• Development and Reproduction
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.221-229
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• 2008

For the clinical application, it is needed to keep characteristics of stem cells after storage for a long time. In the present study, we examined stem cell properties of human cord-derived stem cells (HUC) after cryopreservation. Cells were isolated from human umbilical cord and cultured in vitro. At passage 2 or 3, HUC were suspended at a concentration of $1.0{\times}10^6/m{\ell}$ in cryomedium consisting of DMSO and FBS. After freezing at $-80^{\circ}C$ overnight, HUC were cryopreserved at $-196^{\circ}C$ nitrogen gas. After 6 months, HUC were thawed and cultured in vitro. Assessment for the stem cell properties was made upon the morphology, population doubling time, and expression profiles of genes and various proteins. Cryopreserved HUC showed more than 70% viability and maintained fibroblast-like morphology similar to HUC before cryopreservation. Throughout the culture, they underwent average 42.8 doublings and produced $6.75{\times}{10^{18}}$ cells. RT-PCR analyses showed that cryopreserved HUC expressed Oct-4, nanog, SCF, NCAM, nestin, GATA-4, BMP4, and HLA-1 genes. They did not express Brachyury and HLA-DR genes. Immunocytochemical studies showed that cryopreserved HUC reacted with antibodies against SSEA-3, -4, Thy-1, vimentin, fibronectin, HCAM, ICAM, HLA-1 proteins. They did not react with antibody against HLA-DR protein. Theses genes and proteins expression patterns of cryopresserved HUC were similar to those of HUC before cryopreservation. These results suggest that cryopreserved HUC could retain proliferative potential and they expressed various genes and proteins similar to HUC before cryopreservation. Thus, cryopreservation might be useful for HUC for future research and clinical application.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2012

In Iran, $Plasmodium$ $vivax$ is responsible for more than 80% of the infected cases of malaria per year. Control interventions for vivax malaria in humans rely mainly on developed diagnostic methods. Recombinant $P.$ $vivax$ apical membrane antigen-1 (rPvAMA-1) has been reported to achieve designing rapid, sensitive, and specific molecular diagnosis. This study aimed to perform isolation and expression of a rPvAMA-1, derived from Iranian patients residing in an endemic area. Then, the diagnostic efficiency of the characterized Iranian PvAMA-1 was assessed using an indirect ELISA method. For this purpose, a partial region of AMA-1 gene was amplified, cloned, and expressed in pET32a plasmid. The recombinant $His-tagged$ protein was purified and used to coat the ELISA plate. Antibody detection was assessed by indirect ELISA using rPvAMA-1. The validity of the ELISA method for detection of anti-$P.$ $vivax$ antibodies in the field was compared to light microscopy on 84 confirmed $P.$ $vivax$ patients and compared to 84 non-$P.$ $vivax$ infected individuals. The ELISA cut-off value was calculated as the mean+2SD of OD values of the people living in malaria endemic areas from a south part of Iran. We found a cut-off point of OD=0.311 that showed the best correlation between the sera confirmed with $P.$ $vivax$ infection and healthy control sera. A sensitivity of 81.0% and specificity of 84.5% were found at this cut off titer. A good degree of statistical agreement was found between ELISA using rPvAMA-1 and light microscopy (0.827) by Kappa analysis.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.26-34
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• 2009

Porcine embryonic stem (ES) cells have a great potential as tools for transgenic animal production and studies of regulation of differentiation genes. Although several studies showed successful derivation of porcine ES-like cells, these cells were not maintained long-term in culture. Therefore, this study was conducted to establish porcine pluripotent ES-like cells using in vivo fertilized embryos and to maintain these cells in long term culture. Porcine ES-like cells from in vivo embryos obtained by immunosurgery or whole explant culture were successfully cultured for over 56 passages. Morphology of porcine ES-like cells was flat-shaped with a monolayer type colony. These cells stained for alkaline phosphatase throughout the culture. Furthermore, porcine ES-like cells reacted with antibodies against Oct-4, SSEA-1, SSEA-4, Tra-1-60, and Tra-1-81, which are typical markers of undifferentiated stem cells. To characterize the ability of porcine ES-like cells to differentiate into three germ layers, embryoid body formation was induced. After plating of these cells, porcine ES-like cells were spontaneously differentiated into various cell types of all three germ layers. In addition, porcine ES-like cells were successfully derived from IVF blastocysts in media containing human recombinant basic fibroblast growth factor.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.142-149
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• 2002

Background: Our previous study showed that purified protein derivative (PPD)-stimulated pleural mononuclear cells (PMC) from tuberculous pleurisy (Tbp) produced significantly more $IFN-{\gamma}$ (10- to 70-fold) after in vitro PPD stimulation than freshly isolated pleural cells from malignant pleurisy. The present study was designed to determine whether blocking the CD40-CD40 ligand (CD40L) interaction decreases $IFN-{\gamma}$ production by altering IL-12 levels. Methods: IL-12 and $IFN-{\gamma}$ production after neutralizing anti-CD40L antibody treatment was compared to the efficacy of anti-CD80, anti-CD86, and a combination of anti-CD80 and CD86 (CD80+86) monoclonal antibodies (mAb). These activities were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), after in vitro stimulation with PPO antigen (Ag). Results: Neutralization of CD80, CD86 and CD80+86 did not decrease $IFN-{\gamma}$ and IL-12 production in Tbp-PMC, whereas neutralization of CD40L significantly depressed IL-12 p40 and $IFN-{\gamma}$. In addition, neutralization of CD40L completely inhibited IL-12 p40 and $IFN-{\gamma}$ mRNA expression. Conclusion: The CD40-CD40L interaction might play a major role in IL-12 and $IFN-{\gamma}$ production in Tbp-PMC, thus contributing to protective immunity in human tuberculosis.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.77-86
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• 2001

Background: Hepatitis C virus(HCV), a family of Flaviviridae, has a host cell-derived envelope containing a positive-stranded RNA genome, and has been known as the maj or etiological agent for chronic hepatitis, hepatic cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. There remains a need to dissect a molecular mechanism of pathogenesis for the development of therapeutic and effective preventive measure for HCV. Identification of cellular receptor is of central importance not only to understand the viral pathogenesis, but also to exploit strategies for prevention of HCV. This study was aimed at identifying peptide mimotopes inhibiting the binding of E2 protein of HCV to MOLT-4 cell. Methods: In this study, phage peptide library displaying a random peptides consisting of 7 or 12 random peptides was employed in order to pan against E2 protein. Free HCV particles were separated from the immune complex forms by immunoprecipitation using anti-human IgG antibody, and used for HCV-capture ELISA. To identify the peptides inhibiting E2-binding to MOLT-4 cells, E2 protein was subj ect to bind to MOLT-4 cells under the competition with phage peptides. Results: Several phage peptides were selected for their specific binding to E2 protein, which showed the conserved sequence of SHFWRAP from 3 different peptide sequences. They were also able to recognize the HCV particles in the sera of HCV patients captured by monoclonal antibody against E2 protein. Two of them, showing peptide sequence of HLGPWMSHWFQR and WAPPLERSSLFY respectively, were revealed to inhibit the binding of E2 protein to MOLT-4 cell efficiently in dose dependent mode. However, few membrane-associated receptor candidates were seen using Fasta3 programe for homology search with these peptides. Conclusion: Phage peptides containing HLGPWMSHWFQR and WAPPLERSSLFY respectively, showed the inhibition of E2-binding to MOLT-4 cells. However, they did not reveal any homologues to cellular receptors from GenBank database. In further study, cellular receptor could be identified through the screening of cDNA library from MOLT-4 or hepatocytes using antibodies against these peptide mimotopes.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.167-172
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• 2003

Purpose : Pulmonary vascular hypertension is a common problem in congenital heart disease, the most common cardiac condition in childhood. However, the mechanisms responsible for this pathologic change, treatment, and prevention are poorly understood. Therefore, we studied the gene expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) by using a hypoxic model of the pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. Methods : The main pulmonary artery and its proximal branches of a 6 wk old Fischer rat were excised. They were cut into multiple small pieces and suspended in DMEM medium supplemented with 20% fetal bovine serum and incubated in 5% $CO_2$-95% air atmosphere. The smooth muscle cells were confirmed by immunostaining with smooth muscle myosin and ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin antibodies. The VEGF gene expression in the hypoxic group was compared with the one in control the group as well as the one in the starved group by RT-PCR and Northern blot hybridization. Results : There was no statistically significant difference among the control, hypoxic and starved groups. Conclusion : There are few studies of pulmonary vascular hypertension at the molecular level in Korea. Therefore, we studied the expression of VEGF gene in hypoxic pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cells. Further studies will be needed to find the difference between newly born and adult rats, or human and rat pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cells in gene expression. We hope that the study will lead to a better understanding of pulmonary vascular hypertension.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.151-156
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• 2002

Purpose: The prognosis of gastric cancer depends on the depth of invasion, lymph-node metastasis, invasion to adjacent tissues, and distant metastasis. Recently, it is known that tumor-associated proteases and adhesion molecules have been shown to play a relevant role in the process of progression and metastasis. The purpose of our study was to demonstrate the value of MMP-2 (matrix metalloproteinase), cathepsin D and E-cadherin as prognostic factors. Materials and Methods: In this study, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks from 69 patients with gastric cancer were immunohistochemically studied using antibodies to MMP-2, cathepsin D, and E-cadherin, and their expressions were analyzed according to the pathologic stage, lymph-node metastasis, histological differentiation, and patient survival. The medical records of these patients were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Increased expression of MMP-2 significantly correlated with advanced pathologic stage (P=0.026). Patients with lymph-node metastasis also had increased expression of MMP-2. Those patients with increased expression of MMP-2 showed a poorer survival; nevertheless, it was not statistically significant. Increased expression of cathepsin D significantly correlated with advanced pathologic stage (p=0.029). However, no correlation was observed between advanced pathologic stage and either lymph-node status or histological differentiation. Patients with increased expression of cathepsin D had a poorer survival, but that result was not statistically significant. No association was found between reduced expression of E-cadherin and pathologic stage, lymph-node status, or histological differentiation. Also, no correlation was found between the expression of E-cadherin and survival. In addition, when a combination of MMP-2 and cathepsin D expressions was analyzed, if both were negative, the survival seems to be longer, but it was not statistically significant. Conclusions: In patients with gastric cancer, expressions of MMP-2 and cathepsin D correlated with tumor stage; therefore, they may be considered as prognostic factors.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.333-350
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• 1999

The modulation of leukocyte cell surface adhesion molecules may influence the development of cellular events that determine the course of the inflammatory process. Direct interaction between activated T cells and monocytes resulted in a large production of $IL-1{\beta}$ by monocytes. In this reactions, adhesion molecules play an important part, yet the role of them in Tmonocytes interaction remain unclear. This study was undertaken in an effort to elucidate, 1) the influence of 1.25(OH)$_2D_3-induced$ differentiation on the monocyte responsiveness to direct contact with T lymphocytes, and 2) the role of adhesion molecules on the T-monocyte direct interaction. Initially, I observed that direct contact of monocyte cell line THP-1 with stimulated fixed T cell line HuT78 markedly induces IL-1${\beta}$ production by THP-1. $IL-1{\beta}$ production was higher when THP-1 had been previously exposed to 1.25(OH)$_2D_3$ as compared to control, with ${\alpha}$- 1.25(OH)$_2D_3$ dose-dependent and exposure time-dependent manner. It was shown that 1.25(OH)$_2D_3$ also increased the expression of ${\beta}_2$ integrin adhesion receptor Mac-1(CD11b/CD18) dose- and timedependently, but did not increase the expression of human leukocyte antigen- D(HLA-D) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1). The $IL-1{\beta}$ producing activity of THP-1 cells correlated well with the ability to induce the Mac-1 expression on THP-1 surface. Monoclonal antibody raised against relevant cell surface glycoproteins on THP-1 were tested for their ability to block the response of THP-1 to T cells. Antibody to Mac-1 only partially blocked $IL-1{\beta}$ production by THP-1, whereas antibodies to ICAM-1 and HLA-D did not. These data indicate that regulation of Mac-1 expression on THP-1 cells can alter the responsiveness of these cells to contact by activated T cells, however other unknown structures on the THP-1 cells may be involved in this process also.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.170-180
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• 1996

Lowered immune function in the senile dementia patients may be related to the abnormal metabolism of amyloid precursor protein(APP). To investigate the passibility of an abnormal metabolism of APP in lymphocytes and the possible role of APP in the activation of lymphocytes in senile dementia patients, immunohistochemical study of rat spleen and fluorescence activated cell sorter analysis(FACS) of human lymphocytes with the specific antigen far each lymphocyte and double fluorescent marker with antibody to APP were performed. After stimulating lymphocyte with phytohemagglutinin(PHA), APP mRNA and protein were extracted and quantitfied and the influence of ${\beta}$-amyloid protein($A{\beta}$) specific antibody on lymphocyte division was investigated. In spleen, the majority of cells showing $A{\beta}$ immunoreactivity was found in the T-sell dependent zone. FACS indicated that around 90% $CD_4(+)$ T-cells and 60% of $CD_8(+)$ T-sell were immunoreactive to $A{\beta}$ specific antibody(mAb 4G8). Northern blot analysis shows that lymphocyte APP mRNA was gradually increased to reach a maximum at 3 days after activation with lectin mitogen PHA. However, the $A{\beta}$ immunoreactivity an cell surface remained constant during stimulation with PHA, indicating that the release of APP(secreted farm of APP) might be increased. A very large increase in soluble APP secretion was observed in T-lymphocyte upon activation, but only law levels in the resting stale. Immunoblot was carried out an the protein obtained from cell lysate after stimulating lymphocyte by applying PHA to the cultured lymphocyte, and the result was that $A{\beta}$ band of immature farm under 116 KDa marker decreased as the duration of culture was increased after PHA stimulation. The monoclonal $A{\beta}$ specific(4G8) and polyclonal APP antibodies did not inhibit the [$^3H$]-thymidine uptake of mitogen-treated lymphocytes significantly, suggesting that mitogenesis can not be inhibited by specific $A{\beta}$ and polyclonal APP antibody. These results suggest that APP is expressed in T-cell and might be closely associated with the function of T-cells.

• BMB Reports
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• v.51 no.11
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• pp.572-577
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• 2018

Recent studies showed that the PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint blockade is a dramatic therapy for melanoma by enhancing antitumor immune activity. Currently, major strategies for the PD-1/PD-L1 blockade have mainly focused on the use of antibodies and compounds. Seeking an alternative approach, others employ endogenous proteins as blocking agents. The extracellular domain of PD-1 (ePD1) includes the binding site with PD-L1. Accordingly, we constructed a PD-1-based recombinantly tailored fusion protein (dFv-ePD1) that consists of bivalent variable fragments (dFv) of an MMP-2/9-targeted antibody and ePD1. The melanoma-binding intensity and antitumor activity were also investigated. We found the intense and selective binding capability of the protein dFv-ePD1 to human melanoma specimens was confirmed by a tissue microarray. In addition, dFv-ePD1 significantly suppressed the migration and invasion of mouse melanoma B16-F1 cells, and displayed cytotoxicity to cancer cells in vitro. Notably, dFv-ePD1 significantly inhibited the growth of mouse melanoma B16-F1 tumor cells in mice and in vivo fluorescence imaging showed that dFv-ePD was gradually accumulated into the B16-F1 tumor. Also the B16-F1 tumor fluorescence intensity at the tumor site was stronger than that of dFv. This study indicates that the recombinant protein dFv-ePD1 has an intensive melanoma-binding capability and exerts potent therapeutic efficacy against melanoma. The novel format of the PD-L1-blocked agent may play an active role in antitumor immunotherapy.