• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.399-408
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• 2014

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are a superfamily of detoxification enzymes that primarily catalyze the nucleophilic addition of reduced glutathione to both endogenous and exogenous electrophiles. In this study, we isolated and characterized a full-length of alpha class GST cDNA from the abalone (Haliotis discus hannai). The abalone GST cDNA encodes a 223-amino acid polypeptide with a calculated molecular mass of 25.8 kDa and isoelectric point of 5.69. Multiple alignments and phylogenetic analysis with the deduced abalone GST protein revealed that it belongs to the alpha class GSTs and showed strong homology with disk abalone (Haliotis discus discus) putative alpha class GST. Abalone GST mRNA was ubiquitously detected in all tested tissues. GST mRNA expression was comparatively high in the mantle, gill, liver, and digestive duct, however, lowest in the hemocytes. Expression level of abalone GST mRNA in the mantle, gill, liver, and digestive duct was 182.7-fold, 114.8-fold, 4675.8-fold, 406.1-fold higher than in the hemocytes, respectively. Expression level of abalone GST mRNA in the liver was peaked at 6 h post-infection with Vibrio parahemolyticus and decreased at 12 h post-infection. While the expression level of abalone GST mRNA in the hemocytes was drastically increased at 3 h post-infection with Vibrio parahemolyticus. These results suggest that abalone GST is conserved through evolution and may play roles similar to its mammalian counterparts.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.411-416
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• 2011

Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) is the major causative bacteria in dental caries. Xylitol is effective anticarious natural sugar substitute by inhibiting the virulence of S. mutans. However, long-term xylitol consumption leads to the emergence of the xylitol-resistant (XR) strains which means xylitol is no more inhibited their growth. We therefore confirmed the general characteristics and the virulence factors of the xylitol-sensitive (XS) and XR S. mutans for different concentrations of xylitol. S. mutans KCTC 3065 was maintained in TYE medium containing 0.4% glucose with 1% xylitol during 30 days at $37^{\circ}C$, 10% $CO_2$ to form XR strain. The strains were transferred to new medium every 24 hr and the same procedures without xylitol were repeated for the formation of XS S. mutans. Both XS and XR were cultured in different concentrations of xylitol (0%, 0.1% and 1%) then, cell growth, acid production and mRNA expression of gtf genes were analyzed. Xylitol reduced the cell growth of XS S. mutans in dose-dependent manner, but not reduced that of XR. Xylitol inhibited acid production of XS in dose-dependent manner, but not inhibited that of XR. Xylitol reduced the gtfB and gtfD mRNA expression of XS S. mutans which genes synthesized soluble and insoluble extracellular polysaccharides, but not reduced that of XR. These results indicate that the virulence of XR S. mutans is different characters of XS strains, which suggests XR strains may have different cariogenicity of XS strains. Further study is needed to explain the mechanism related to extracellular polysaccharide in the XR strains.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.870-882
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• 2021

Coptis chinensis has been used in the treatment of various diseases such as soothing, anti-inflammation, antimicrobial and antipyretic in oriental traditional medicine. In this study, we investigated the effect of hot water extract of Coptis chinensis(CCW) on skin barrier and inflammation-related factors in UVB and TNF-α/IFN-γ-induced HaCaT cells and evaluated its potential as a moisturizing and anti-inflammatory material. Based on result, the amount of HA (Hyaluronic acid) production and protein and mRNA expression of filaggrin were measured. In TNF-α/IFN-γ-induced HaCaT cells, CCW increased the amount of HA production in a concentration-dependent manner. In the measurement of protein and mRNA expression of filaggrin, the expression rate increased as the concentration of CCW increased. In UVB-induced HaCaT cells, CCW decreased the production of ROS and showed significant results with EGCG ((-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate), a positive control. In addition, CCW inhibited the expression of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 in TNF-α/IFN-γ-induced HaCaT cells. It was confirmed that the protein and mRNA expression of COX-2, a major factor in skin inflammation, was decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. These results suggest that hot water extract from Coptis chinensis can be used as a cosmetic material having a moisturizing and anti-inflammatory effect.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.32-42
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• 2023

Fish reproduction is regulated by various neurohormones secreted from the brain and gonadotropic hormones secreted from the pituitary. Reproduction of eel (Anguilla japonica) is also regulated by these hormones. However, how the neurohormones regulate the secretion of pituitary hormones during sexual maturation is not completely understood. Previous studies have shown that neurohormones such as progesterone (P4), melatonin and serotonin (5-HT) are involved in the regulation of reproductive processes in some fish. In this study, the eel pituitary was primary cultured, and stabilized pituitary cells were treated with P4, 17β-estradiol (E2), melatonin, or 5-HT. The effect of these treatments on the expression of FSHβ, LHβ, GH and SL mRNA was, then, investigated. P4 increased the expression of FSHβ and LHβ in pituitary cells, and melatonin increased the expression of GH and SL as well as FSHβ and LHβ. However, 5-HT did not significantly affect the expression of these mRNA. These results suggest that P4 and melatonin may play some important roles in the early sexual maturation of eels.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.223-235
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• 2000

Background: Liquid ventilation is associated with decreased inflammatory response in an injured lung. This study was performed to investigate if whether perfluorocarbon(PFC) can decrease chemokine expression in airway epithelial cells. Methods: A549 cells were used for airway epithelial cells and perfluorodecalin for PFC. To expose cells to PFC, lower chamber of Transwell$^{(R)}$plate was used. This study was performed in two parts. In the first part, we examined whether PFC could decrease chemokine expression in airway epithelial cells through inhibition of other inflammatory cells. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC's) were isolated and stimulated with lipopolysaccharide(LPS, 10 ${\mu}g/mL$) for 24 hours with or without exposure to PFC. Then A549 cells were stimulated with conditioned media(CM) containing the culture supernatants of PBMC. After 24 hours, the expressions of interleukin-8(IL-8) and RANTES were measured. In the second part of the study, we studied whether PFC could directly suppress chemokine expression in airway epithelial cells. A549 cells were stimulated for 24 hours with interleukin-l$\beta$ and/or tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ with or without exposure to PFC, and then the chemokine expression was measured. Northern analysis was used to measure the mRNA expression, and ELISA was used for immunoreactive protein measurements in culture supernatant. Results: 1. IL-8 and RANTES mRNA expression and immunoreactive protein production were increased significantly by CM from LPS-stimulated PBMC in A459 cells compared to with CM from unstimulated PBCM (p<0.05), but exposure of PFC had no significant effect on either mRNA expression or immunoreactive protein expression. 2. IL-8 and RANTES mRNA expression and immunoreactive protein production were increased significantly by IL-1$\beta$ and TNF-$\alpha$ in A549 cells(p<0.05), but exposure of PFC had no significant effect on neither either mRNA expression nor immunoreactive protein production. Conclusion : Decreased chemokine expression of airway epithelial cells may not be involved in decreased inflammatory response observed in liquid ventilation. Further studies on possible mechanisms of decreased inflammatory response are warranted.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.105-109
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• 2008

We studied on the function and localization of fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe Nup97p, which is homologous to nucleoporin Nic96p in budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. There was no effect on growth and $poly(A)^{+}$ RNA distribution of cells when nup97 gene was overexpressed. However, the haploid ${\Delta}nup97::kan^{r}$ null mutants confirmed extensive $poly(A)^{+}$ RNA accumulation in the nucleus, abnormal DNA distribution, and cessation of growth when nup97 expression was repressed. We determined the subcellular localization of Nup97 tagged at the N terminus or the C terminus with GFP. Both fusions complemented growth defect of ${\Delta}nup97::kan^{r}$ null mutants. An integrated version of the nup97-GFP fusion was constructed at the nup97 locus. Nup97-GFP fusions expressed from its own promoter was localized at the nuclear periphery with a punctate appearance. These results suggest that Nup97p in fission yeast is also nucleoporin, which is involved in mRNA export.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.199-202
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• 2007

We isolated a 317 bp of partial cDNA for doublesex-and mab-3-related transcription factor-1 (DMRT-1) from the testis of olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus using RT-PCR. Based on the multiple sequence alignment, olive flounder DMRT-1 shared relatively high sequence homology (82 to 94%) with orthologues from other teleost species such as Atlantic halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus, black porgy, Acanthopagrus schlegeli and rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. DMRT-1 mRNA was predominantly expressed in the testis of olive flounder. In our investigation for the effect of testosterone treatment in vivo on induced expression of ovarian DMRT-1 transcript, mRNA levels of DMRT-1 in ovary were significantly up-regulated by testosterone treatments (0.3 or $3.0{\mu}g$ testosterone/g body weight for 12 to 36 hours) as judged by RT-PCR analysis. In overall, transcriptional stimulation of DMRT-1 during treatments was more affected by doses of testosterone than treatment durations. This result strongly suggests that the regulation of DMRT-1 be tissue- and gender-specific in olive flounder, and also provides useful baseline knowledge on the testosterone-mediated regulation in the reproductive physiology of this species.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.63-69
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• 2008

We isolated complementary DNA(cDNA) encoding prolactin receptor(PRLR) from gill of black porgy Acanthopagrus schlegeli. Its PRLR cDNA consists of 1,611 base pairs and encodes the protein of 536 amino acids. To investigate the osmoregulatory abilities of black porgy in different salinities(35, 10 and 0 psu), we examined the expression of PRLR mRNA in osmoregulatory organs(gill, kidney and intestine) using reverse transcription(RT)-PCR. In gill and intestine, PRLR mRNA levels were high in 10 psu, and then decreased in 0 psu, but there is no changes in kidney. Also, plasma osmolality, $Na^+\;and\;Cl^-$ levels decreased during the experimental period. These results suggest that PRLR plays an important role in hormonal regulation in osmoregulatory organs during freshwater acclimation, thereby improving the hyper-osmoregulatory ability of black porgy in hypoosmotic environments.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1307-1315
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• 2012

We evaluated the effect of dietary supplements with benzoic acid on intestinal beneficial bacteria concentration and immune response of weaning pigs. Supplementation with benzoic acid at 0.5% or control diet for 35 days resulted in a higher Lactobacillus casei concentration in the cecum. Supplementation with benzoic acid at 0.5% increased concentration of L. plantarum in the cecum. Pigs with the control diet and 0.5% benzoic acid had significantly increased concentration of B. subtillis in the cecum compared to the antibiotic group, while the concentration of B. subtillis in the rectum increased in pigs given 0.3 and 0.5% benzoic acid (p<0.05). Compared with the control group, the level of interleukin-$1{\beta}$ mRNA showed a significant decrease in the proximal small intestine in pigs fed diets supplemented with benzoic acid at 0.5% or antibiotic. Feeding 0.5% benzoic acid resulted in a marked reduction in the expression of IL-6 mRNA in the middle small intestine (p<0.05). Supplementation with benzoic acid at 0.5% or antibiotic resulted in a lower level of tumor necrosis factor-mRNA in the middle intestine. Up to 0.5% benzoic acid may be included in weaning diets for improvement of intestinal beneficial bacteria, thus modulating genes of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the gastrointestinal tract.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.981-987
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• 2014

Foeniculum vulgare has long been prescribed in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammation diseases. In this study, we aimed to investigate the inhibitory effects of the fruits of F. vulgare on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells under non-cytotoxic ($100{\mu}g/ml$) conditions. The 80% methanol extract was subsequently partitioned successively with hexane, methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol, and the fractions so obtained were also examined for their anti-inflammatory effects. Among them, the hexane, methylene chloride, and ethyl acetate fractions inhibited nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production in LPS stimulated macrophages. The methylene chloride and ethyl acetate fractions also suppressed the productions of interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$ and IL-6 by down-regulating their mRNA levels in LPS stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, the ethyl acetate fraction strongly suppressed tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ at the protein and mRNA levels in LPS stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. These observations suggest that the anti-inflammatory actions of F. vulgare are due to inhibitions of the productions of NO, PGE2, and pro-inflammatory cytokines.