• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.12
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• pp.1685-1690
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• 2009

In this study, we investigated the effect of C. zawadskii extract on nitric oxide (NO) production, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production, protein and mRNA expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. C. zawadskii extract (5~50 μg/mL) significantly inhibited LPS-induced NO production in a concentration-dependent manner ranging from 23.3% to 100%. Consistent with the inhibitory effect on NO production, C. zawadskii extract inhibited the protein expression and mRNA expression of iNOS. Although flower extracts of C. zawadskii was not effective on the expression of PGE2 and COX-2, flower extracts of C. zawadskii, however, showed a strong anti-inflammatory activity through inhibition of NO production and iNOS expression. The present results suggest that C. zawadskii extract has an inhibitory effect on NO production, and thus can be used as an anti-inflammatory agent.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.69-77
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• 2020

The tumor suppressor gene, p53, is inactivated in the human hepatocellular carcinoma cells line, Hep3B. Berberine has been reported to inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells. This study examined whether apoptosis was induced in berberine-treated Hep3B cells and observed the association between apoptosis and the expression of p53 and DNA methyltransferase (DNMT). The cell viability was measured using an MTT assay. Apoptosis of Hep3B was measured using annexin V flow cytometry. Berberine-treated cells were examined for their DNMT enzymatic activity, mRNA expression, and protein synthesis. The p53 levels were examined by Western blot analysis. The berberine treatment resulted in increased Hep3B cell death and apoptosis in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The DNMT3b activity, mRNA expression, and protein levels all decreased after the berberine treatment. In contrast, the p53 protein levels increased with a concomitant decrease in DNMT3b. No change in the expression of ERK was observed, but the P-ERK levels decreased in a dose dependent manner. These results indicate that a treatment of Hep3B cells with berberine can reduce the expression of DNMT3b, leading to an increase in the tumor suppressant gene p53 and an increase in cell apoptosis. This shows that berberine can effectively suppress the proliferation of liver cancer cells.

• Proceedings of the Korea Information Processing Society Conference
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• 2022.11a
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• pp.690-692
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• 2022

기존의 질병 관련 연구들은 대부분 유의미하게 변화되는 유전자들을 찾아내고(Differentially Expressed Genes, DEGs), 이들이 연관된 생물학적 패스웨이(biological pathway)를 찾아내는 방향으로 이루어졌다. 더불어 miRNA(microRNA)가 많은 mRNA 의 발현을 조절하며, 실제 면역, 대사 및 세포 사멸을 포함한 여러 필수 생리학적 및 질병에 매우 중요한 역할을 한다고 밝혀지며, 바이오 마커로써의 miRNA 를 찾아내고자 하는 연구가 활발히 진행되기 시작하였다. 하지만 mRNA 나 miRNA 의 독립적인 연구만으로는 명확한 질병과의 연관성이나 기능을 이해하기에는 어려움이 있다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 질병 상태에서 유의미하게 변화되는 miRNA 와 이러한 miRNA 에 의해 조절되는 mRNA 를 함께 고려하여 분석함으로써, 실제 질병의 발병 원인이 되는 생물학적 패스웨이나 메커니즘을 밝히고자 하였다. 또한, miRNA 와 mRNA 의 연관성을 찾기 위해, PPI(protein-protein interaction) 네트워크에 기반을 둔 RWR(Random Walk with Restart Algorithm)를 적용하여, 직접적 연관성뿐 아니라, 유전자 간의 숨겨진 간접적인 패스웨이를 고려하여 분석하기 위한 웹 기반 시스템을 개발하였다. 이 시스템은 mRNA-miRNA 를 함께 고려한 통합 분석을 통해 숨겨진 질병의 메커니즘을 이해하고 치료 방법을 찾아내는 데 크게 공헌할 것이다.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.215-220
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• 2000

Most of endocrine disrupters (EDs) have been reported to exhibit estrogenic or anti-androgenic activity and thereby may disrupt reproductive development in human or wildlife. This study was performed to investigate the effects of estrogen (E$_2$), bisphenol (BP) and octylphenol (OP) on the mouse Leydig cell line (TM3). TM3 originated from testis of 11~13-daly-old BALB/c nu/＋ mice was cultured in DMEM supplemented with 10％ FBS alone or medium with estrogen (E$_2$), bisphenol (BP) and octylphenol (OP; 1 pM, 1 nM, 1 $\mu$M, 1 mM, respectively) for 48 hours. After culture, total cell number and viability were assessed by heamocyto-meter and trypan blue stain. Expression of cytochrome P450scc (CYPscc) mRNA whose product is involved in steroid hormone biosynthesis and estrogen receptor $\alpha$(ER $\alpha$) mRNA were detected by RT-PCR. As a result, treatment of TM3 with E$_2$, BP and OP(1 mM, respectively) significantly decreased the viability but not all of groups as high as 1 $\mu$M. Exposure of TM3 to OP significantly reduced the total cell number but not E$_2$ or BP. The expression of CYPscc mRNA was slightly reduced in BP (1 nM, 1 $\mu$M) and significantly decreased in OP (1 nM, 1 $\mu$M) treated TM3, except E$_2$ group. But the expression of ER $\alpha$ mRNA was sightly increased in all treated groups. In conclusion, BP and OP (high concentration) might inhibit steroidogenesis by decreasing the CYPscc mRNA expression in the mouse testis. These results suggest that BP and OP might impair spermatogenesis and subsequently disturb testicular function.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.378-386
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• 2016

Anti-atherogenic effects in tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$)-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) are involved in the suppression of oxidative stress, cell adhesion molecules, and pro-inflammatory factors. This study investigated the vascular inflammation inhibitory activity of traditional Doenjang plays a key role in the pathogenesis and progression of atherosclerosis. The protective effects of Korean Deonjang was investigated on the expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$-induced human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs). Deonjang extracts (20, 50, $100{\mu}g/mL$) decreased the expression of 20 ng/mL TNF-${\alpha}$-induced vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 proteins, and their corresponding mRNA levels. Nitric oxides (NO) produced by endothlial nitric oxides synthase (eNOS) dilated blood vessels, which had protective effects against platelet and leukocyte adhesion. While TNF-${\alpha}$-induced suppressed the production of nitric oxide in HUVECs, Doenjang restored NO production in HUVECs. In addition, Deonjang reduced the TNF-${\alpha}$-induced expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 mRNA levels. These results suggested that Doenjang can inhibited the production of cell adhesion molecules and inflammatory mediators, which could be a potential candidate for preventing atherosclerosis.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Bioinformatics Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.150-157
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• 2004

microRNA (miRNA)는 21-25 nucleotide (nt)의 single-stranded RNA 분자로서 mRNA의 3' untranslated region (3' UTR)에 상보적으로 결합하여 유전자 발현을 제어하는 새로운 조절물질이다. 지금까지 실험을 통해 수백 개의 miRNA가 알려져 있으나, miRNA에 의해 조절되는 target 유전자는 실험상의 어려움으로 아직까지 거의 알려지지 않았다. miRNA는 서열의 길이가 짧고 target과 느슨한 상보적 결합을 하기 때문에 기존의 서열 비교 방법으로 miRNA의 target을 찾는 것은 쉬운 일이 아니다. 본 논문은 신경망을 이용하여 Caenorhabditis elegans mRNA의 3' UTR에서 miRNA가 결합하는 영역을 예측하였다. 신경망은 복잡한 비선형 데이터를 잘 분리해내고 불완전하고 잡음이 많은 입력에 강하기 때문에 miRNA target 예측에 적합하다. miRNA와 mRNA의 결합 영역을 다양하게 분석하였고 민감도 0.59, 특수도 0.99의 성능을 갖는 신경망을 구현하였다. 신경망 입력 값을 달리하여 각각의 특성이 결과에 미치는 영향을 분석하였고 기존 예측 방법에 의한 결과와 비교하여 성능을 평가하였다.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.301-317
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• 2005

The number of patients with tongue carcinoma is increasing rapidly among young individuals in many parts of the world. Oral carcinoma progresses from hyperplastic lesion through dysplasia to invasive carcinoma and the concept of "field cancerization" with molecular alteration has been suggested for oral cavity carcinogenesis. Significant improvement in treatment and prognosis will depend on more detailed understanding of the multi-step process leading to cancer development. To induce tongue carcinoma in rat by 4-NQO, each drinking water was made to 10 ppm, 25 ppm, 50 ppm and control (only D.W. without 4-NQO). Specimens were classified into 4 groups such as control, I (mild & moderate dysplasia), II (severe dysplasia and carcinoma in situ), III (carcinoma). The mRNA expressions of Bcl-2 family were evaluated by RT-PCR technique. For anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family, mRNA expression of Bcl-w was down-regulated in all stages of tongue carcinogenesis model. However, mRNA expression of Bcl-2 was up-regulated. For pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family, all members were down-regulated in all stages of tongue carcinogenesis model except for Bad mRNA in group III. In terms of BH3 only protein, mRNA expressions of Bok and Mcl-1 were down regulated in all stages of specimen, but Bmf in group II and BBC3 in group III were up-regulated. Our current findings demonstrated the involvements of mRNA expression of Bcl-2 family in multi-step tongue carcinogensis. This highlights the necessity for continued efforts to discover suitable biomakers (Bcl-2 family) for early diagnosis of the disease, and to understand its pathogenesis as a first step in improving methods of treatment. The discovery of these potential biomarkers and molecular targets for cancer diagnostics and therapeutics has the potential to significantly change the clinical approach and outcome of the disease.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.293-303
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• 2007

Objective: Previously, we identified differentially expressed genes between GV and MII stage mouse oocytes using ACP technology. When we study one of GV selective genes, Obox family, we found Obox4 mRNA expression in ovaries that has been reported as expressed exclusively in testis. Therefore, this study was conducted for characterization and functional analysis for Obox4. Methods: Expression of Obox4 mRNA was examined in gonads and oocytes by RT-PCR. To determine the role of Obox4 in oocyte maturation, Obox4 dsRNA was microinjected into the cytoplasm of GV oocytes followed by 16 h of incubation in the plain medium or by 24 h of incubation in the medium containing IBMX. After RNAi, phenotypes and maturation rates were observed, change in mRNA expression was evaluated, and chromosomal status was confirmed by orcein staining. Results: Obox4 has minimal expression in the ovary compared to that of the other family members. When oocytes were cultured for 16 h in M16 medium after RNAi, maturation rate was not changed significantly, compared with that of non-injected or buffer-injected control oocytes. Surprisingly, however, when oocytes were cultured for 24 h in M16 containing IBMX, in which oocytes were supposed to arrest at GV stage, Obox4 RNAi oocytes were advanced to MI and MII. Spindle structure was disappeared and the chromosomes were condensed in the oocytes after Obox4 RNAi. Conclusions: This is the first report on the expression of Obox4 in the ovary and oocytes. Results of the study suggest that Obox4 plays a crucial role in spindle formation and chromosome segregation during meiosis in oocytes. In addition, Obox4 may play an important role in cAMP-dependent signal cascades of GV-arrest in mouse oocytes.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.268-272
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• 2011

전곡류의 섭취와 만성질환의 유병율은 음의 상관관계가 있는 것으로 알려져 있다. 본 연구에서는 선행 연구 결과, 지방축적억제능이 우수한 소재로 선정된 기장의 항염증능 여부를 검증하고자 하였다. 이를 위해 RAW264.7 세포에 기장열수분획($1\;{\mu}g/m\ell$ 및 $10\;{\mu}g/m\ell$)과 lipopolysaccharide(LPS)를 함께 처리한 후, 24시간 배양시켜 염증매개인자들의 분비량 및 mRNA 발현 정도를 측정하였다. 또한 LPS 자극에 대한 첫 번째 신호전달인자로 알려져 있는 interleukin-1 receptor associated kinase-4(IRAK-4)의 단백질 발현 정도를 측정하였다. 본 연구결과, 기장의 열수분획($10\;{\mu}g/m\ell$)은 LPS로 유도된 NO, $PGE_2$, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6 및 MCP-1의 생성량 및 mRNA 발현량을 유의적으로 억제하였다(p<0.05). 특히 이들 지표 중 pro-inflammatory cytokine인 TNF-${\alpha}$와 IL-6의 mRNA 발현량이 효과적으로 감소하였다(p<0.01). IRAK-4의 단백질 발현량 또한 유의적으로 감소하여 LPS 자극에 대한 기장열수분획의 항염증능은 toll-like receptor(TLR)를 통한 IRAK-4를 매개로 하는 신호전달체계 조절에 기인하는 것으로 사료된다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.936-944
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• 1996

Background: Neutrophils or monocytes separated in vitro by the adherence to plastic surface are known to be activated by surface adherence itself and subsequent experimental data might be altered by surface adherence. Adhesion molecules and gene transcription of the inflammatory mediators are known to be associated in this process. To evaluate whether adhesion molecule and transcriptional activation of the inflammatory substances are also involved in the activation of human alveolar macrophage by the adherence procedure, we designed this experiment. Method : Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed in the person whose lung of either side was confirmed to be nonnal by chest cr and alveolar macrophage was harvested. To measure the expression of Interleukin-8(IL-8) mRNA, manganese superoxide dismutase(SOD) mRNA and CD11/CD18 mRNA in human alveolar macrophage of both adherence state and suspension state, Northern blot analysis was done at 0, 2, 4, 8 and 24hrs after the adherence to plastic surface and during suspension state. Then, phorbol myristate acetate(pMA) and N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine(fMLP) were added respectively in the same experimental condition. Result : 1) Human alveolar macrophages in the adherent state induced IL-8 mRNA and SOD mRNA expression which was maximal at 8 hours after the adherence to plastic surface. But we could not observe the upregulation of CD18 mRNA by surface adherence. 2) PMA induced these mRNA expression both in the adherent cell and the nonadherem cells, but the induction of mRNA expression by fMLP occurred only in the adherent cells. Conclusion: These results suggest that adherence of huamn alveolar macropahge is an important cell-activating event that may play a critical role in the modulation of lung inflammatory respones.