• Applied Microscopy
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.125-133
• /
• 2008

Cytochrome-c-oxidase in mitochondria membrane is one of the most important factors for energy generation in the cell. As well as it is electron transfer enzyme, it is also heavily related to the apoptosis and other pathologic conditions. Meanwhile, porin is a protein located in inner and outer membranes of mitochondria, which is assumed to be functionally correlated with cytochrome-c-oxidase. It functions as forming electron transfer chain and conveying ATP. Therefore, using the immune-microscopy, It compared the distribution of cytochrome-c-oxidase and porin to figure out the formation and changes on cytochrome-c-oxidase in mitochondrial cristae. The sarcroplasm of cardic muscle tissue has many mitochondria. They are classified into two groups: the mitochondria with many cytochrome-c-oxidase and the mitochondria with only porins. The mitochondria with porins had few cytochrome-c-oxidases in their membrane; in contrast, the other mitochondria with rich cytochrome-c-oxidase had few porins in their walls. In addition, according to the location of the tissue in bovine heart, distribution of those kind of mitochondria had been clearly separated. As a result, it could be assumed that immature mitochondria has many porins to transfer the protein materials from sarcroplasm through the porins, and they made cytochrome-c-oxidase until it is enough, and then they decreased the porin and maintained minimum number of the porin.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.30 no.5
• /
• pp.61-76
• /
• 2009

Background: Membranous nephropathy (MN) is the most common cause of adult nephrotic syndrome worldwide and has been defined as granular subepithelial deposition of immune complexes along the glomerular basement membrane (GBM). MN has few known treatments and gives rise to side effects under treatment with steroids and immunosuppressives. Objective: The purpose of this experimental study was to demonstrate the effects of Scutellariae Radix extract (SRE) treatment on MN mouse model induced by cBSA. Methods: We divided mice into 4 groups. The Normal group had no treatment. We induced MN mouse model to the other 3 groups by injecting cBSA into the abdominal cavity. The control group was treated with cBSA (10 mg/kg, i.p.) only. The second group, 'SRE-250', was treated with cBSA (10 mg/kg, i.p.) and SRE (250 mg/kg, p.o.). The third group, 'SRE-500', was treated with cBSA (10 mg/kg, i.p.) and SRE (500 mg/kg, p.o.). After cBSA and SRE treatment for 4 weeks, gain in body weight, 24hrs proteinuria, serum albumin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, BUN and creatinine of all groups were measured. TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6, IL-1$\beta$, IL-10, IFN-$\gamma$, IgA, IgM and IgG levels of all groups were gauged. H&E staining and electron microscopy of the kidney were observed. Results: SRE showed significant decrease in the 24hrs proteinuria, serum triglyceride, BUN, TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6, serum IgA, IgM and IgG levels compared with the control group. SRE showed increase in the serum IL-10 and IFN-$\gamma$ levels compared with control on RT-PCR. SRE considerably decreased in the thickening of the GBM on H&E staining and deposition of electron-density on electron microscopy of the kidney compared with the control. Conclusions: According to the above results, it is suggested that SRE decreases the symptoms of MN induced by cBSA in mouse model. Therefore, SRE seems to be applicable to MN in clinical practice.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.15-25
• /
• 2010

Background: Rat mast cells were regarded as a good model for mast cell function in immune response. Methods: Rat bone marrow mast cells (BMMC) were prepared both by recombinant rat IL-3 (rrIL-3) and by recombinant mouse stem cell factor (rmSCF), and investigated for both proliferation and differentiation in time course. Rat BMMC was induced by culture of rat bone marrow cells (BMCs) in the presence of both rrIL-3 (5 ng/ml) and rmSCF (5 ng/ml). Culture media were changed 2 times per week with the cell number condition of $5{\times}10^4/ml$ in 6 well plate. Proliferation was analyzed by cell number and cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and differentiation was by rat mast cell protease (RMCP) II and histamine. Results: Cell proliferation rates reached a maximum at 8 or 11 days of culture and decreased thereafter. However, both RMCP II production and histamine synthesis peaked after 11 days of culture. By real time RT-PCR, the level of histidine decarboxylase mRNA was more than 500 times higher on culture day 11 than on culture day 5. By transmission electron microscopy, the cells were heterogeneous in size and contained cytoplasmic granules. Using gated flow cytometry, we showed that cultured BMCs expressed high levels of $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$ and the mast cell antigen, ganglioside, on culture day 11. Conclusion: These results indicate that rat BMMCs were generated by culturing BMCs in the presence of rrII-3 and rmSCF and that the BMMCs have the characteristics of mucosal mast cells.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.663-672
• /
• 2024

The use of nanoparticles as a delivery system for a specific antigen could solve many limitations of mucosal vaccine applications, such as low immunogenicity, or antigen protection and stabilization. In this study, we tested the ability of nasally administered chitosan nanoparticles loaded with glycoprotein B of murine cytomegalovirus to induce an immune response in an animal model. The choice of chitosan nanoparticle type was made by in vitro evaluation of sorption efficiency and antigen release. Three types of chitosan nanoparticles were prepared: crosslinked with tripolyphosphate, coated with hyaluronic acid, and in complex with polycaprolactone. The hydrodynamic size of the nanoparticles by dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, stability, loading efficiency, and release kinetics with ovalbumin were evaluated. Balb/c mice were immunized intranasally using the three-dose protocol with nanoparticles, gB, and adjuvants Poly(I:C) and CpG ODN. Subsequently, the humoral and cell-mediated antigen-specific immune response was determined. On the basis of the properties of the tested nanoparticles, the cross-linked nanoparticles were considered optimal for further investigation. The results show that nanoparticles with Poly(I:C) and with gB alone raised IgG antibody levels above the negative control. In the case of mucosal IgA, only gB alone weakly induced the production of IgA antibodies compared to saline-immunized mice. The number of activated cells increased slightly in mice immunized with nanoparticles and gB compared to those immunized with gB alone or to negative control. The results demonstrated that chitosan nanoparticles could have potential in the development of mucosal vaccines.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.34 no.9
• /
• pp.2725-2730
• /
• 2013

Single C-reactive protein (CRP) molecules, which are non-specific acute phase markers and products of the innate immune system, were quantitatively detected on a gold-nanopatterned biochip using evanescent field-enhanced fluorescence imaging. The $4{\times}5$ gold-nanopatterned biochip (spot diameter of 500 nm) was fabricated by electron beam nanolithography. Unlabeled CRP molecules in human serum were identified with single-molecule sandwich immunoassay by detecting secondary fluorescence generated by total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy. With decreased standard CRP concentrations, relative fluorescence intensities reduced in the range of 33.3 zM-800 pM. To enhance fluorescence intensities in TIRF images, the distance between biochip surface and CRP molecules was optimally adjusted by considering the quenching effect of gold and the evanescent field intensity. As a result, TIRF only detected one single-CRP molecule on the biochip the first time.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.15 no.6
• /
• pp.1229-1239
• /
• 2005

Human immunodeficiency virus-like particles (HIVVLPs) with native conformations similar to that of the wild-type virion could be valid candidates for vaccine development. To this end, we used a Semliki Forest Virus (SFV) expression system to produce HIV- VLPs containing high quantities of native envelope proteins. Here, we described a single SFV replicon containing the HIV gagpol and env genes under the control of separate subgenomic promoters. Mature VLPs incorporating the Gag and Env proteins were detected in the supernatant of replicon-expressing cells by Western blot analysis. The HIV-VLPs showed the expected molecular density (1.14-1.18 g/ml) on a $20-60\%$ sucrose gradient; the particles were 100-120 nm in diameter and Env proteins were observed on their surfaces by immunogold electron microscopy. RT-PCR analysis of VLP-associated RNAs in mature HIV-VLPs revealed two SF V-derived RNA species (full-length and subgenomic). Immunization studies in Balb/c mice showed that these HIV-VLPs were capable of inducing both HIV-specific antibodies and cell-mediated immune responses. Taken together, our results indicate that the SFV replicon system is useful for the production of HIV-VLPs, which may be valuable candidates for an HIV vaccine.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.97-102
• /
• 2010

The enhancement of immunity for atopic dermatitis with application of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)-loaded liposome was evaluated on NC/Nga mice. The EPA-loaded liposome was coated with thiol-chitosan. The liposomes were characterized with transmission electron microscopy (TEM), surface zeta potential & particle size analyzer (Zeta-PSA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The loading efficiency of EPA in the liposome was about 4.7%. The particle size of the EPA-Ioaded liposome was about 230 nm. The values of Immunoglobulin E (IgE), interleukin-4 (IL-4), and tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$) were reduced significantly with application of the EPA-loaded liposome. The interferon-$\gamma$ (IFN-$\gamma$) value was increased with the application effect. It is concluded that EPA loaded liposome have immunity advancing effects in mouse model of atopic dermatitis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.22 no.6
• /
• pp.849-855
• /
• 2012

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) pseudomonads have a large number of lipopolysaccharides on the cell surface, which induces immune responses. Cd-resistant PGPR prevalent at the Cd-affected sites under biophytostabilization was monitored. Transmissiom electron microscopy was used to the study the behavior of tolerance of PGPR to cadmium level and its effect on pseudomonad strains (Z9, S2, KNP2, CRPF, and NBRI). An immunosensor was developed by immobilizing antibody (anti-Z9 or anti-S2) against selected PGPR on a piezoelectric quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). Immunosensors were found to supplement the inherent specificity of antigen-antibody reactions with the high sensitivity of a physical transducer. On comparison of the efficiency of detection with ELISA, the spectrophotometric technique, the developed immunosensor was found to be more sensitive, fast, and reliable even after regeneration for several times. Thus, the immunosensor may be used for future detection of PGPR strains after automation of the screening process.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.32 no.5
• /
• pp.621-629
• /
• 2022

Bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) typically contain multiple immunogenic molecules that include antigenic proteins, making them good candidates for vaccine development. In animal models, vaccination with OMVs has been shown to confer protective immune responses against many bacterial diseases. It is possible to genetically introduce heterologous protein antigens to the bacterial host that can then be produced and relocated to reside within the OMVs by means of the host secretion mechanisms. Accordingly, in this study we sought to develop a novel platform for recombinant OMV (rOMV) production in the widely used bacterial expression host species, Escherichia coli. Three different lipoprotein signal peptides including their Lol signals and tether sequences-from Neisseria meningitidis fHbp, Leptospira interrogans LipL32, and Campylobactor jejuni JlpA-were combined upstream to the GFPmut2 model protein, resulting in three recombinant plasmids. Pilot expression studies showed that the fusion between fHbp and GFPmut2 was the only promising construct; therefore, we used this construct for large-scale expression. After inducing recombinant protein expression, the nanovesicles were harvested from cell-free culture media by ultrafiltration and ultracentrifugation. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated that the obtained rOMVs were closed, circular single-membrane particles, 20-200 nm in size. Western blotting confirmed the presence of GFPmut2 in the isolated vesicles. Collectively, although this is a non-optimized, proof-of-concept study, it demonstrates the feasibility of this platform in directing target proteins into the vesicles for OMV-based vaccine development.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• /
• v.36 no.5
• /
• pp.360-365
• /
• 2010

Introduction: Mammalian tooth pulp is densely innervated by sensory nerves that are mostly C fibers and A delta fibers. However, there is evidence suggesting that many unmyelinated axons in the pulp are in fact parent meylinated axons. Immunohistochemical staining for neurofilament protein 200 kDa (NFP200) was performed to identify the demyelinated but parent myelinated axons. Materials and Methods: The pulp was removed from healthy premolars and 3rd molars extracted from juveniles and adults undergoing orthodontic treatment, and immunohistochemical staining were applied with NPF200 antibodies, which specifically dye myelinated axons. The specimens underwent an electron microscopy examination with diaminobenzidine (DAB) immunostaining after observation and analysis by fluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Results: The NPF200 immuno-positive axons in the radicular pulp areas were observed as bundles of many nerve fibers. Many small bundles were formed with fewer axons when firing to the coronal pulp areas and then reachrd a different direction. In the radicular pulp, unmyelinated axons and myelinated axons were present together. However, in the coronal pulp, unmyelinated axons were most common and NFP200 immuno-positive unmyelinated axons with a larger diameter than those in the radicular pulp were observed more frequently. On the other hand, most of the immuno-positive unmyelinated fibers were similar in size to that of typically well-known unmyelinated fibers. Conclusion: Myelinated fibers innervated to the dental pulp maintain their myelins in the radicular portion, but these fibers lost myelins in the coronal portion. After the loss of myelin, the size of the axoplasm also decreased.