• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.328-335
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• 2004

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-I) Tat protein transduction domain (PTD), which con­tains rich arginine and lysine residues, is responsible for the highly efficient transduction of protein through the plasma membrane. In addition, it can be secreted from infected cells and has the ability to enter neighboring cells. When the PTD of Tat is fused to proteins and exogenously added to cells, the fusion protein can cross plasma membranes. Recent reports indicate that the endogenously expressed Tat fusion protein can demonstrate biodistribution of several proteins. However, intercellular transport and protein transduction have not been observed in some studies. Therefore, this study exam­ined the intercellular transport and protein transduction of the Tat protein. The results showed no evi­dence of intercellular transport (biodistribution) in a cell culture. Instead, the Tat fusion peptides were found to have a significant effect on the transduction and intercellular localization properties. This sug­gests that the HIV-1 PTD passes through the plasma membrane in one direction.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.325-332
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• 2020

Methyl linderone (ML), a cyclo-pentenedione, was isolated from the fruit of Lindera erythrocarpa Makino (family Lauraceae). This plant has well-known anti-inflammatory effects; however, the anti-cancer effects of ML have not yet been reported. Thus, in the present study we investigated the effects of ML on the metastasis of human breast cancer cells. We used 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-stimulated MCF-7 cells as the cell model to study the effects of ML on invasion and migration. ML was found to reduce the invasion and migration rate of TPA-stimulated MCF-7 cells. Moreover, it inhibited two metastasis-related factors, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and interleukin-8 (IL-8), at the mRNA and protein expression levels, in TPA-treated MCF-7 cells. The mechanism by which ML exerted these effects was through the inhibition of translocation of activator protein-1 (AP-1) and signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3), mediated via phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Taken together, our findings indicated that ML attenuated the TPA-stimulated invasion and migration of MCF-7 cells by suppressing the phosphorylation of ERK and its downstream factors, AP-1 and STAT3. Therefore, ML is a potential agent for the treatment of breast cancer metastasis.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.110-115
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• 2004

The immature fruits of Poncirus trifoliata L. or Ponciri fructus (PF), well known as 'Jisil' in Korea, have been used against allergic diseases for generations, and still occupy an important place in traditional Oriental medicine. Anti-allergic effects of this fruit have been investigated in a few experimental models. Immunoglobulin E (IgE) is the principal immunoglobulin involved in immediate hypersensitivities and chronic allergic diseases. The effect of an aqueous extract of PF on in vivo and in vitro IgE production was investigated. PF dose-dependently inhibited the active systemic anaphylaxis and serum IgE production induced by immunization with ovalbumin, Bordetelia pertussis toxin and aluminum hydroxide gel. PF strongly inhibited interleukin 4 (IL-4)-dependent IgE production by lipopolysaccharide-stimulated murine whole spleen cells. In the case of U266 human IgE-bearing B cells, Ponciri fructus also showed an inhibitory effect on the IgE production. On the other hand, mast cell hyperplasia can be causally related with chronic inflammation. Stem cell factor (SCF), the ligand of the c-kit protooncogene product, is a major regulator and ohernoattractant of mast cells. Ponciri fiuctus (1 mg/mL) significantly inhibited the SCF-induced migration of rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMCs). RPMCs exposed to SCF (50 ng/mL) resulted in a drastic shape change with a polarized morphology while the cells exposed to Ponciri fructus (1 mg/mL) remained resting, with little or no shape alteration. The drastic morphological alteration and distribution of polymerized actin were blocked by pretreatment with Ponciri fructus. In addition, Ponciri fructus inhibited both TNF-alpha and IL-6 secretion from RPMCs stimulated with SCF. These results suggest that Ponciri fructus has an anti-allergic activity by inhibition of IgE production from B cells. These findings also provide evidence that Ponciri fructu inhibits chemotactic response and inflammatory cytokines secretion to SCF in mast cells.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.123-131
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• 2016

Osteoporosis is a bone pathology leading to increased fracture risk and challenging the quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of an anthraquinone glycoside, aloin, on osteogenic induction of MC3T3-E1 cells. Aloin increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, an early differentiation marker of osteoblasts. Aloin also increased the ALP activity in adult human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSC), indicating that the action of aloin was not cell-type specific. Alizarin red S staining revealed a significant amount of calcium deposition in cells treated with aloin. Aloin enhanced the expression of osteoblast differentiation genes, Bmp-2, Runx2 and collagen 1a, in a dose-dependent manner. Western blot analysis revealed that noggin and inhibitors of p38 MAPK and SAPK/JNK signals attenuated aloin-promoted expressions of Bmp-2 and Runx2 proteins. siRNA mediated blocking of Wnt-5a signaling pathway also annulled the influence of aloin, indicating Wnt-5a dependent activity. Inhibition of the different signal pathways abrogated the influence of aloin on ALP activity, confirming that aloin induced MC3T3-E1 cells into osteoblasts through MAPK mediated Wnt and Bmp signaling pathway.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.291-296
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• 2008

Amniotic membrane (AM) has been used in various medical application such as biomaterials and it has a biocompatibility and wound healing effects. In this studies, we made AM sponge that was homogenized with AM and then lyophilized. And osteoinduction efficacy of AM sponge was evaluated with collagen sponge by mesenchymal stem cell culture and implantation in nude mouse. As a result of this study, adhesion and proliferation of MSC cells on AM sponge and collagen sponge were not different, but AM sponge was more superior to collagen sponge for induction of collagen secretion and calcium adhesion in matrix in vivo. Besides, AM sponges were more positive stained than collagen sponge about osteocalcin and osteonectin. As a results of this study, there is possibility of doing that AM could increase osteoinduction.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.270-276
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• 2008

In this study we investigated the effects of Magnolia Bark (MB) extract and its constituents, such as honokiol and magnolol, on gastritis in rats and the growth of human gastric cancer cells. The MB extract, honokiol, and magnolol showed the acid-neutralizing capacities, the antioxidant activities, and the inhibitory effect on the growth of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori.) at the dose of $50\;{\mu}g/ml$ and over, which is equivalent to that of ampicillin ($100\;{\mu}g/ml$). Honokiol and magnolol had no significant cytotoxicity to human gastric caner cells (AGS and SNU638). However, the MB extract had cytotoxic activity against AGS gastric cancer cell. The MB extract, honokiol, and magnolol significantly inhibited HCI-ethanol-induced gastric lesions without clear change of mucus content. In pylorus ligated rats, honokiol significantly decreased the volume of gastric secretion and gastric acid output, and increased the pH. Magnolol increased the mucus content to almost the same as the control group at oral doses of 50 mg/kg. Therefore, we could guess that antigastritic action of honokiol and magnolol may be associated with the antioxidant activities, acid-neutralizing capacities, inhibition of secretion in gastric acid, and anti-H. pylori action. From these results, we could suggest that MB extract and its constituents, such as honokiol and magnolol, may be useful for the treatment and/or protection of gastritis.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.243-247
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• 1994

최근 의약적으로 유용한 단백질을 대량 생산키 위한 실현 가능한 방법이 유전자변환 가축의 이용과 관련되어 발전되어 왔다. 이러한 유전자 변환동물은 이종의 단백질을 유즙속으로 분비시키는 생체반응기로서 이용되고 있다. 이러한 전략적 목적을 위해 현재 유전자 변환동물의 생산을 위한 이용에 있어 여러 가지 방법들이 보고되고 있다. 그러나 ES 세포의 사용이 이러한 방법들 사이에서 가장 실질적인 것으로 추정되고 있다. 본 실험에서는 유전자 구축을 위해 사람 황체 호르몬(human luteinizing hormone; hLH)의 전사를 유도하기 위해 각각 2.2 및 0.5 kb의 토끼 $\beta$-casein pronoter 단편을 이용하여 생쥐의 유선에 hLH를 발현시키도록 조절하고 발현이 thynidine kinase(TK) pronoter에 의해 좌우되는 neo 유전자를 selectable marker로서 plasnid속에 삽입하였다. 그 결과 생긴 구축 유전자는 각각 pCas 2.2와 pCas 0.5로 명명하였다. 구축된 유전자로 2$\times$107의 TT-2 ES세포를 170V, 550$\mu$F로 100$\mu$g의 선상 plasmid에 의해 electroporation 시켰다. 감염된 colony들은 250$\mu$g/$m\ell$ G418을 함유하는 ESM 배양액에서 선별 7일 이후에 회수하여 성공적으로 감염된 ES세포는 PCR 및 Southern blot에 의해 확인되었고 그들 중 나머지는 trypsin 처리 후 각각 미세조작과 공배양 기술을 사용하여 ICR 생쥐의 8세포기 수정란 속에 도입하였다. 결국 24시간 동안 37$^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$에서 배양된 배반포를 chimera의 생산을 위해 위임신 유기된 G418 선발처리 이후 400 및 275개의 ES 세포 colony가 생존하였으며, 3개의 ES 세포으 colony 의 genome 속에 임의적으로 plamid가 삽입된 것을 Southern blot에 의해 확인되었다. 총 13 chimera 생쥐가 3 colony로부터 생산되었으나 germ-line chimera는 현재 조사중이다. chimera 생산빈도는 공배양 기술보다 주입방법에서 현저히 높았다.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.347-351
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• 2002

Transgenes in HSY-TK gene driven by the lck promoter was tested for the expression in immune cells (Jurkat cells) to apply xenotransplantation of human cells into transgenic animals for the potential use of the proliferation or differentiation of human stem cells in the large animal such as an pig. Also, lck-CFP gene was used for transfection experiment into Jurkat cell to confirm the proper regulation of lck promoter for transgene expression in the T cells. Transfection of lck-GFP gene into Jurkat ceils induced CFP expression in transfected cells. The expression of Ick-TK and Ick-CFP genes was confirmed by RT-PCR using RNAs extracted from Jurkat cells, When Jurkat cells transfected with TK and CFP genes were selected against G418 or gancyclovir treatments, Jurkat cells transfected with TK gene were not proliferated in G4i8 and gancyclovir medium while intact cells or cells transfected with CFP gene could grow in gancyclovir medium. However, Jurkat cells transfected with TK or GFP gene were proliferated in G418 medium probably due to Neo$^{r}$ gene in the vector. Gancyclovir treatment destroyed Jurkat cells expressing TK gene indicating that T-cells expressing TK gene can be selectively eliminated by TK gene expression driven by lck promoter.

• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.163-168
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• 2013

The AML1 gene is an essential transcription factor regulating the differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells into mature blood cells. Though at least 12 different alternatively spliced AML1 mRNAs are generated, three splice variants (AML1a, AML1b and AML1c) have been characterized. Here, using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction with outward-facing primers, we identified a novel non-polyadenylated transcript from the AML1 gene, with exons 5 and 6 scrambled. The novel transcript resisted RNase R digestion, indicating it is a circular RNA structure that may originate from products of mRNA alternative splicing. The expression of the novel transcript in different cells or cell lines of human and a number of other species matched those of the canonical transcripts. The discovery provides additional evidence that circular RNA could stably exist in vivo in human, and may also help to understand the mechanism of the regulation of the AML1 gene transcription.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.42-49
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• 2020

As a preclinical study, many researchers have been attempted to convert the porcine PSCs into several differentiated cells with transplantation of the differentiated cells into the pigs. Here, we attempted to derive neuronal progenitor cells from pig embryonic germ cells (EGCs). As a result, neuronal progenitor cells could be derived directly from pig embryonic germ cells through the serum-free floating culture of EB-like aggregates (SFEB) method. Treating retinoic acid was more efficient for inducing neuronal lineages from EGCs rather than inhibiting SMAD signaling. The differentiated cells expressed neuronal markers such as PAX6, NESTIN, and SOX1 as determined by qRT-PCR and immunostaining. These data indicated that pig EGCs could provide valid models for human therapy. Finally, it is suggested that developing transgenic pig for disease models as well as differentiation methods will provide basic preclinical data for human regenerative medicine and lead to the success of stem cell therapy.