio를 비교했을 때 기관지폐포세척액에서 당뇨-내독소군이 다른 세 군보다 높았고 내독소군도 정상과 당뇨군보다 높았다 (p < 0.05). 결 론: 급성폐손상이 있는 당뇨에서는 염증세포의 화학 주성 감소로 중증 감염에 민감해지고, 기질단백분해효소 활성 증가와 그 억제제의 감소로 폐손상이 가중될 것으로 예상된다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제26권11호
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• pp.1289-1297
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• 2016

구강편평세포암종은 구강 내에서 발생하는 가장 흔한 암의 형태로서, 구강암의 90%이상을 차지한다. 구강암은 국소적인 침윤의 양상을 나타내며 또한 조기진단과 치료가 용이하여 암예방을 위한 유용한 모델로 인정되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 생강 유기용매 분획물의 항산화 활성, 트롬빈억제 및 PMA 또는 thrombin에 의해 유도된 MMP- 2 및 MMP-9활성 억제 효과를 조사하였다. 시료들은 생강 열수 추출물을 헥산(hexane), 클로로포름(chloroform), 에틸 아세테이트(Ethyl acetate), 부탄올(butanol) 및 물($H_2O$)과 같은 용매로 분획화하여 사용하였고, $H_2O$ 분획물의 수득율이 9.79%로 가장 높았다. 항산화 활성은 DPPH assay, 세포 생존율 측정은 MTS assay, 항염증 활성은 마우스 대식세포 Raw 264.7세포에서 NO 생성 그리고 MMP-2 및 MMP-9의 mRNA 발현 및 단백질 활성 억제는 인간구강편평세포암종 YD-10B 세포에서 RT-PCR과 zymography방법을 통해 측정하였다. 본 연구의 결과에 의하면 MMP-2/-9 활성은 PMA에 의해 YD-10B세포에서 증가하였고, thrombin 처리에 의해서는 MMP-9 활성이 유의한 증가를 보였다. YD-10B 세포에서, PMA 또는 thrombin처리 모두에서 hexane 분획물이 MMP-2/-9의 mRNA 발현 및 단백질 활성을 유의하게 억제하였다. 그리고 항산화 활성은 hexane과 $H_2O$ 분획물에서 92.38%와 92.96%로 높게 나타났다. 또한 $H_2O$ 분획물에서 65.86%로 가장 유의하게 트롬빈 억제 활성을 보였다. 그러므로 본 연구에서는 생강 hexane분획물이 구강암의 우수한 암 침윤 및 전이 억제제로서의 개발 가능성을 제시하고 있다.