• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.247-268
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• 1996

여포와 난포의 성숙, 배란과 착상, 임신의 유지와 태아의 성장 발달, 분만 및 유선발육과 비유 등 일련의 생식현상에서 있어서 성선자극호르몬과 스테로이드 호르몬의 작용이 중추적인 역할을 한다는 사실은 오래 전부터 알려져왔다. 그러나 이러한 일련의 현상에 고전적인 호르몬 외에도 다수의 성장인자가 관여되고 있음이 최근의 연구 결과 밝혀지고 있다. 생식기관에서 성장인자들은 대부분 autocrine/paracrine mode로 작용하여, 성선자극호르몬과 스테로이드 호르몬의 작용을 매개하거나 이들 호르몬 등과 교호적인 작용(synergy)을 한다. 생식기관 내 insulin-like growth factor(IGF) system은 최근 가장 활발히 연구된 분야 중의 하나로 생식현상의 전반에 걸쳐 중요한 역할을 하고 있음이 밝혀졌다. 본 지면에서는 IGF system에 관한 개괄적인 정보를 소개하고 현재까지 보고된 intrauterine IGF system에 관한 연구를 요약하고자 한다. IGF family는 IGF-I과 IGF-II ligands, 두종류의 IGF receptors(수용체), 그리고 지금까지 발견된 6종류의 IGF-binding proteins(IGFBPs)로 이루어져 있다. IGF-I과 IGF-II는 proinsulin과 상동한 구조를 가진 peptide로서 포도당과 아미노산 운반을 자극하는 등 insulin과 유사한 작용을 한다. 이 외에도 IGFs는 세포분열촉진제(mitogens)로서 여러 형태의 세포에 걸쳐 세포증식을 자극하고, 세포의 분화(differentiation)과 세포기능의 발현에 관여한다. IGFs는 간과 주로 messenchymal cells에서 발현되어 endocrine mode는 물론 autocrine/paracrine mode로 거의 모든 조직에 작용한다. IGF 수용체는 두종류가 알려져 있는데 type I IGF receptor는 tyrosine kinase로서 IGF-I과 IGF-II에 공히 high-affinity를 나타내고, 상기한 대부분의 IGFs의 작용을 매개한다. Type II IGF receptor 혹은 IGF-II/mannose-6-phosphate receptor는 두개의 서로 다른 binding sites를 가지고 있는데 IGF-II binding site는 IGF-II에만 high-affinity를 나타낸다. Type II IGF receptor의 주요 역할은 IGF-II를 lysosomal targeting하여 ligand를 파괴하는데 있다. 체액 속의 IGFs는 대부분 IGFBP에 결합되어 있다. IGFBPs는 IGF의 저장/운반체 혹은 IGF 작용을 조절하는 역할을 하는 것으로 알려져 있으나 개개 IGFBP의 역할에 대해서는 지극히 제한된 정보만이 알려져 있다. IGFBPs의 IGF ligands에의 affinity는 IGF receptors의 IGFs에의 affinity보다 크기 때문에 대부분의 in vitro 상황 하에서 IGFBPs는 IGF 작용을 억제한다. IGFBP에 결합되어 있는 IGF가 어떤 기작에 의해 IGFBP로부터 분리되어 IGF receptor에 도달하는지는 알려지지 않고 있으나, 혈액과 조직액에 들어있는 불특정 IGFBP protease activity는 IGF의 방출과정에서 일역을 하는 것으로 믿어지고 있다. 최근 연구보고에 의하면 특정 in vitro 상황 하에서 IGFBP-1, -3, -5 등은 IGF와 무관한 작용도 있다는 증빙이 있어 IGF system의 또 다른 차원을 예고하고 있다. IGF family members의 mRNAs & proteins는 영장류, 설치류 및 가축의 자궁조직과 수태물(conceptus)에서 발현되어 자궁과 태아의 성장 발달에 중요한 역할을 한다. 자궁조직의 IGF system의 발현은 성선호르몬, 국소 생리조절인자 등에 의해 발현시기와 장소의 특이성이 결정되며, 발현된 IGFs와 IGFBPs는 autocrine/paracrine mode로 자궁조직에 작용하기도 하고, 자궁강에 분비되어 수태물의 성장 발달에 관여한다. 착상을 전후하여 수태물에서도 IGF system이 발현되는데 개개 IGF family member의 발현 시기는 모체로부터 유래된 mRNA의 유무, 수태물 자체의 genetic programming, 모체와의 상호작용 등에 의해 결정되고, IGFs의 작용 부위 역시 시간(생리적 상태)과 장소의 특이성이 있다. 이와같이 conceptus IGF system의 발현이 시간적, 공간적으로 조절되고있다는 사실은 IGFs가 수태물의 성장 발달에 일역을 한다는 가설을 간접적으로 지지해 준다. 자궁조직과 수태물에서 발현된 IGFs는 세포의 증식과 분화, 포도당과 아미노산의 운반과 단백질합성, placental lactogen과 prolactin 등과 같은 유선자극호르몬의 생성을 자극하고 스테로이드 호르몬의 합성에도 관여한다. 태아의 성장 발달에 있어서 IGFs의 역할은 embryo의 IGF-I, IGF-II, 혹은 IGF receptor gene을 homologous recombination technique에 의해 파괴(gene targeting)하여을 때의 결과로써 입증되었다. 생쥐의 IGF and/or IGF-II gene 혹은 IGF receptor gene을 파괴했을 때 출생 전후 모두 성장 발달이 지연되며 출생시 무게는 정상치의 30-60% 수준에 머물고, 특히 type I IGF receptor gene 혹은 IGF-I과 IGF-II genes를 모두 파괴했을 경우에는 출생 후 곧 치사한다. 자궁 내의 IGFBPs는 IGF ligands를 자궁 내에 제한시키거나 IGFs의 receptor binding을 억제하는 negative regulators 역할을 하는 것으로 믿어지고 있다. 그러나 영장류의 자궁에서 IGFBP-I과 같은 특정 IGFBP는 IGFs보다 월등히 많은 양이 발현 분비되고 있는 것으로 추산되고 있으며, 또한 이 단백질은 모체탈락막세포에서 분비되는 주요 단백질 중의 하나라는 점을 감안할 때 IGFBP-I이 IGF과 무관한 작용이 있을 가능성도 배제할 수 없다. 따라서 IGFBPs의 역할 규명은 IGF system을 이해하는데 중요한 부분을 차지하고 있어 향후 이 분야의 연구에 많은 기대와 촛점이 모여지고 있다.

• BMB Reports
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• 제39권6호
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• pp.696-702
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• 2006

Recently three proteins, playing central roles in the bidirectional transport of urate in renal proximal tubules, were identified: two members of the organic anion transporter (OAT) family, OAT1 and OAT3, and a protein that designated renal urate-anion exchanger (URAT1). Antibodies against these transporters are very important for investigating their expressions and functions. With the cytokine gene as a molecular adjuvant, genetic immunization-based antibody production offers several advantages including high specificity and high recognition to the native protein compared with current methods. We fused high antigenicity fragments of the three transporters to the plasmids pBQAP-TT containing T-cell epitopes and flanking regions from tetanus toxin, respectively. Gene gun immunization with these recombinant plasmids and two other adjuvant plasmids, which express granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor and FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand, induced high level immunoglobulin G antibodies, respectively. The native corresponding proteins of URAT1, OAT1 and OAT3, in human kidney can be recognized by their specific antibodies, respectively, with Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. Besides, URAT1 expression in Xenopus oocytes can also be recognized by its corresponding antibody with immuno-fluorescence. The successful production of the antibodies has provided an important tool for the study of UA transporters.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제56권5호
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• pp.409-418
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• 2018

Acanthamoeba spp. are free-living protozoa that are opportunistic pathogens for humans. Cysteine proteases of Acanthamoeba have been partially characterized, but their biochemical and functional properties are not clearly understood yet. In this study, we isolated a gene encoding cysteine protease of A. castellanii (AcCP) and its biochemical and functional properties were analyzed. Sequence analysis of AcCP suggests that this enzyme is a typical cathepsin L family cysteine protease, which shares similar structural characteristics with other cathepsin L-like enzymes. The recombinant AcCP showed enzymatic activity in acidic conditions with an optimum at pH 4.0. The recombinant enzyme effectively hydrolyzed human proteins including hemoglobin, albumin, immunoglobuins A and G, and fibronectin at acidic pH. AcCP mainly localized in lysosomal compartment and its expression was observed in both trophozoites and cysts. AcCP was also identified in cultured medium of A. castellanii. Considering to lysosomal localization, secretion or release by trophozoites and continuous expression in trophozoites and cysts, the enzyme could be a multifunctional enzyme that plays important biological functions for nutrition, development and pathogenicity of A. castellanii. These results also imply that AcCP can be a promising target for development of chemotherapeutic drug for Acanthamoeba infections.

• 한국균학회소식:학술대회논문집
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• 한국균학회 2015년도 춘계학술대회 및 임시총회
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• pp.15-15
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• 2015

Aspergillus fumigatus is a major cause of invasive aspergillosis (IA), a significant health issue worldwide with high mortality rates up to 95%. Our lab is interested in how A. fumigatus adapts to low oxygen conditions 'hypoxia', which is one of the important host microenvironments. A. fumigatus SrbA is a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcriptional regulator and belongs to sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP) family members. Loss of SrbA completely blocks growth in hypoxia and results in avirulence in murine models of IA suggesting an essential role of SrbA in hypoxia adaptation and virulence in A. fumigatus. We conducted chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) with A. fumigatus wild type using a SrbA specific antibody, and 97 genes were revealed as SrbA direct targets. One of the 'SrbA regulons' (AFUB_099590) was a putative bHLH transcriptional regulator whose sequence contained a characteristic tyrosine substitution in the basic portion of the bHLH domain of SREBPs. Therefore, we designated AFUB_099590 SrbB. Further characterization of SrbB demonstrated that SrbB is important for radial growth, biomass production, and biosynthesis of heme intermediates in hypoxia and virulence in A. fumigatus. A series of quantitative real time PCR showed that transcription of several SrbA regulons is coordinately regulated by two SREBPs, SrbA and SrbB in hypoxia. This suggests that SrbA and SrbB have both dependent and independent functions in regulation of genes responsible for hypoxia adaptation in A. fumigatus. Together, our data provide new insights into complicated roles of SREBPs in adaptation of host environments and virulence in pathogenic fungi.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제20권12호
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• pp.1872-1881
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• 2010

본 연구에서는 대두(FS)와 아가콩의 발효추출물(FYA)의 항암활성 기전을 확인하기 위해 AGS 인체위암세포의 증식에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. AGS 세포에서 FS 및 FYA 처리로 인하여 암세포의 증식이 처리 농도 의존적으로 강하게 억제하였고, apoptosis 유발을 의미하는 세포의 전반적인 형태 및 핵의 변형 또한 동반하였다. 또한 세포주기 분석을 통하여 이 현상이 apoptosis 유도에 의한 것임을 확인하였다. AGS 세포에 처리된 FS 및 FYA는 pro-apoptotic factor인 Bax의 발현 증가를 통한 intrinsic pathway나, death receptor 관련 유전자의 발현 증가를 통한 extrinsic pathway를 활성화시키며, 더 나아가서 IAP family인자의 발현 억제 및 caspases의 활성 증가를 일으켜 apoptosis를 유발시키는 것을 유추할 수 있었는데, 이러한 효과들은 FS보다 FYA에서 더욱더 탁월하였다. 이는 향후 아가콩 발효추출물이 항암치료를 위한 적용 가능성이 매우 우수함을 제시하여 주는 결과이다.

• BMB Reports
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• 제45권9호
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• pp.532-537
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• 2012

P18, a member of the INK4 family of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, is a tumor suppressor protein and plays a key cell survival role in a variety of human cancers. Under pathophysiological conditions, the INK4 group proteins participate in novel biological functions associated with neuronal diseases and oxidative stress. Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by loss of dopaminergic neurons, and oxidative stress is important in its pathogenesis. Therefore, we examined the effects of PEP-1-p18 on oxidative stress-induced SH-SY5Y cells and in a PD mouse model. The transduced PEP-1-p18 markedly inhibited 1-methyl-4-phenyl pyridinium-induced SH-SY5Y cell death by inhibiting Bax expression levels and DNA fragmentation. Additionally, PEP-1-p18 prevented dopaminergic neuronal cell death in the substantia nigra of a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6,-tetrahydropyridine-induced PD mouse model. These results indicate that PEP-1-p18 may be a useful therapeutic agent against various diseases and is a potential tool for treating PD.

• 생약학회지
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• 제39권4호
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• pp.310-315
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• 2008

Viscum album coloratum (Korean mistletoe; KM) is a semi-parasitic plant growing on various trees. This plant hasbeen shown to possess a variety of biological functions such as immunomodulation, apoptosis-induction and antitumor activity. However, there is no information about how the extract of KM affects life span of the host. In this study, in order to examine the effect of KM on the longevity of the host, we investigated whether a Korean mistletoe extract (KME) was able to extend the life length in an experimental model using the spring silkworm moth of Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera bombycidae). We established a model test for survival in which all of the male and female moths died within 18 days after the beginning of the experiment. Mean survival time of female moths was longer than that of male moths. Both male and female moths fed with KME containing diet (200 or 400 ${\mu}g$/head/day) showed significantly higher mean survival times than those of the control moths. Studying the effect of KME on prolongation of mean survival time showed that male moths were more susceptible than female moths. The moths fed with KME-containing diet showed a slight decrease in body weight. Interestingly, however, no difference in food intake was observed between moths fed with KME-containing diet and those with control diet. In analysis for mRNA increase in the SIRT2 gene, a member of the Sir2 gene family playing important roles in regulation of cell death and prolongation of life span, moths fed with KME-containing diet showed a significant increase in SIRT2 gene expression. These results suggest that KME has a potential to extend the life span in Bombyx mori, and its effect is partly associated with increase in SIRT2 gene expression.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제33권2호
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• pp.187-196
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• 2020

Objective: Porcine respiratory disease is one of the most important health problems causing significant economic losses. To understand the genetic basis for susceptibility to swine enzootic pneumonia (EP) in pigs, we detected 102,809 single nucleotide polymorphisms in a total of 249 individuals based on genome-wide sequencing data. Methods: Genome comparison of susceptibility to swine EP in three pig breeds (Jinhua, Erhualian, and Meishan) with two western lines that are considered more resistant (Duroc and Landrace) using cross-population extended haplotype homozygosity and F-statistic (F_ST) statistical approaches identified 691 positively selected genes. Based on quantitative trait loci, gene ontology terms and literature search, we selected 14 candidate genes that have convincible biological functions associated with swine EP or human asthma. Results: Most of these genes were tested by several methods including transcription analysis and candidate genes association study. Among these genes: cytochrome P450 1A1 and catenin beta 1 (CTNNB1) are involved in fertility; transforming growth factor beta receptor 3 plays a role in meat quality traits; Wnt family member 2, CTNNB1 and transcription factor 7 take part in adipogenesis and fat deposition simultaneously; plasminogen activator, urokinase receptor (completely linked to AXL receptor tyrosine kinase, r² = 1) plays an essential role in the successful ovulation of matured oocytes in pigs; colipase like 2 (strongly linked to SAM pointed domain containing ETS transcription factor, r² = 0.848) is involved in male fertility. Conclusion: These adverse genes susceptible to swine EP may be selected while selecting for economic traits (especially reproduction traits) due to pleiotropic and hitchhiking effect of linked genes. Our study provided a completely new point of view to understand the genetic basis for susceptibility or resistance to swine EP in pigs thereby, provides insight for designing sustainable breed selection programs. Finally, the candidate genes are crucial due to their potential roles in respiratory diseases in a large number of species, including human.

• 성인간호학회지
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.40-52
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• 2001

The ratio of the elderly population is rapidly growing due to socio-economic development and better medical services. As the average life-span of the Korean elderly becomes longer, the proportion of the elderly is increasing. Therefore, the elderly need to sustain a high quality of life. However, all these factors, such as sensory loss, decreased endurance, mobility limitation, and a loss of independence, act to diminish the quality of life among the elderly. It is necessary for elders to adapt themselves to aging, to maintain their physical functions and especially, it is important to keep their independence in activity of daily living and self care. Therefore, this study was designed to identify the degree of activity in daily living and exercise of a self-care agency and to investigate the relationship between activity of daily living and self-care agency. Also, this research aimed to contribute to nursing interventions that maintain and promote quality of life of the elderly and to enable themselves to live independently. The subject of this study were 160 elders, over age 65, who were sampled in C city. Data were collected by observation and questionnaires from May,1999 to December, 1999. The measurement tools were Barthel Index(1979), Lawton & Brody(1969) for activity of daily living and Kearney & Fleischer(1979) for self-care agency. Data were analyzed by SAS PC+ package and included descriptive analysis, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, and Cronbach's alpha. The conclusions of this study are summarized as follows; 1. The mean of ADL and IADL was 96.09 and 16.38, respectively. The score described activity of daily living among the elders in C province as moderate. Particularly, in the items of IADL, the item of medication was the highest score. 2. The mean for exercise of self-care agency was 76.48, a moderate degree. 3. The degree of ADL and IADL according to demographic characteristics was significantly different statistically in pocket money, the presence of disease, perceived health status and in occupation, pocket money, family type, the presence of disease, and perceived health status, respectively. 4. The dagree of selt-care agency according to demographic characteristics was significantly different statistically in gender, education level, economic status, and pocket money. 5. There was a significant positive correlation between activity in daily living and self-care agency. Based on these results, further research is suggested to discover the variables influencing the activity of daily living and self-care agency to develop nursing strategies for improving self-care and activity of daily living among the elderly.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.298-305
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• 2018

Rhomboid family member 2 gene (Rhbdf2) is an inactive homologue lacking essential catalytic residues of rhomboid intramembrane serine proteases. The protein is necessary for maturation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha ($TNF-{\alpha}$) converting enzyme, which is the molecule responsible for the release of $TNF-{\alpha}$. In this study, Rhbdf2 knockout (KO) mice were produced by CRISPR/CAS9. To see the effects of the failure of $TNF-{\alpha}$ release induced by Rhbdf2 gene KO, collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), which is the representative $TNF-{\alpha}$ related disease, was induced in the Rhbdf2 mutant mouse using chicken collagen type II. The severity of the CIA was measured by traditional clinical scores and histopathological analysis of hind limb joints. A rota-rod test and grip strength test were employed to evaluate the severity of CIA based on losses of physical functions. The results indicated that Rhbdf2 mutant mice showed clear alleviation of the clinical severity of CIA as demonstrated by the significantly lower severity indexes. Moreover, a grip strength test was shown to be useful for the evaluation of physical functional losses by CIA. Overall, the results showed that the Rhbdf2 gene has a significant effect on the induction of CIA, which is related to $TNF-{\alpha}$.