• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.31 no.3B
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• pp.285-291
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• 2011

Accurate assessment of the water and energy cycles is essential to understand hydrologic, climatologic, and ecological processes. Common Land Model (CLM) is one of the well-developed Soil-Vegetation-Atmosphere Transfer (SVAT) models based on the water and energy balance equation for accurate prediction of hydro-environmental cycles. The CLM can estimate realistic and reliable results using relatively simple parameters. It has been widely used in the world, however in Korea practical applications of the CLM are rare due to lack of information and input data. In this study, the CLM with Korea Flux network (KoFlux) and Kore Land Data Assimilation System (KLDAS) data were individually validated for domestic applications. This study showed that all comparisons between observations and model results from KoFlux and KLDAS had reasonable correlation with determination coefficient of 0.73~1.00 via regression. The results confirmed the applicability of the CLM and the possibility of the KLDAS usage for the region where input data are not existed.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.90-97
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• 2008

Background: Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) comprises a group of lung diseases resulting from repeated inhalation of various antigens such as Saccharopolyspora rectivirgula (SR). HP is categorized as a Th1 disease. Therefore, it has been suggested that IL-4, Th2 type cytokine, plays a protective role in the development of HP. However, the functional role of IL-4 in HP has not been extensively investigated in vivo. Therefore, we investigated the functional role of IL-4 in HP using IL-4 knockout (KO) mice. Methods: HP was induced by repeated exposure to SR in C57BL/6 (B6) and IL-4 KO (C57BL/6 background) mice. Results: IL-4 KO mice aggravated HP in terms of histological alteration, SR-specific immune responses, and inflammatory cell infiltration in the lungs compared with B6 mice. IL-4 KO mice produced high levels of IFN-${\gamma}$, TGF-${\beta}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$ in the lungs, whereas B6 mice showed the enhanced production of IL-4. Moreover, chemokines such as MIP-1${\alpha}$, MCP-1, and RANTES were highly expressed in IL-4 KO mice. IFN-${\gamma}$-secreting CD4, CD8 T cells, and neutrophils were enhanced in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of IL-4 KO mice than those of B6 mice. The administration of recombinant(r) IL-4 restored these immunologic parameters in IL-4 KO mice. Conclusion: These results indicate that IL-4 plays a suppressive role in SR-induced HP by attenuating Th1-dominant immune responses.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.511-518
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• 2011

To avoid hyperacute rejection of xenografts, ${\alpha}1,3$-galactosyltransferase knock-out (GalT KO) pigs have been produced. In this study, we examined whether Sia-containing glycoconjugates are important as an immunogenic non-Gal epitope in the pig liver with disruption of ${\alpha}1,3$-galactosyltransferase gene. The target cells were then used as donor cells for somatic cell nuclear transfer (scNT). A total of 1,800 scNT embryos were transferred to 10 recipients. One recipient developed to term and naturally delivered two piglets. Real-time RT-PCR and glycosyltransferase activity showed that ${\alpha}2,3$-sialyltransferase (${\alpha}2,3ST$) and ${\alpha}2,6$-sialyltransferase (${\alpha}2,6ST$) in the heterozygote GalT KO liver have higher expression levels and activities compared to controls, respectively. According to lectin blotting, sialic acidcontaining glycoconjugate epitopes were also increased due to the decreasing of ${\alpha}$-Gal in heterozygote GalT KO liver, whereas GalNAc-containing glycoconjugate epitopes were decreased in heterozygote GalT KO liver compare to the control. Furthermore, the heterozygote GalT KO liver showed a higher Neu5Gc content than control. Taken together, these finding suggested that the deficiency of GalT gene in pigs resulted in increased production of Neu5Gc-bounded epitopes (H-D antigen) due to increase of ${\alpha}2,6$-sialyltransferase. Thus, this finding suggested that the deletion of CMAH gene to the GalT KO background is expected to further prolong xenograft survival.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.146-150
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• 2020

Amomum Tsao-ko used as a traditional oriental herbal medicine, is indigenous to several Asia countries. This study was carried out to investigate the contamination by Benzo(a)pyrene in Amomum Tsao-ko Fruit of Medicinal Herbs. 20 samples of Amomum Tsao-ko Fruit were evaluated for the Benzo(a)pyrene contamination. They were analyzed for Benzo(a)pyrene using high-performance liquid chromatogrphy(HPLC)-fluorescence detection and the positive samples were confirmed using gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The levels of Benzo(a)pyrene were from 9.2 to 95.5 ㎍/kg and the average was 40.6 ㎍/kg. There are no Benzo(a)pyrene standards for Amomum Tsao-ko Fruit of Medicinal Herbs. These data will be used as a basic data for the future legislation on the regulation and control of benzo(a)pyrene of Amomum Tsao-ko Fruit of Medicinal Herbs.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.260-267
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• 2007

This research note introduces the procedure of the quality control and quality assurance applied to the eddy covariance data collected at the two KoFlux sites (i.e., Gwangneung forest and Haenam farmland). The quality control was conducted through several steps based on micrometeorological theories and statistical tests. The data quality was determined at each step of the quality control procedure and was denoted by five different quality flags. The programs, which were used to perform the quality control, and the quality assessed data are available at KoFlux website (http://www.koflux.org/).

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.358-363
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• 2011

Background: Traditionally, interferon-${\gamma}$ (IFN-${\gamma}$) was regarded as a pro-inflammatory cytokine, however, recent reports suggested role of IFN-${\gamma}$ in immune tolerance. In our previous report, we could induce tolerance to male antigen (HY) just by male islet transplantation in wild type C57BL/6 mice without any immunological intervention. We tried to investigate the influence of IFN-${\gamma}$ deficiency on tolerance induction by male islet transplantation. Methods: To examine the immunogenicity of male tissue in the absence of IFN-${\gamma}$, we transplanted male IFN-${\gamma}$ knock-out (KO) skin to female IFN-${\gamma}$ KO mice. Next, we analyzed male IFN-${\gamma}$ KO islet to streptozotocin-induced diabetic female IFN-${\gamma}$ KO mice. And, we checked the functionality of grafted islet by graft removal and insulin staining. Results: As our previous results in wild type C57BL/6 mice, female IFN-${\gamma}$ KO mice rejected male IFN-${\gamma}$ KO skin within 29 days, and did not reject male IFN-${\gamma}$ KO islet. The maintenance of normal blood glucose level was dependent on the presence of grafted male islet. And the male islet recipient did not reject 2nd challenge of male islet graft also. Conclusion: Deficiency of IFN-${\gamma}$ does not have influence on the result of male skin graft and male islet transplantation. Conclusively, male islet transplantation induced T cell tolerance is not dependent on the presence of IFN-${\gamma}$.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.36.1-36.12
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• 2021

Background: Mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) A59 is a highly infectious pathogen and starts in the respiratory tract and progresses to systemic infection in laboratory mice. The complement system is an important part of the host immune response to viral infection. It is not clear the role of the classical complement pathway in MHV infection. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the importance of the classical pathway in coronavirus pathogenesis by comparing C1qa KO mice and wild-type mice. Methods: We generated a C1qa KO mouse using CRISPR/Cas9 technology and compared the susceptibility to MHV A59 infection between C1qa KO and wild-type mice. Histopathological and immunohistochemical changes, viral loads, and chemokine expressions in both mice were measured. Results: MHV A59-infected C1qa KO mice showed severe histopathological changes, such as hepatocellular necrosis and interstitial pneumonia, compared to MHV A59-infected wild-type mice. Virus copy numbers in the olfactory bulb, liver, and lungs of C1qa KO mice were significantly higher than those of wild-type mice. The increase in viral copy numbers in C1qa KO mice was consistent with the histopathologic changes in organs. These results indicate that C1qa deficiency enhances susceptibility to MHV A59 systemic infection in mice. In addition, this enhanced susceptibility effect is associated with dramatic elevations in spleen IFN-γ, MIP-1 α, and MCP-1 in C1qa KO mice. Conclusions: These data suggest that C1qa deficiency enhances susceptibility to MHV A59 systemic infection, and activation of the classical complement pathway may be important for protecting the host against MHV A59 infection.

• Yonsei Medical Journal
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• v.59 no.9
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• pp.1064-1071
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• 2018

Purpose: To explore the influence of S100 calcium binding protein A4 (S100A4) knockout (KO) on methionine-choline-deficient (MCD) diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in mice. Materials and Methods: S100A4 KO mice (n=20) and their wild-type (WT) counterparts (n=20) were randomly divided into KO/MCD, Ko/methionine-choline-sufficient (MCS), WT/MCD, and WT/MCS groups. After 8 weeks of feeding, blood lipid and liver function-related indexes were measured. HE, Oil Red O, and Masson stainings were used to observe the changes of liver histopathology. Additionally, expressions of S100A4 and proinflammatory and profibrogenic cytokines were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot, while hepatocyte apoptosis was revealed by TUNEL staining. Results: Serum levels of aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, triglyceride, and total cholesterol in mice were increased after 8-week MCD feeding, and hepatocytes performed varying balloon-like changes with increased inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen fibers; however, these effects were improved in mice of KO/MCD group. Meanwhile, total NAFLD activity scores and fibrosis were lower compared to WT+MCD group. Compared to WT/MCS group, S100A4 expression in liver tissue of WT/MCD group was enhanced. The expression of proinflammatory ($TGF-{\alpha}$, $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6) and profibrogenic cytokines ($TGF-{\beta}1$, COL1A1, ${\alpha}-SMA$) in MCD-induced NAFLD mice were increased, as well as apoptotic index (AI). For MCD group, the expressions of proinflammatory and profibrogenic cytokines and AI in KO mice were lower than those of WT mice. Conclusion: S100A4 was detected to be upregulated in NAFLD, while S100A4 KO alleviated liver fibrosis and inflammation, in addition to inhibiting hepatocyte apoptosis.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.55-62
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate the effects of an aqueous extract from Buddleja officinalis Maxim (ABO) on vascular dysfunction in low-density lipoprotein receptor deficient (LDLr KO) mice. Methods : Present study showed that LDLr KO mice were fed a high fat diet consisting of 60 kcal% fat, with or without 200 mg/day/kg ABO of diet, for 14 weeks. Results : High fat diet-LDLr KO mice were treated with ABO were completely normalized by lowering glucose. ABO reduced intima/media thickness in a high fat diet-LDLr KO mice without affecting plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels. ABO caused endothelium-dependent relaxation in the acetylcholine-precontracted aorta of high fat diet-LDLr KO mice. ABO increased eNOS expression, while decreased cell adhesion molecules expression in high fat diet-LDLr KO mice. Conclusions : In conclusion, chronic treatment with ABO improved hyperglycemia and endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation as well as exhibited anti-inflammatory effect in diabetic atherosclerotic mouse model, independent of effects on plasma lipids.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.281-287
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• 2013

A major barrier to progress in pig to primate organ transplantation or cell therapy is the presence of terminal ${\alpha}$-1,3-galactosyl epitopes on the surface of pig cells. Therefore, the purpose of this experiment was to establish and cha- racterize mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) derived from ${\alpha}$-1,3-galactosyltransferase (GalT) knock out (GalT KO) pig to confirm their potential for cell therapy. Bone marrow (BM)-MSCs from GalT KO pig of 1 month old were isolated by Ficoll-Paque PLUS gradient and cultured with A-DMEM + 10% FBS on plastic dishes in 5% $CO_2$ incubator at 38.5. GalT KO BM-MSCs were analyzed for the expression of CD markers ($CD45^-$, $29^+$, $90^+$ and $105^+$) and in vitro differentiation ability (adiopogenesis and osteogenesis). Further, cell proliferation capacity and cell aging of GalT KO BM-MSCs were compared to Wild BM-MSCs by BrdU incorporation assay (Roche, Germany) using ELISA at intervals of two days for 7 days. Finally, the cell size was also evaluated in GalT KO and Wild BM-MSCs. Statistical analysis was performed by T-test (P<0.05). GalT KO BM-MSCs showed fibroblast-like cell morphology on plastic culture dish at passage 1 and exhibited $CD45^-$, $29^+$, $90^+$ and $105^+$ expression profile. Follow in ginduction in StemPro adipogenesis and osteogenesis media for 3 weeks, GalT KO BM-MSCs were differentiated into adipocytes, as demonstrated by Oilred Ostaining of lipid vacuoles and osteocytes, as confirmed by Alizarinred Sstaining of mineral dispositions, respectively. BrdU incorporation assay showed a significant decrease in cell proliferation capacity of GalT KO BM-MSCs compared to Wild BM-MSCs from 3 day, when they were seeded at $1{\times}10^3$ cells/well in 96-well plate. Passage 3 GalT KO and Wild BM-MSCs at 80% confluence in culture dish were allowed to form single cells to calculate cell size. The results showed that GalT KO BM-MSCs($15.0{\pm}0.4{\mu}m$) had a little larger cell size than Wild BM-MSCs ($13.5{\pm}0.3{\mu}m$). From the above findings, it is summarized that GalT KO BM-MSCs possessed similar biological properties with Wild BM-MSCs, but exhibited a weak cell proliferation ability and resistance to cell aging. Therefore, GalT KO BM-MSCs might form a good source for cell therapy after due consideration to low proliferation potency in vitro.