• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.111-120
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• 2015

Dendritic cells (DCs) play a significant role in establishing self-tolerance through their ability to present self-antigens to developing T cells in the thymus. DCs are predominantly localized in the medullary region of thymus and present a broad range of self-antigens, which include tissue-restricted antigens expressed and transferred from medullary thymic epithelial cells, circulating antigens directly captured by thymic DCs through coticomedullary junction blood vessels, and peripheral tissue antigens captured and transported by peripheral tissue DCs homing to the thymus. When antigen-presenting DCs make a high affinity interaction with antigen-specific thymocytes, this interaction drives the interacting thymocytes to death, a process often referred to as negative selection, which fundamentally blocks the self-reactive thymocytes from differentiating into mature T cells. Alternatively, the interacting thymocytes differentiate into the regulatory T (Treg) cells, a distinct T cell subset with potent immune suppressive activities. The specific mechanisms by which thymic DCs differentiate Treg cells have been proposed by several laboratories. Here, we review the literatures that elucidate the contribution of thymic DCs to negative selection and Treg cell differentiation, and discusses its potential mechanisms and future directions.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.92-96
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• 2005

In order to investigate the effects of bisphenol A (BPA) on cell mediated immune reaction in vitro we examined the allogenic mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR), splenocytes proliferation (SP) to T cell mitogens and IFN-${\gamma}\;production$. Splenocytes of Balb/c mice ($1.5{\times}10^5$ cells/well) were co-cultured with different numbers of mitomycin C-treated mature dentritic cells (DCs) in presence of BPA (25, 50, 100 ${\mu}M$) and $[^{3}H]$thymidine incorporation (cpm) was measured by scintilation counting. Splenocytes ($2{\times}10^6$ cells/well) were cultured with mitogens, Con A ($2\;{\mu}g/ml$), PHA ($5\;{\mu}g/ml$) and IL-2 ($0.1\;{\mu}g/ml$), or PMA ($5\;{\mu}g/ml$) and INO ($1\;{\mu}g/ml$) in presence of BPA (1, 10, 25, 50, 100 ${\mu}M$) and SP was assessed by MTT assay. $IFN-{\gamma}$ levels in culture supernant were determined by ELISA. At low concentration, BPA slightly increased MLR, SP and $IFN-{\gamma}$ levels, but at higher concentration it showed significant inhibitory effects on these immunological parameters. These results indicate that BPA is able to alternate cell-mediated immune reaction.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.139-143
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• 2004

The ultrastructure of the gills of Oplegnathus fasciatus was examined by means of light and transmission electron microscopes. The gills have primary and secondary filaments (lamellae). The following cells are identified and described : epithelial cell, pillar cell, chloride cell and mucose cell. The simple epithelial layer consists of squamous epithelium containing a large nucleus and the surface is covered with some of microridges. The lamella pillar structures are characterized by axial microtubules and lateral membrane interdigitations. Chloride cells contain a lot of mitochondria and specifically developed tubular systems. The rough endoplasimic reticulum and golgi complex, and some of mucous granules were observed in immature mucous cells. The mature mucous cells were AB-PAS positive, globular in shape, and had mucous granules of similar size with various electron densities.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.48-54
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• 2022

Parthenogenesis is maternally uniparental reproduction through the embryonic development of oocytes without fertilization. Artificial activation of mature oocytes could generate homozygous haploid embryos with the extrusion of the second polar body. However, the haploid embryos showed low embryo development in preimplantation embryos. In this study, we investigated whether the electronic fusion of the haploid embryos could enhance embryo development and ESC establishment in mice. Haploid embryos showed the developmental delay from 4-cell to the blastocyst stage. The haploid blastomeres of the 2-cell stage were fused electronically, resulting in that the fused embryos showed a significantly higher rate of blastocysts compared to non-fused haploid embryos (55% vs. 37%). Further, the embryonic stem cells (ESCs) derived from the fused embryos were confirmed to be diploid. The rate of ESC establishment in fused embryos was significantly higher compared to non-fused ones. Based on the results, we concluded that the electronic fusion of haploid embryos could be efficient to generate homozygous ESCs.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 2022

Neurokinin B (NKB) is a neuropeptide involved in the regulation of reproductive endocrine system of vertebrate animals, including fish. However, the pathway of NKB action in fish has not been clearly elucidated. In order to clarify the effect of NKB and NKF (neurokinin F) on gonadotropic hormone (GTH) gene expression in the pituitary, we studied the changes of LHβ and FSHβ gene expressions by using two different pituitary culture methods (whole pituitary culture or dispersed pituitary cell culture). Pituitaries were removed from mature female and male Nile tilapia. Changes of LHβ and FSHβ gene expressions were measured and compared after the treatment with NKB or NKF peptides at concentrations 0 to 1,000 nM. Expression of GTH genes in the whole pituitary cultures treated with NKB or NKF peptides did not show significant difference except in female at one concentration when treated with NKF. On the contrary, there were significant changes of GTH gene expressions in the dispersed pituitary cell cultures when treated with NKB and NKF peptides. These results suggest that dispersed pituitary cell culture is more relevant than whole pituitary culture in studying the function of pituitary, and that NKB and NKF could act directly on the pituitary to regulate the expression of GTH genes.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.108-111
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• 2023

Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCLs) are a group CD30-positive mature T-cell lymphomas, an uncommon subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphomas, characterized by diverse clinical and genetic features. Among the types of ALCL, anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-negative ALCL, though typically involves the lymph nodes, can infrequently invade other tissues. When soft tissue involvement occurs, it may mimic the clinical presentation of infectious diseases, leading to potential misdiagnosis. Therefore, a histological examination is necessary to differentiate between ALK-negative ALCL and similar phenotypes associated with infectious conditions. This paper reports a case of ALCL, initially misdiagnosed as an infection.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.643-652
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• 2017

Calreticulin (CALR), a multifunctional protein thoroughly researched in mammals, comprises N-, P-, and C-domain and has roles in calcium homeostasis, chaperoning, clearance of apoptotic cells, cell adhesion, and also angiogenesis. In this study, the spatial and temporal expression patterns of the Opisthorchis viverrini CALR gene were analyzed, and calcium-binding and chaperoning properties of recombinant O. viverrini CALR (OvCALR) investigated. OvCALR mRNA was detected from the newly excysted juvenile to the mature parasite by RT-PCR while specific antibodies showed a wide distribution of the protein. OvCALR was localized in tegumental cell bodies, testes, ovary, eggs, Mehlis' gland, prostate gland, and vitelline cells of the mature parasite. Recombinant OvCALR showed an in vitro suppressive effect on the thermal aggregation of citrate synthase. The recombinant OvCALR C-domain showed a mobility shift in native gel electrophoresis in the presence of calcium. The results imply that OvCALR has comparable function to the mammalian homolog as a calcium-binding molecular chaperone. Inferred from the observed strong immunostaining of the reproductive tissues, OvCALR should be important for reproduction and might be an interesting target to disrupt parasite fecundity. Transacetylase activity of OvCALR as reported for calreticulin of Haemonchus contortus could not be observed.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.43-57
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• 1987

The epidermal structure and stomatal types in vegetative and reproductive organs of three species of Bryophyllum(B. crenatum, B. diagremontion, B. tubiflorum) were described. The epidermal cells were polygonal, isodiametric, and rectangular in the leaves and stems, and elongated cells in the stamens, styles, and ovaries. These cells were commonly thick, and arched or sinuous in the leaves, epiphylous bunds, petals and ovaries. They were straight in the stems, petioles, pedicels, and peduncles. In both vegetative and reproductive organs, the subsidiary cell walls were commonly thin and mostly arched in all the organs. The great majority of the mature stomata in all the organs were helicocytic type with a helix of four to six subsidiary cells. The mature stomata varied from organ to organ with regard to the number and arangement of subsidiary cells. The ontogenetic type of stomata in all the organs was mostly helico-eumesogenous type. This type was subdivided into three subtypes such as parahelico-eumesogenous, anomohelico-eumesogenous, and diahelico-eumesogenous stomata on the basis of the division angle fo the guard mother cell. Sometimes, the anisoeumesogenous type was found in various organs. This type was subdivided into three subtypes such as paraniso-eumesogenous, anomoaniso-eumesogenous, and dianisoeummesogenous stomata. The tetra-eumesogenous and duplotetra-eumesogenous types were rarely found; the former in the leaf of B. crenatum and the latter in the leaf of B. diagremontiana. Anomometric patterns in the mesogenous categorry of stomatal types was observed in a few organs of all the materials. A new stomatal type with tetra-eumesogenous stoma within a girdle of three subsidiary cells fo aniso-eumesogenous in the leaf of B. diagremontiana was firstly observed in the vascular plants. This stoma was termed the cotetra-aniso-eumesogenous type. Anormal stomata such as aborted stomata, single guard cells, stoma with a constricted part in the middle of large guard cells, and arrested stomata were found in the various organs of all the materials.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.212-217
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• 2004

The gene coding for mannanase from Bacillus subtilis WL-7, a number of glycosyl hydrolase family 26, was hyperexpressed in Escherichia coli. Two recombinant plasmids, pE7MAN and pENS7, were constructed by introducing the complete mannanase gene and the mature mannanase gene lacking N-terminal signal peptide region into a expression vector pET24a(＋), respectively. The level of mannanase produced by E. coli BL21 (DE3) carrying pENS7, which included the mature mannanase gene, was considerably higher than that by E. coli BL21 (DE3)/pE7MAN. Almost mannanase produced by the recombinant E. coli carrying pENS7 at growth temperature of $37^{\circ}C$ existed as inactive enzyme of insoluble form. Growth at temperature below $31^{\circ}C$ increased the soluble fraction of mannanase having catalytic activity in the recombinant E. coli cells. The highest productivity of active mannanase was observed in cell-free extract of the recombinant E. coli grown at growth temperature ranging from $25^{\circ}C$ to $28^{\circ}C$, while mannanase activity per soluble protein of the cell-free extract was highest in the cells grown at $^31{\circ}C$.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.583-589
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• 2008

In the present study, we investigated whether rosmarinic acid, which has been suggested to exhibit anti-inflammatory properties, can suppress the expressions of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and macrophage inflammatory protein-$1{\alpha}$ ($MIP-1{\alpha}$) via the MAPK pathway in LPS-stimulated bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) in the presence of GM-CSF and IL-4 in media. The effects of rosmarinic acid were investigated in BMDCs with respect to the following; cytotoxicity, surface molecule expression, dextran-FITC uptake, cell migration, chemokine gene expression, and the MAPK signaling pathway. Rosmarinic acid was found to significantly inhibit the expressions of CD80, CD86, MHC class I, and MHC class II in LPS-stimulated mature BMDCs, and rosmarinic acid-treated BMDCs were found to be highly efficient with regards to antigen capture via mannose receptor-mediated endocytosis. In addition, rosmarinic acid reduced cell migration by inducing the expression of a specific chemokine receptor on LPS-induced mature BMDCs. Rosmarinic acid also significantly reduced the expressions of MCP-1 and $MIP-1{\alpha}$ induced by LPS in BMDCs and inhibited LPS-induced activation of MAPK and the nuclear translocation of $NF-{\kappa}B$. These findings broaden current perspectives concerning our understanding of the immunopharmacological functions of rosmarinic acid, and have ramifications that concern the development of therapeutic drugs for the treatment of DC-related acute and chronic diseases.