• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• 제44권3호
• /
• pp.152-158
• /
• 2017

Objective: To identify the associations between polymorphisms of the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene, which codes for an important regulatory enzyme primarily involved in folate metabolism, and idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) in Korean women. Methods: The study population comprised 369 RPL patients and 228 controls. MTHFR 2572C > A, 4869C > G, 5488C > T, and 6685T > C 3'-UTR polymorphisms were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis or by TaqMan allelic discrimination assays. Natural killer cell proportions were determined by flow cytometry. Results: The MTHFR 2572-5488-6685 (A-C-T) haplotype had an adjusted odds ratio of 0.420 (95% confidence interval, 0.178-0.994; p= 0.048) for RPL. Analysis of variance revealed that MTHFR 4869C > G was associated with altered $CD56^+$ natural killer cell percentages (CC, $17.91%{\pm}8.04%$; CG, $12.67%{\pm}4.64%$; p= 0.024) and folate levels (CC, $12.01{\pm}7.18mg/mL$; CG, $22.15{\pm}26.25mg/mL$; p= 0.006). Conclusion: Variants in the 3'-UTR of MTHFR are potential biomarkers for RPL. However, these results should be validated in additional studies of ethnically diverse groups of patients.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• 제39권1호
• /
• pp.22-28
• /
• 2015

Background: Sun ginseng (SG), a specific formulation of quality-controlled red ginseng, contains approximately equal amounts of three major ginsenosides (RK1, Rg3, and Rg5), which reportedly has antitumor-promoting activities in animal models. Methods: MTT assay was used to assess whether SG can potentiate the anticancer activity of epirubicin or paclitaxel in human cervical adenocarcinoma HeLa cells, human colon cancer SW111C cells, and SW480 cells; apoptosis status was analyzed by annexin V-FITC and PI and analyzed by flow cytometry; and apoptosis pathway was studied by analysis of caspase-3, -8, and -9 activation, mitochondrial accumulation of Bax and Bak, and cytochrome c release. Results: SG remarkably enhances cancer cell death induced by epirubicin or paclitaxel in human cervical adenocarcinoma HeLa cells, human colon cancer SW111C cells, and SW480 cells. Results of the mechanism study highlighted the cooperation between SG and epirubicin or paclitaxel in activating caspase-3 and -9 but not caspase-8. Moreover, SG significantly increased the mitochondrial accumulation of both Bax and Bak triggered by epirubicin or paclitaxel as well as the subsequent release of cytochrome c in the targeted cells. Conclusion: SG significantly potentiated the anticancer activities of epirubicin and paclitaxel in a synergistic manner. These effects were associated with the increased mitochondrial accumulation of both Bax and Bak that led to an enhanced cytochrome c release, caspase-9/-3 activation, and apoptosis. Treating cancer cells by combining epirubicin and paclitaxel with SG may prove to be a novel strategy for enhancing the efficacy of the two drug types.

• 한국산업보건학회지
• /
• 제31권3호
• /
• pp.286-293
• /
• 2021

Objectives: Inorganic dust is known to be a risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) regardless of smoking and pneumoconiosis. Adaptive and innate immunity, including lymphocyte infiltrate, are involved in the pathogenesis of COPD. The purpose of this study was to analyze the lymphocyte subsets in the blood of workers exposed to inorganic dust and confirm the influencing factors. Methods: The general characteristics of the subjects (n=107) were analyzed through a personal questionnaire. Diagnosis of COPD was established according to pulmonary function tests with FEV₁/FVC post bronchodilator lower than 70%, according to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines. For lymphocyte analysis, blood was stained with a fluorescent CD marker and analyzed by flow cytometry. Results: The increase in CD4⁺ T lymphocytes was associated with a decrease in age (𝛽=-0.273, p=0.008) and an increase in the cumulative smoking amount (𝛽=0.205, p=0.034). The increase in NK cells was associated with an increase in age (𝛽=0.325, p=0.001) and a decrease in cumulative smoking (𝛽=-0.220, p=0.019). The period of exposure to dust, %FVC predicted and %FEV₁/FVC, and the relative population of peripheral blood lymphocytes did not show a statistically significant relationship. Conclusions: CD4⁺ T lymphocytes and CD56⁺CD16⁺ NK cells in peripheral blood were more related to age and cumulative smoking than the duration of dust exposure. Age and smoking are major risk factors for the development of COPD, so it can be predicted that peripheral blood CD4⁺ T lymphocytes and CD56⁺CD16⁺ NK cells are related to the development of COPD in workers exposed to inorganic dust.

• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• 제43권4호
• /
• pp.279-293
• /
• 2021

To investigate the effect of seasonal marine environment conditions on the cyanobacteria abundance and diversity in the South Sea, four-seasonal surveys were conducted along the 127.5°E survey transect line in the central South Sea using flow cytometry and 16S-23S ITS on the Miseq platform from August 2016 to May 2017. The average abundance of Synechococcus varied from 3.3 × 10³ to 7.4 × 10⁴ cells ml^-1. The abundance was the highest in the summer and the lowest in the winter, and the abundance fluctuated according to water temperature. The abundance was high in the outer sea affected by TWC. However, in summer, the Coastal areas affected by the Yangtze River were more populated than the outer sea. Prochlorococcus was rare and could not penetrate into coastal areas due to the fronts, but showed its dominance in the waters influenced by the TWC. Synechococcus clades II, VII, IX, CRD1, and CRD2 were predominant in the outer sea area affected by the TWC. In the coastal area, clades I and IV showed higher dominance whereas clades V, VI, WPC1, and 5.3-MS3 with euryhaline characteristics, showed a high dominance rate in the water masses affected by the low-salinity water of the Yangtze River in the summer. Clade XVI, XVII, CB1, CB5, and 5.3-I/II showed high dominance in nutrient-rich waters in the summer with increased water temperature. The abundance and community composition of cyanobacteria changed in the South Sea due to the influence of the TWC and stratification. In the summer, the abundance and the community composition differed, and were mainly affected by the general influence of the TWC in addition to the influence of the Yangtze River low-salinity water.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
• /
• 제51권1호
• /
• pp.1-14
• /
• 2019

우리나라, 일본, 미국의 임상병리사 명칭은 의료체계, 교육제도, 업무영역에 따라 차이가 있다. 전통적으로 medical technologist (별칭 clinical laboratory technologist, medical laboratory technologist, clinical laboratory scientist, medical laboratory scientist)와 동등하거나 유사한 직종은 histotechnologist, cytotechnologist, genetic technologist이다. Extracorporeal technologist, medical electrophysiology technologist, medical sonographer는 medical technologist를 포함한 다른 보건의료인도 자격을 취득할 수 있는 직종이다. 임상병리사의 업무영역은 임상병리기술학, 병리기술학, 임상유전기술학, 핵의학기술학, 임상생리기술학으로 분류하였다. 새로운 전문임상병리사 종별은 CLMJ, CMAJ, ASCP, IAC, ABRET, ARMDS 등의 자격인정제도를 참고하였다. 현재 전문임상병리사 종별은 전문과목학회의 협조 하에 기존의 8종으로 혈액학, 수혈학, 화학, 면역학, 미생물학, 조직학, 세포학, 핵의학분야가 있으며 앞으로 미세질량분석, 감염관리, Pathologists' Assistant, 유세포분석, HLA, 세포유전학, 분자유전학, 심폐생리학, 신경생리학(뇌파/근전도/수면다원 등), 심장초음파학, 신경초음파학(뇌혈류/경동맥), 기기품질관리사 등 업무영역별로 20종으로 세분화할 수 있다.

• 생명과학회지
• /
• 제28권11호
• /
• pp.1321-1331
• /
• 2018

본 연구에서 N. commune으로부터 U937과 SK-HEP-1 세포에 대해 apoptosis를 유도하는 광과민성물질을 순수 분리하였다. N. commune을 dichloromethane : Methanol (1:1)로 추출하여 Hexane, EtOAc, MeOH로 분획하였다. 높은 광역학활성을 나타내는 EtOAc 분획물에서 NC-1을 분리하였으며, 분자량 870의 pheophytin a ($C_{55}H_{74}N_4O_5$)인 것으로 구조를 동정하였다. 광역학활성 조사는 NC-1을 $1.15{\mu}M$에서 $23.00{\mu}M$까지 5개의 농도를 처리하여 광을 조사하는 것과 조사하지 않는 조건으로 나누어 평가하였다. U937과 SK-HEP-1 두 세포에서 apoptotic body 형성, cell blebbing 등의 형태적 변화와 세포독성, caspase 활성, 세포핵의 응축, DNA 단편화 등이 광 의존적이며 농도 의존적으로 활성이 증가하였다. 추가적으로 유세포분석을 통한 apoptosis 유도의 정량적 분석 결과에서도 광조건에서 농도가 증가할수록 apoptosis 유도가 증가하는 것을 확인하였다. 이러한 결과를 통해 NC-1의 U937과 SK-HEP-1 세포에 대한 사멸은 광역학적 apoptosis에 의한 것임을 확인하였다. 본 연구 내용을 N. commune으로부터 광감각제 개발의 기초자료로 활용할 수 있을 것이다.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
• /
• 제50권4호
• /
• pp.462-469
• /
• 2018

HSP90은 세포성장, 분화, 생존에 관련된 다양한 단백질들의 안정화 및 활성조절을 담당 한다. HSP90은 구강을 포함하는 두 경부에 발생하는 편평세포암종의 발생과정에서 점진적으로 증가하는 경향을 나타낸다. 따라서 HSP90 의 발현을 억제함으로서 암을 치료하고자하는 연구가 많이 진행되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 인간의 구강 편평세포암종세포에서 증식과 세포주기에 대한 HSP90 억제제의 효과를 조사하기 위해 구강암 세포주를 대상으로 세포의 생존능 측정, 세포주기분석, 전기영동 분석을 시행하였다. HSP90 억제제 처리 후 세포 증식은 억제되었으며 통계적으로 유효한 성장억제 효과를 나타났고, YD-10B세포와 YD-38세포에 Geldanamycin과 17-AAG를 0, 0.1, 0.3, 1, $10{\mu}M$ 농도로 24 hr 처리한 결과 YD-38에 비해 YD-10B세포가 세포 성장이 현저하게 감소하는 것을 확인하였다. 그 후, 유세포 분석기로 확인해 본 결과 G2 arrest가 관찰되었다. 이상의 연구결과에서 구강암 세포주 YD-10B 세포와 YD-38 세포에서 Geldanamycin은 G2 arrest를 유도하고, $p-GSK-3{\beta}$ pathway를 통하여 세포증식을 억제하여 세포생존을 막는다는 것을 확인하였다. 이를 통해 HSP90 저해제를 이용하여 다양한 암세포주에서 치료 효과를 기대 할 수 있다고 사료된다.

• 대한약침학회지
• /
• 제22권3호
• /
• pp.176-183
• /
• 2019

Objective: In the current work, we investigated the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of Thymoquinone (TQ), an active compound of Nigella sativa (N. sativa) and Cis-platinum, on normal renal epithelial (GP-293) and human renal adenocarcinoma cell lines (ACHN). Methods: GP-293 and ACHN cell lines were cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) with 10% Fetal bovine serum (FBS) and 1% penicillin plus streptomycin antibiotic. The MTT assay was used for cellular viability assessment. Viability of cells was observed using inverted light microscope 24, 48 and 72 h after exposure of the cells to various concentrations of TQ (1, 2.5, 5, 10, 50 and $100{\mu}g/ml$) and Cis-platinum (0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 6 and $12.5{\mu}g/ml$). Moreover, apoptosis was analyzed with a flow-cytometry method. The untreated cells were considered as control group. Results: Morphological changes such as reduced cell number and increased intercellular distance and reduced cell viability in ACHN and GP-293cell lines were observed in both TQ and Cis- platinum groups; however, Cis-platinum had greater effect on ACHN cell line than GP-293 cell line. In addition, GP-293 cell line was more sensitive to TQ compared to ACHN cell line. Furthermore, TQ and Cis-platinum had apoptotic effects on both ACHN and GP-293 cell lines. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that TQ and Cis-platinum had cytotoxic and apoptotic effects on both cell lines, However, GP-293 cell line was more sensitive to TQ. Additionally, Cis-platinum was more effective on ACHN cell line than on GP-293 cell line.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제29권1호
• /
• pp.160-170
• /
• 2019

The lactic acid bacteria species Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) has been used extensively for vaccine delivery. Considering to the critical role of dendritic cells in stimulating host immune response, in this study, we constructed a novel CD11c-targeting L. plantarum strain with surface-displayed variable fragments of anti-CD11c, single-chain antibody (scFv-CD11c). The newly designed L. plantarum strain, named 409-aCD11c, could adhere and invade more efficiently to bone marrow-derived DCs (BMDCs) in vitro due to the specific interaction between scFv-CD11c and CD11c located on the surface of BMDCs. After incubation with BMDCs, the 409-aCD11c strain harboring a eukaryotic vector pValac-GFP could lead to more efficient expression of GFP compared with wild-type strains shown by flow cytometry analysis, indicating the enhanced translocation of pValac-GFP from L. plantarum to BMDCs. Similar results were also observed in an in vivo study, which showed that oral administration resulted in efficient expression of GFP in both Peyer's patches (PP) and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) within 7 days after the last administration. In addition, the CD11c-targeting strain significantly promoted the differentiation and maturation of DCs, the differentiation of $IL-4^+$ and $IL-17A^+$ T helper (Th) cells in MLNs, as well as production of $B220^+$ $IgA^+$ B cells in the PP. In conclusion, this study developed a novel DC-targeting L. plantarum strain which could increase the ability to deliver eukaryotic expression plasmid to host cells, indicating a promising approach for vaccine study.

• Yonsei Medical Journal
• /
• 제59권9호
• /
• pp.1096-1106
• /
• 2018

Purpose: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the sixth most common cause of death in the United States. MicroRNAs have been identified as vital players in neurodegenerative diseases, including AD. microRNA-128 (miR-128) has been shown to be dysregulated in AD. This study aimed to explore the roles and molecular mechanisms of miR-128 in AD progression. Materials and Methods: Expression patterns of miR-128 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ($PPAR-{\gamma}$) messenger RNA in clinical samples and cells were measured using RT-qPCR assay. $PPAR-{\gamma}$ protein levels were determined by Western blot assay. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay. Cell apoptotic rate was detected by flow cytometry via double-staining of Annexin V-FITC/PI. Caspase 3 and $NF-{\kappa}B$ activity was determined by a Caspase 3 Activity Assay Kit or $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 Transcription Factor Assay Kit, respectively. Bioinformatics prediction and luciferase reporter assay were used to investigate interactions between miR-128 and $PPAR-{\gamma}$ 3'UTR. Results: MiR-128 expression was upregulated and $PPAR-{\gamma}$ expression was downregulated in plasma from AD patients and $amyloid-{\beta}$ $(A{\beta})-treated$ primary mouse cortical neurons (MCN) and Neuro2a (N2a) cells. Inhibition of miR-128 decreased $A{\beta}-mediated$ cytotoxicity through inactivation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ in MCN and N2a cells. Moreover, $PPAR-{\gamma}$ was a target of miR-128. $PPAR-{\gamma}$ upregulation attenuated $A{\beta}-mediated$ cytotoxicity by inactivating $NF-{\kappa}B$ in MCN and N2a cells. Furthermore, $PPAR-{\gamma}$ downregulation was able to abolish the effect of anti-miR-128 on cytotoxicity and $NF-{\kappa}B$ activity in MCN and N2a cells. Conclusion: MiR-128 inhibitor decreased $A{\beta}-mediated$ cytotoxicity by upregulating $PPAR-{\gamma}$ via inactivation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ in MCN and N2a cells, providing a new potential target in AD treatment.