• 한양메디칼리뷰
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.10-16
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• 2013

Follicular helper T cells (Tfh) play a significant role in providing T cell help to B cells during the germinal center reaction, where somatic hypermutation, affinity maturation, isotype class switching, and the differentiation of memory B cells and long-lived plasma cells occur. Antigen-specific T cells with IL-6 and IL-21 upregulate CXCR5, which is required for the migration of T cells into B cell follicles, where these T cells mature into Tfh. The surface markers including PD-1, ICOS, and CD40L play a significant role in providing T cell help to B cells. The upregulation of transcription factor Bcl-6 induces the expression of CXCR5, which is an important factor for Tfh differentiation, by inhibiting the expression of other lineage-specific transcription factors such as T-bet, GATA3, and RORγt. Surprisingly, recent evidence suggests that CD4 T cells already committed to Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells obtain flexibility in their differentiation programs by downregulating T-bet, GATA3, and RORγt, upregulating Bcl-6 and thus convert into Tfh. Limiting the numbers of Tfh within germinal centers is important in the regulation of the autoantibody production that is central to autoimmune diseases. Recently, it was revealed that the germinal center reaction and the size of the Tfh population are also regulated by thymus-derived follicular regulatory T cells (Tfr) expressing CXCR5 and Foxp3. Dysregulation of Tfh appears to be a pathogenic cause of autoimmune disease suggesting that tight regulation of Tfh and germinal center reaction by Tfr is essential for maintaining immune tolerance. Therefore, the balance between Tfh and Tfr appears to be a critical peripheral tolerance mechanism that can inhibit autoimmune disorders.

• 한국수정란이식학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국수정란이식학회 2002년도 국제심포지엄
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• pp.112-112
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• 2002

Under normal conditions, women produce a single dominant follicle that participates in a single ovuation each menstrual cycle. But Polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS) conditions, folliculogenesis does not proceed normally. This condition leads to the accumlation of large numbers of small graffian follicles in which the theca interstitial cells (TIC) produce abnormally large amounts of androgen. PCOS is probably the most common endocrine disorder, affecting women of reprodutive age with 5-10% prevalence estimate. Chronic anovulation, hyperandrogenism, hirsutism, obesity, infertility and polycystic ovaries are clinical hallmarks of women with PCOS. Its etiology remains unknown. To investigate the gene expression pattern of ovary in PCO-induced rat, we used cDNA expression analysis. Total RNA was extracted from the ovary of PCO-induced rat and reverse-transcribed in the presence of［$\alpha$$^{32}$P］-dATP Which were hybridized to Atlas$^{TM}$ Rat Toxicology 1.2 array (Clontech) representing approximately 1176 rat genes. We compared gene expression between ovary of pco-induced immature female rats and control. Differential gene expression profiles were revealed (LIFR-alpha, ADRA1A, Heat shock 90-kDa protein A, PDGFRA). Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) was used to validate the relative expression pattern obtained by the cDNA array. The precise relationship between the altered expression of genes and PCO is a matter of further investigation. This study was supported by Korea Science and Engineering Foundation(KOSEF)

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.135-144
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• 2022

As the number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccinations increases, various side effects are being reported, and menstrual abnormalities have been reported as a side effect in women. However, it is still unclear whether the COVID-19 vaccine has detrimental effects on the female reproductive system. Therefore, we investigated the effect of excessive immune response on reproductive function by administering Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) instead of the COVID-19 vaccine. The immune response in mice was induced by injection of LPS. Mice injected with saline 5 times were used as a control group, and mice injected with LPS 5 times were used as an experimental group. Repeated administration of LPS significantly reduced the number of corpus luteum (CL). On the other hand, the injection of LPS did not affect the development of follicles leading before the CL. The expression of the apoptosis-related genes Fas and Fas-L increased in the experimental group. In addition, the expression of the inflammation-related genes increased in the experimental group. In this study, we confirmed that LPS had detrimental effects on the uterus and ovaries in mice. These results suggest that injection of LPS can cause immune reactions within the uterus and ovaries and cause hormonal changes, which can have adverse effects such as abnormal operation or bleeding of the menstrual cycle. These results are expected to help determine the cause of decreased reproductive function, infertility, or physiological disorders caused by the COVID-19 vaccine.

• Medical Lasers
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.24-27
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• 2019

Seborrheic keratoses (SKs) have been treated with non-ablative longpulsed (LP) lasers, including LP 532-nm neodymium (Nd): yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG), LP 695-nm ruby, LP 755-nm alexandrite (Alex), and LP 1,064-nm Nd:YAG lasers, with a pulse durations of 1-300 msec. Dual-wavelength LP 755-nm Alex/1,064-nm Nd:YAG laser systems have been used to remove hair follicles and treat various vascular and pigmented disorders by sequentially delivering two pulses of different wavelengths with interpulse intervals in the millisecond range. This paper reports the case of a female patient with multiple, discrete, light brown SKs on the dorsum of both hands that were treated effectively with one session of dual-wavelength LP 1,064-nm Nd:YAG/755-nm Alex laser treatment. The treatment settings for the LP Nd:YAG laser were comprised of a wavelength of 1,064 nm, fluence of 50 J/cm², pulse duration of 5 msec, and beam size of 3 mm. The settings for the LP Alex laser were comprised of a wavelength of 755 nm, fluence of 50 J/cm², pulse duration of 5 msec, and beam size of 3 mm. A hybrid mode was used to automatically deliver LP Nd:YAG and LP Alex laser pulses in succession at interpulse intervals of 20 msec. Six weeks after treatment, the patient exhibited remarkable improvement of the light brown seborrheic keratoses and was satisfied with the results.

• 한국동물생명공학회지
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• 제38권2호
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• pp.62-69
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• 2023

Background: Research on the reproductive physiology of Water and Sika deer, an endemic in Korea, still needs to be completed. This study analyzed the ovarian development and morphological characteristics of wild Water deer and Sika deer. Methods: Water deer and Sika deer ovaries were collected from the Korean Peninsula and Russia-Korean Peninsula border during the estrus and pregnancy seasons, respectively. And, morphological and physiological analysis and immunohistochemistry were conducted to confirm the detection of Ca²⁺ and assess the morphological changes in the ovaries. Results: The results of morphological analysis of ovaries during pregnancy and estrus, the development of the corpus luteum and follicles of Water deer showed similar patterns to other mammals. In contrast, the corpus luteum of Sika deer differed in tissue morphology and composition from Water deer. Ca²⁺ related to tissue metabolism was detected in the theca cells zone of Water deer on the estrus and was highly detected in the luteum cells zone during pregnancy. The hormone receptor protein expression patterns were generally higher in the ovaries of Water deer on the estrus and the pregnancy than in Sika deer. The expression of LH receptor was relatively low in the lutein cell zone, unlikely that of Water deer. The expression of VEGF was also different from Water deer, and the response in Sika deer was relatively very low compared to Water deer in expressing all proteins-related development. Conclusions: Therefore, the results of the study were shown that the composition of the corpus luteum of Sika deer is not clear compared to Water deer, and there are many differences in the functional and morphological formation of the corpus luteum.

• Animal Bioscience
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• 제36권9호
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• pp.1367-1375
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• 2023

Objective: Pigment production and distribution are controlled through multiple proteins, resulting in different coat color phenotypes of sheep. Methods: The expression distribution of vimentin (VIM) and transthyretin (TTR) in white and black sheep skins was detected by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem MS (LC-ESI-MS/MS), gene ontology (GO) statistics, immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to evaluate their role in the coat color formation of sheep. Results: LC-ESI-MS/MS results showed VIM and TTR proteins in white and black skin tissues of sheep. Meanwhile, GO functional annotation analysis suggested that VIM and TTR proteins were mainly concentrated in cellular components and biological process, respectively. Further research confirmed that VIM and TTR proteins were expressed at significantly higher levels in black sheep skins than in white sheep skins by Western blot, respectively. Immunohistochemistry notably detected VIM and TTR in hair follicle, dermal papilla, and outer root sheath of white and black sheep skins. qRT-PCR results also revealed that the expression of VIM and TTR mRNAs was higher in black sheep skins than in white sheep skins. Conclusion: The expression of VIM and TTR were higher in black sheep skins than in white sheep skins and the transcription and translation were unanimous in this study. VIM and TTR proteins were expressed in hair follicles of white and black sheep skins. These results suggested that VIM and TTR were involved in the coat color formation of sheep.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제65권5호
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• pp.922-938
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• 2023

The current study was designed to evaluate the effect of sequential low and high dietary linseed oil (LO; as omega-3 enriched fatty acid; FA) before and post insemination, respectively, on different plasma variables of ewes. Fat-tailed Qezel ewes were assigned randomly to be fed a diet enriched with 3% LO (n = 30) or the saturated FA (SFA; n = 30) three weeks before insemination (Day 0). The lipogenic diet supplemented with 6% LO or SFA was fed after insemination until Day +21. The control ewes were fed an isocaloric and isonitrogenous diet with no additional FA during the study. Estrus was synchronized by inserting a vaginal sponge (Spongavet^®) for 12 days + 500 IU equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG; Gonaser^®), and ewes were inseminated via laparoscopic approach 56-59 h after eCG injection. The size of ovarian structures was assessed by transvaginal ultrasonography at -21, -14, -2, 0, and +10 days. Blood samples were collected weekly to measure the plasma's different biochemical variables and FA profile. Treatment did not affect the amounts of glucose, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, interleukin-10, interleukin-2, and non-esterified FA (p > 0.05). Conversely, concentrations of triglyceride, cholesterol, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and insulin-like growth factor-1 were higher in SFA-fed ewes relative to control animals (p < 0.05). LO feeding resulted in greater amounts of n-3 FA isomers in plasma, while higher amounts of stearic acid were detected in SFA fed group 0 and +21 (p < 0.05). The number of ovarian follicles and corpora lutea also were not affected by treatment. Other reproductive variables were not affected by treatment except for the reproductive rate. It seems that LO or SFA feeding of fat-tailed ewes peri-insemination period was not superior to the isocaloric non-additional fat diet provided for the control group during the non-breeding season.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제14권4호
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• pp.287-295
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• 2010

최근 시상하부에서 생성되는 nesfatin-1/NUCB2가 섭식과 에너지 대사를 조절한다는 사실이 새롭게 밝혀졌다. 본 연구에서는 이러한 단백질이 생쥐의 생식기관에서도 발현을 하는지, 그리고 그 수용체가 생식기관 내에 존재하는 지를 확인함으로써 nesfatin-1이 생식기능에 미칠 수 있는 가능성을 알아보고자 하였다. 암컷 생쥐에서 난소와 자궁을 획득하여 conventional PCR 방법으로 NUCB2 mRNA 발현을 조사하였고, real-time PCR 방법으로 상대적인 NUCB2 mRNA 발현량을 비교 분석하였다. 난소 내 nesfatin-1 단백질의 발현 위치를 조사하기 위하여 nesfatin-1 항체를 이용한 면역조직화학염색법을 수행하였으며, biotin conjugated nesfatin-1을 이용하여 nesfatin-1 결합 부위를 확인하였다. 또한 생식소 내 NUCB2 mRNA 발현이 성선자극호르몬에 의해 영향을 받는지 알아보기 위해 PMSG 투여 후 NUCB2 mRNA 발현량을 조사하였다. 실험 결과, 생쥐의 난소와 자궁에서 확인된 NUCB2 유전자가 시상하부에서 만큼이나 많은 양이 발현되고 있었다. 면역조직화학적 염색 결과, nesfatin-1 단백질은 협막세포와 대부분의 기질세포에서 발현되었고, 일부 황체세포에서도 발현이 확인되었다. 반면, 난포 내 과립세포에서는 발현되지 않았으나, 특정 난포 내 난자에서는 발현됨을 확인하였다. 한편, nesfatin-1 단백질의 결합 부위는 난소 백막 주위의 기질세포와 협막세포에서 관찰되었다. 또한 PMSG 투여 후 난소와 자궁에서 NUCB2 mRNA의 발현이 유의하게 증가함을 확인하였다. 이상의 결과에서 난소 내 nesfatin-1 단백질의 발현과 그 결합 부위의 존재는 nesfatin-1이 뇌에서 뿐만 아니라 생식기관에서도 국부조절인자로써 중요한 역할을 할 것으로 사료되며, 앞으로 생식기관에 미치는 nesfatin-1의 역할을규명하기위한더많은연구가필요하다고판단된다.

• 한국가축번식학회지
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.199-208
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• 2000

본 연구에서는 한우의 난소의 변화 주기를 이용한 난포란 채란, 채란시 음압의 정도, 난포란의 채취용 바늘의 직경에 따른 효과, 난포자극호르몬을 이용하여 난소의 난포발달자극의 효과, 생체에서 생산된 미성숙 난포란을 이용하여 체외에서 수정란을 생산한 다음 동결란과 신선란을 이식하여 결과를 도출하였는데, 그 결과는 다음과 같이 요약될 수 있다. 1. 한우의 난소에서 난포기와 황체기로 구분하여 생체로부터 난포란을 채란할 경우 황체기는 4.2$\pm$2.9개를, 난포기에는 4.4$\pm$3.5개를 채란할 수 있었는데 유의적인 차는 인정이 되지 않았다 (P＜0.05). 2. 한우에서 난포란을 채란할 때 적당한 음압의 수준은 40~120mmHg의 범위가 적 당하다는 것을 알 수 있었다. 40, 80, 120mmHg에서의 채란수는 각각 4.2$\pm$3.2, 4.3$\pm$3.4, 4.5$\pm$3.4개였고, 회수율은 각각 49, 47, 45%를 보였는데 유의적인 차는 없었다(P＜0.05). 3. 난포란 채란에 이용되는 채란용 바늘의 직경의 차이에서 난포란의 채란수 (율)에는 17G에서는 4.4$\pm$3.5 (54%)개를, 18G 에서는 3.0$\pm$1.8 (45%)개의 채란수를 얻었는데 유의적인차 (P＜0.05)는 없었고, 채란난자의 채란등급에서도 채란바늘의 직경차이에도 표에 보는 바와 같이 유의적인 차가 없었다 (P＜0.05). 4. 난소에서 보다 많은 난포의 발달을 유도하여 난포란의 채란수 (율)를 증가시키기 위해 난포자극호르몬을 투여한 결과, 근육주사법에서는 증가난포수(율)는 6.2$\pm$2.3 (69.2)개를, 피하주사법에서는 1.1$\pm$2.7 (10.5%)개가 증가하는 효율을 보였는데 주사법에 따른 유의차는 없었고 (P＜0.05), 호르몬주사량에 따른 난포발달수 (율) 은 400mg 을 주사한 그룹에서는 6.3$\pm$2.4 (64.6 %)개를, 200mg 을 주사한 그룹에서는 4.1$\pm$3.2 (50.9%) 개가 증가하는 효율을 보였는데 유의적인 차는 없었다 (P＜0.05). 5. 한우의 체내에서 뽑은 난포란을 이용하여 수정란을 생산한 후 공란우에 대해 이식을 실시한 결과, 동결란을 이식한 경우의 수태율은 11.1% 를, 신선란을 이식한 결과 46.2% 의 수태율을 얻었는데, 동결란보다는 신선란의 수태효율에서 유의적으로 높은 결과를 얻었다(P＜0.05). 본 연구에서는 한우로부터 다수의 난포란을 안정적으로 채란하여 우수한 수정란의 연속적인 생산 및 이식의 가능성을 확인하였다.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.315-322
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• 2006

본 연구는 한우 난소의 난포 발달에 있어서 bFF 또는 anti-inhibin serum(AI)의 생리적 역할을 검토하기 위해 수행하였다. Saline(0.95%, control), bFF 또는 AI를 경정맥 주사 처리한 9마리의 한우 암소에서 채혈하여 혈중 estradiol-17$\beta$(E2), inhibin 및 progesterone(P4) 농도를 분석하였으며, 이들 처리에 의한 난포의 발달은 초음파 진단기를 이용하여 관찰하였다. 본 연구에서 얻어진 결과는 다음과 같다. 혈중 inhibin 농도는 bFF 처리구에서 배란 후 102시 간부터 유의적으로 증가하여(p<0.05) 지속적으로 높은 수준을 유지하였다. 혈중 E2 농도는 saline 처리구의 경우 bFF 처리구와 비슷한 수준으로 배란 후부터 낮은 농도를 유지하였으나, AI 처리구는 배란 후 36시간 이후부터 108시간까지 유의적으로 높은 수준을 유지하다가(p<0.05) 점차적으로 감소되는 경향을 나타내었다. 혈중 P4 농도는 saline 처리구와 AI 처리구에서 배란 후 68시간째부터 증가하기 시작하였으나, bFF 처리구에서는 배란 후 84시간부터 180시간까지 saline 또는 AI 처리구에 비해 유의적으로 낮은 농도를 나타내었다(p<0.05). 한편, AI 또는 bFF 처리가 난포 발달에 미치는 영향을 알아보기 위하여, 초음파 진단기를 이용하여 난소의 난포 발달을 조사한 결과, bFF 처리구에 비해 AI 처리구에서 발달 난포가 많은 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 이상의 결과를 종합해 보면, 외인성 AI는 한우난소에서 분비하는 inhibin을 특이하게 억제하여, inhibin에 의해 분비가 억제되어 있던 FSH 분비를 촉진시킴으로써 난포 발달과 estrogen의 분비 증가를 유발하는 것으로 사료된다 따라서 한우에 있어서 배란 직후 새롭게 발달하는 난포에는 적어도 inhibin이 관여하고 있는 것으로 사료된다.