• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.2-9
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• 2023

Hair follicles in the skin undergo cyclic rounds of regeneration, degeneration, and rest throughout life. Stem cells residing in hair follicles play a pivotal role in maintaining tissue homeostasis and hair growth cycles. Research on hair follicle aging and age-related hair loss has demonstrated that a decline in hair follicle stem cell (HFSC) activity with aging can decrease the regeneration capacity of hair follicles. This review summarizes our understanding of how age-associated HFSC intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms can induce HFSC aging and hair loss. In addition, we discuss approaches developed to attenuate ageassociated changes in HFSCs and their niches, thereby promoting hair regrowth.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2008

We attempted to control the maturation promoting factors (MPF) activity and nuclear remodeling of somatic cell nuclear transfer (NT) bovine embryos. Bovine ear skin fibroblasts were fused to enucleated oocytes treated with either 5 mM caffeine for 2.5 h or 0.5 mM vanadate for 0.5 h and activated. The nuclear remodeling type of the reconstituted embryos was evaluated 1.5 h after activation. MPF activity was assessed in enucleated and chemical treated oocytes before the injection of a donor cell. Effect of chemicals on the embryonic development was evaluated with parthenogenetic embryos. MPF activity increased significantly by caffeine treatment, but decreased by vanadate treatment (p<0.05). Caffeine or vanadate had no deleterious effect on the parthenogenetic embryo development. In caffeine treated group, premature chromosome condensation (PCC) was occurred in 72.2% of NT embryos (p<0.05). In contrast, vanadate induced the formation of a pronucleus-like structure (PN) in a high frequency (68.9%, p<0.05) without PCC (NPCC). Blastocyst development of NT embryos increased by treating with caffeine (30.3%), whereas decreased by treating with vanadate (11.4%) compared to control (22.1%, p<0.05). The results indicate that caffeine or vanadate can control of MPF activity and remodeling type of NT embryos, resulting in the increased or decreased in vitro development.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.695-705
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• 2021

Background: Ginsenosides have beneficial effects on several airway inflammatory disorders primarily through glucocorticosteroid-like anti-inflammatory activity. Among inflammatory cells, eosinophils play a major pathogenic role in conferring a risk of severe refractory diseases including chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). However, the role of ginsenosides in reducing eosinophilic inflammation and CRS pathogenesis is unexplored. Methods: We investigated the therapeutic efficacy and underlying mechanism of ginsenoside F1 (G-F1) in comparison with those of dexamethasone, a representative glucocorticosteroid, in a murine model of CRS. The effects of G-F1 or dexamethasone on sinonasal abnormalities and infiltration of eosinophils and mast cells were evaluated by histological analyses. The changes in inflammatory cytokine levels in sinonasal tissues, macrophages, and NK cells were assessed by qPCR, ELISA, and immunohistochemistry. Results: We found that G-F1 significantly attenuated eosinophilic inflammation, mast cell infiltration, epithelial hyperplasia, and mucosal thickening in the sinonasal mucosa of CRS mice. Moreover, G-F1 reduced the expression of IL-4 and IL-13, as well as hematopoietic prostaglandin D synthase required for prostaglandin D2 production. This therapeutic efficacy was associated with increased NK cell function, without suppression of macrophage inflammatory responses. In comparison, dexamethasone potently suppressed macrophage activation. NK cell depletion nullified the therapeutic effects of G-F1, but not dexamethasone, in CRS mice, supporting a causal link between G-F1 and NK cell activity. Conclusion: Our results suggest that potentiating NK cell activity, for example with G-F1, is a promising strategy for resolving eosinophilic inflammation in CRS.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.215-222
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• 1989

A macromolecular fraction from fresh ginseng root containing mainly polysaccharide showed mild mitogenic activity in human cord blood lymphocytes. 2) When lymphocytes were transformed by Con A or PHA, this fraction could greatly enhance the activity of these lectin mitogens, thus showing a potentiation effect. 3) Although this macromolerular fraction contains saponin and is susceptible to trypsin digestion, it is probably a peptido-glycan in nature on account of its important carbohydrate content and thermal stability. 4) This fraction could not support cancer cell (EAT, K562) growth : its inhibitory effect on these cells remains to be explored.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.27-40
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• 2020

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the hair growth-promoting effects by Rumex japonicas Houttuyn ethanol extract (RJHEE) in C57BL/6N mice and HaCaT cells. Methods: The hair growth effect was examined by topical application of RJHEE on the shaved dorsal skin of C57BL/6 mice. Six-week old mice were depilated and separated in 4 groups; CON (vehicle treatment), MXD (2% Minoxidil), and RJHEE (2% and 4%). The treatments were applied daily for 17 days. The hair growth was determined photographically and the hair density, thickness and length were identified by Folliscope. In dorsal skin tissue, the expression of hair growth-related protein was analyzed by Western blotting. In HaCaT cells, the cell proliferation and the protection against H₂O₂-induced cell damage by RJHEE were analyzed. Results: Our results indicate that RJHEE promote the hair growth, hair density, thickness and length. RHE activate the Wnt/𝛽-catenin signaling and induced the expression of cell survival-related proteins, such as pERK/ERK and Bcl-2/Bax. In HaCaT, RJHEE accelerated the cell proliferation and protected the H₂O₂-induced cell damage. Conclusions: Our results strongly suggest that RJHEE promotes hair growth by regulating the activation of Wnt/𝛽-catenin signaling and cell survival signaling and protects oxidative stress-induced hair damage. Therefore, RJHEE has a hair growth activity and can be useful for the treatment of alopecia.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.56-62
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• 2003

The liver progenitor cells could form a potential target cell population fore both tumor-initiating and -promoting chemicals. Induction of drug-metabolizing and antioxidant enzymes, including AhR-dependent CYP1A1, NQO-1 and AKR1C9, was detected in the rat liver epithelial WB-F344 "stem-like" cells. Additionally, WB-F344 cells express a functional, wild-type form of p53 protein, a biomarker of genotoxic events, and connexin 43, a basic structural unit of gap junctions forming an important type of intercellular communication. In this cellular model, two complementary assays have been established for detection of the modes of action associated with tumor promotion: inhibition of gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) and proliferative activity in confluent cells. We found that the PAHs and PCBs, which are AhR agonists, released WB-F344 cells from contact inhibition, increasing both DNA synthesis and cell numbers. Genotoxic effects of some PAHs that lead to apoptosis and cell cycle delay might interfere with the proliferative activity of PAHs. Contrary to that, the nongenotoxic low-molecular-weight PAHs and non-dioxin-like PCB congeners, abundant in the environment, did not significantly affect cell cycle and cell proliferation; however both groups of compounds inhibited GJIC in WB-F344 cells. The release from contact inhibiton by a mechanism that possibly involves the AhR activation, inhibition of GJIC and genotoxic events induced by environmental contaminants are three important modes of action that could play an important role in carcinogenic effects of toxic compounds. The relative potencies to inhibit GJIC, to induce AhR-mediated activity, and to release cells from contact inhibition were determined for a large series of PAHs and PCBs and their metabolites. In vitro bioassays based on detection of events on cellular level (deregulation of GJIC and/or proliferation) or determination of receptor-mediated activities in both ?$stem-like^{\circ}{\times}$ and hepatocyte-like liver cellular models are valuable tools for detection of modes of action of polyaromatic hydrocarbons. They may serve, together with concentration data, as a first step in their risk assessment.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.54 no.1_2
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• pp.1-5
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• 2016

The dpp gene originated from the silkworms is an important gene that is well conserved in the genome of humans, cattle, rodents, poultry and Drosophila. The dpp gene belonging to the TGF-beta (Transforming Growth Factor-beta) superfamily is known to play an important role in several developmental stages. The $TGF-{\beta}$ gene family is a genetically well-conserved and playing an important role gene family in various species such as determining cell proliferation and differentiation, apoptosis and cell fate. In this review, we have confirmed the following studies data. The recent studies on the silkworm dpp gene have confirmed for the first time the biological functions such as promoting osteogenesis activity. In addition, previous data shows that dpp have developmental functions such as morphogenetic materials at the blastophyllum stage, induction of the mesoblast at the late embryonic stage and involved in the proliferation and morphogenesis of imaginal disc in adult development. We found the splice variant of the dpp gene originated from the wildtype silkworm by using comparative genomics. It has provided important data for basic research based on genetics studies of these processes may promote a better understanding of evolution. Silkworm is a medicinal insect and is approved for its safety. It is used as a natural antibiotic for promoting growth as a medical material, a health functional food, and a feed additive. Therefore, it is necessary to present various data to obtain more value of functional insect.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.81-90
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• 2014

In order to determine the functional benefits of Cordyceps militaris in the immune system, we examined the immunomodulatory activities of C. militaris using an immunocompromised C57BL/6 mice, mouse spleen cells, RAW 264.7 macrophage cells, and A549 lung carcinoma cells. Mice were injected intraperitioneally with an immunosuppressive drug, cyclophosphamide, and then administered orally with 30, 100 and 300 mg/kg of 50% ethanol extract of C. militaris (CME 30, CME 100 and CME 300) for 14 days. CME increased splenocyte proliferation and natural killer (NK) cell activity compared to 3% hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-treated control mice. CME also increased the production of Th1 cytokines, IL-2 and TNF-${\alpha}$ in spleen cells isolated from CME-injected mice and in vitro, which suggested the enhanced cellular immunity in response to CME. CME also increased splenocyte proliferation, NK cell activity, and IL-2 and TNF-${\alpha}$ production compared to 1 ${\mu}M$ methotrexate-treated spleen cells in vitro. We examined whether C. militaris regulates the production of inflammatory mediators in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. CME inhibited LPS-induced NO production and iNOS expression in a dose dependent manner, while COX-2 expression was remained unchanged. In addition, CME also has free radical scavenging activity, indicating its antioxidant activity. These results indicate that C. militaris enhances immune activity by promoting immune cell proliferation and cytokine production.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.49-61
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• 2017

Objectives : In order to find out the whitening effects of Leonuri Herba, this study was designed to identify the effects and the action mechanism of LHE(Leonuri Herba extract) on Malignant melanoma cell lines. Methods : After treating LHE on the B16F10 cell-Malignant melanoma cell line-, the cell survival rate, melanin biosynthesis rate, intra&extracellular tyrosinase activity rate, SOD-like activity, tyrosinase mRNA gene expression were investigated. The results were compared with control group without LHE treatment or with positive control group treated with whitening efficacy substance. Results : B16F10 cell survival rate, melanin biosynthesis rate, and intra&extracellular tyrosinase activity were significantly inhibited depending on the concentration of treated LHE. Melanin biosynthesis rate and tyrosinase activity rate were also decreased when ${\alpha}-MSH$ was combined with LHE. In addition, the SOD-like activity was increased in a concentration-dependent manner in the treatment with the LHE, indicating signigicant activity at high concentrations, and the tyrosinase mRNA gene expression was decreased in both the LHE-treated group, the LHE and ${\alpha}-MSH-treated$ group. Conclusions : LHE seems to inhibit melanin synthesis through inhibition of tyrosinase activity and inhibition of tyrosinase mRNA gene expression. It also has the effect of promoting SOD-like activity and may be used clinically as a skin whitening agent in the future.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.74-80
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• 1998

CS-2l lymphoma cells that preferentially metastasize to lymph nodes after s.c. inoculation into BALB/c mice were grown in vitro in the presence of CA- 12 stromal cells isolated from lymph nodes. In order to obtain fundamental data on the identification and characterization of the soluble factors produced by CA-12 stromal cells, the conditioned medium of CA-12 stromal cells that inhibited apoptosis of CS-21 cells was examined. Various analytical treatments revealed that the soluble factors in CA-12 conditioned medium are very sensitive to heat treatment and trypsinization. Moreover CA-12 conditioned medium has an affinity with heparin but not with Con-A. In addition to these, the activity of CA-12 conditioned medium was blocked by H-7, a PKC inhibitor, but the conditioned medium could not induce the differentiation of thymocytes. We concluded that CA-12 conditioned medium contains stromal cell-derived apoptosis-inhibitory molecules that play an important role in proliferation of CS-2l cells by suppressing cell apoptosis.