• Molecules and Cells
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.105-111
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• 2009

Gammaherpesvirus infection of the central nervous system (CNS) has been linked to various neurological diseases, including meningitis, encephalitis, and multiple sclerosis. However, little is known about the interactions between the virus and the CNS in vitro or in vivo. Murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV-68 or ${\gamma}HV-68$) is genetically related and biologically similar to human gammaherpesviruses, thereby providing a tractable animal model system in which to study both viral pathogenesis and replication. In the present study, we show the successful infection of cultured neuronal cells, microglia, and astrocytes with MHV-68 to various extents. Upon intracerebroventricular injection of a recombinant virus (MHV-68/LacZ) into 4-5-week-old and 9-10-week-old mice, the 4-5-week-old mice displayed high mortality within 5-7 days, while the majority of the 9-10-week-old mice survived until the end of the experimental period. Until a peak at 3-4 days post-infection, viral DNA replication and gene expression were similar in the brains of both mouse groups, but only the 9-10-week-old mice were able to subdue viral DNA replication and gene expression after 5 days post-infection. Pro-inflammatory cytokine mRNAs of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, interleukin $1{\beta}$, and interleukin 6 were highly induced in the brains of the 4-5-week-old mice, suggesting their possible contributions as neurotoxic factors in the age-dependent control of MHV-68 replication of the CNS.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제50권6호
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• pp.783-792
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• 2008

본 연구는 생후 발달과정에서 숫 흰쥐의 생식기인 Efferent ductules(EDs)과 부정소에서 cytochrome P450 aromatase(Cyp19) 유전자의 발현과 연령별 발현 양상을 알아보는데 목적이 있다. 조직으로부터 추출된 total RNA는 역 전사 반응을 통해 cDNA로 바뀌어진 후 real-time PCR 기법을 사용하여 부위별 그리고 연령별로 Cyp19 유전자 발현을 알아보았다. Cyp19 유전자의 발현은 EDs에서 90일령을 제외한 7일, 14일, 그리고 30일령 등 성숙기 이전의 모든 연령에서 나타났으며, 부정소에서는 7일령을 제외한 모든 연령에서 보여졌다. 특히 부정소에서 Cyp19의 발현은 부정소의 각 부위별로 특이한 양상을 보였다. 본 연구 결과를 통해 남성 생식기의 EDs와 부정소의 각 부분에서 Cyp19 유전자 발현은 연령과 부위에 따라 차별적으로 조절되는 것을 알 수 있었다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제51권4호
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• pp.413-419
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• 2013

The mainstay therapy against leishmaniasis is still pentavalent antimonial drugs; however, the rate of antimony resistance is increasing in endemic regions such as Iran. Understanding the molecular basis of resistance to antimonials could be helpful to improve treatment strategies. This study aimed to recognize genes involved in antimony resistance of Leishmania tropica field isolates. Sensitive and resistant L. tropica parasites were isolated from anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis patients and drug susceptibility of parasites to meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime$^{(R)}$) was confirmed using in vitro assay. Then, complementary DNA-amplified fragment length polymorphism (cDNA-AFLP) and real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR) approaches were utilized on mRNAs from resistant and sensitive L. tropica isolates. We identified 2 known genes, ubiquitin implicated in protein degradation and amino acid permease (AAP3) involved in arginine uptake. Also, we identified 1 gene encoding hypothetical protein. Real-time RT-PCR revealed a significant upregulation of ubiquitin (2.54-fold), and AAP3 (2.86-fold) (P<0.05) in resistant isolates compared to sensitive ones. Our results suggest that overexpression of ubiquitin and AAP3 could potentially implicated in natural antimony resistance.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제52권4호
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• pp.329-336
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• 2010

본 연구는 소의 부위별 근육에 특이하게 발현하는 유전자 마커를 발굴하여 소고기의 부위를 과학적으로 판명할 수 있는 기술을 개발하고자 실시하였다. 이러한 연구 목표 아래 먼저 사태(Beef shank), 등심(Longissimus dorsi), 양지(Deep pectoral), 홍두깨(Semitendinosus) 부위의 근육조직에서 MSC (myogenic satellite cell, 근육줄기세포)를 순수 분리하고 이를 MFC (myotube-formed cell; 근관이 형성된 세포)로 분화시키거나 ALC (adipocyte-like cell; 지방세포와 유사한 세포)로 이형분화 시킨 후 3가지의 세포로 부터 각각의 RNA를 추출하였다. 이렇게 추출한 RNA는 24,000개의 bovine oligo-nucelotide (70 mer)가 집적된 microarray를 이용해 4개의 조직 중 1개의 조직에서만 MSC의 분화(MFC) 또는 이형분화 과정에서 mRNA의 발현이 증감을 보이는 유전자 135개를 먼저 발굴하였다. 135개의 유전자에 대해 microarray 분석에 사용한 동일한 RNA를 이용하여 real-time PCR 기술로 검증한 결과 총 29개의 유전자가 microarray 분석 결과와 유사함을 보였다. 29개의 유전자를 다시 4개 부위의 생체 조직에서 추출한 RNA를 이용해 real-time PCR 방법으로 분석한 결과 TS (thymi- dlyate synthase), TE (tropoelastin), RAD52(similar RAD52 motifcontaining protein 1), unknown gene), MLC2 (myosin light 2, regulatory cardiac, slow), TXNIP (thioredoxin-interating protein) 6개의 유전자만이 다른 부위에 비해 사태 부위에서 현저한 발현의 차이를 나타냈다. 결론적으로 본 연구를 통해 소 부위별 근육을 구분할 수 있는 과학적 기술의 토대를 확립하였다.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• 제32권5호
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• pp.459-468
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• 2007

이 연구에서는 법랑모세포 분화과정에서 APin의 기능을 알아보고자 APin-protein microarray를 시행한 후 치아발생과 관련이 있는 MEF2, Aurora kinase A, BMPR-IB와 EF-hand calcium binding protein을 분석하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 1 CMV-APin construct를 transfection하여 APin의 과발현을 유도한 경우에는 MEF2와 Aurora kinase A 둘 모두에서 발현이 현저히 감소한 반면에, APin의 발현억제를 유도한 경우에는 둘 모두 변화가 없었다. 2. APin의 과발현을 유도한 경우에는 BMPR-IB와 EF-hand calcium binding protein 모두에서 발현이 크게 증가한 반면, APin을 발현억제 시킨 경우에는 BMPR-IB는 변화가 없었고, EF-hand calcium binding protein은 현저히 감소하였다. 위의 결과들로 보아 APin 단백질은 MEF2, Aurora kinase A, BMPR-IB, EF-hand calcium binding protein과 상호작용하여 법랑모세포의 분화와 석회화 과정 중에 중요한 역할을 하는 것으로 사료된다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제14권5호
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• pp.874-881
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• 2004

혈관 신생은 암의 성장 및 전이뿐만 아니라 염증, 관절염, 건성, 동맥경화 등의 병적인 진행에 주요한 역할을 하며, 혈관신생 억제를 통한 암의 치료를 시도하는 연구들이 활발하게 진행되고 있다. 혈관 신생 시 내피세포의 증식, 이동을 유도하는 활성화 과정이 필수적으로 일어나는 것으로 알려져 있다 본 연구에서는 in vitro에서 내피세포를 배양하여, 각종 growth factor가 풍부한 배지에서 활성화 시켰을 때, 그렇지 않는 세포들과의 유전자 발현 형태를 비교 조사하였다. HUVEC을 70∼80% cofluency로 배양시킨 후에 endothelial cell growth supplement (ECCS), 20% fetal bovine serum, heparin이 첨가된 Ml99 배지에서 13 시간 활성화시킨 세포(AHUVEC)와 대조군 세포(RHUVEC)로부터 분리한 total RNA로부터 CDNA를 제작하였고, 이것을 18,864 개의 유전자가 올려져있는 인간 올리고 칩과 hybridization 반응을 시켰다. 반응된 유전자를 이용하여 random clustering분석을 실시한 결과, 활성화 시켰던 HUVEC과 그렇지 않은 HUVEC으로 dendrogram 상에서 두개의 subgroup으로 나뉘어 지는 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 최소 2배 이상 발현 변화가 있는 유전자 122종이 활성화 시켰던 HUVEC으로부터 추출되었다. 이중에서 기능이 알려진 32 개의 유전자는 활성화시킨 HUVEC에서 발현이 증가하였고, 38 개의 유전자 발현은 감소하였다. 흥미롭게도 세포 증식과 이동, 염증, 면역반응에 관련한 유전자의 발현이 증가된 반면에 세포 흡착과 혈관 조직과 기능에 관련한 유전자의 발현이 감소된 것이 관찰되었다. 예상외로 규명이 잘된 혈관신생 인자와 관련한 유전자들의 발현에는 크기 차이를 보이지 않았으나, Eph-B4의 발현은 약 4 배 감소된 것으로 관찰되었다 또한, 2배 이상 발현에 차이를 보이고 기능이 알려져 있지 않은 유전자 52종이 발견되었다. 따라서, 이러한 연구 결과로부터 새로운 혈관 표적 물질 개발에 대한 기회가 제공될 수 있을 것이라 사료된다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권11호
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• pp.6605-6611
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• 2013

Background: WEE1 is a G2/M checkpoint regulator protein. Various studies have indicated that WEE1 could be a good target for cancer therapy. The main aim of this study was to asssess the tumor suppressive potential of WEE1 silencing in two different breast cancer cell lines, MCF7 which carries the wild-type p53 and MDA-MB468 which contains a mutant type. Materials and Methods: After WEE1 knockdown with specific shRNAs downstream effects on cell viability and cell cycle progression were determined using MTT and flow cytometry analyses, respectively. Real-time PCR and Western blotting were conducted to assess the effect of WEE1 inhibition on the expression of apoptotic (p53) and anti-apoptotic (Bcl2) factors and also a growth marker (VEGF). Results: The results showed that WEE1 inhibition could cause a significant decrease in the viability of both MCF7 and MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cell lines by more than 50%. Interestingly, DNA content assays showed a significant increase in apoptotic cells following WEE1 silencing. WEE1 inhibition also induced upregulation of the apoptotic marker, p53, in breast cancer cells. A significant decrease in the expression of VEGF and Bcl-2 was observed following WEE1 inhibition in both cell lines. Conclusions: In concordance with previous studies, our data showed that WEE1 inhibition could induce G2 arrest abrogation and consequent cell death in breast cancer cells. Moreover, in this study, the observed interactions between the pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins and decrease in the angiogenesis marker expression confirm the susceptibility to apoptosis and validate the tumor suppressive effect of WEE1 inhibition in breast cancer cells. Interestingly, the levels of the sensitivity to WEE1 silencing in breast cancer cells, MCF7 and MDA-MB468, seem to be in concordance with the level of p53 expression.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• 제16권5호
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• pp.269-279
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• 2000

Alfalfa mosaic alfamoviruses(AIMV) were isolated from infected potato (Solanum tuberosum) and azuki bean (Paseolus angularis) in Korea. Two AIMV isolated from potatoes were named as strain KR (AIMV-KR1 and KR2) and AIMV isolated from azuki bean was named as strain Az (AIMV-Az). Each isolated AIMV strain was characterized by using their host ranges, symptom developments, serological relations and nucleotide sequence analysis of coat protein (CP) gene. Strains KR1, KR2, and Az were readily transmitted to 20 of 22 inoculated plant species including bean, cowpea, tomato, tobacco, and potato. AIMV-KR1 and KR2 produced the typical symptoms like chlorotic or necrotic spots in Chenopodium quinoa and Solanum tuberosum cv. Superior. AIMV-Az caused bright yellow mosaic symptom and leaf malformation in Nicotiana glauca, which were different from the common mosaic symptom caused by AIMV-KR1 and KR2. Electron microscope observation of purified virus showed bacilliform virions containing a single-stranded plus-strand RNAs of 3.6, 2.6, 2.0 and 0.9 kbp in length, respectively, similar in size and appearance to those of Alfamovirus. In SDS-PAGE, the coat protein of the two viruses formed a consistent band that estimated to be about 24kDa. The CP genes of the AIMV strains, KR1, KR2, and Az have been amplified by RT-PCR using the specific primers designed to amplify CP gene from viral RNA-3, cloned and sequenced. Computer aided analysis of the amplified cDNA fragment sequence revealed the presence of a single open reading frame capable of encoding 221 amino acids. The nucleotide and peptide sequence of viral CP gene showed that strain KR1, KR2, and Az shared highest nucleotide sequence identities with AIMV strain 425-M at 97.7%, 98.2%, and 97.2%, respectively. CP gene sequences of two strains were almost identical compared with each other. Altogether, physical, serological, biological and molecular properties of the purified virus.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권5호
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• pp.2169-2177
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• 2014

Matrine, a main active component extracted from dry roots of Sophora flavecens, has been reported to exert antitumor effects on A549 human non-small lung cancer cells, but its mechanisms of action remain unclear. To determine effects of matrine on proliferation of A549 cells and assess possible mechanisms, MTT assays were employed to detect cytotoxicity, along with o flow cytometric analysis of DNA content of nuclei of cells following staining with propidium iodide to analyze cell cycle distribution. Western blotting was performed to determined expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2, VEGF and HDAC1, while a microarray was used to assessed changes of miRNA profiles. In the MTT assay, matrine suppressed growth of human lung cancer cell A549 in a dose- and timedependent manner at doses of 0.25-2.5 mg/ml for 24h, 48h or 72h. Matrine induced cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase and decreased the G2/M phase, while down-regulating the expression of Bcl2 protein, leading to a reduction in the Bcl-2/Bax ratio. In addition, matrine down regulated the expression level of VEGF and HDAC1 of A549 cells. Microarray analysis demonstrated that matrine altered the expression level of miRNAs compared with untreated control A549 cells. In conclusion, matrine could inhibit proliferation of A549 cells, providing useful information for understanding anticancer mechanisms.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제30권12호
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• pp.1784-1795
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• 2017

Objective: The study examined the effect of intravenous administration of bacterial endotoxin-lipopolysaccharide (LPS) -on the nocturnal secretion of melatonin and on the expression of enzymes of the melatonin biosynthetic pathway in the pineal gland of ewes, taking into account two different photoperiodic conditions: short-night (SN; n = 12) and long-night (LN; n = 12). Methods: In both experiments, animals (n = 12) were randomly divided into two groups: control (n = 6) and LPS-treated (n = 6) one. Two hours after sunset, animals received an injection of LPS or saline. Blood samples were collected starting one hour after sunset and continuing for 3 hours after the treatment. The ewes were euthanized 3 hours after LPS/saline treatment. The concentration of hormones in plasma was assayed by radioimmunoassay. In the pineal gland, the content of serotonin and its metabolite was determined by HPLC; whereas the expression of examined genes and protein was assayed using real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western Blot, respectively. Results: Endotoxin administration lowered (p<0.05) levels of circulating melatonin in animals from LN photoperiod only during the first hour after treatment, while in ewes from SN photoperiod only in the third hour after the injection. Inflammation more substantially suppressed biosynthesis of melatonin in ewes from SN photoperiod, which were also characterised by lower (p<0.05) cortisol concentrations after LPS treatment compared with animals from LN photoperiod. In the pineal gland of ewes subjected to SN photoperiod, LPS reduced (p<0.05) serotonin content and the expression of melatonin biosynthetic pathway enzymes, such as tryptophan hydroxylase and arylalkylamine-N-acetyltransferase. Pineal activity may be disturbed by circulating LPS and proinflammatory cytokines because the expression of mRNAs encoding their corresponding receptors was determined in this gland. Conclusion: The present study showed that peripheral inflammation reduces the secretion of melatonin, but this effect may be influenced by the photoperiod.