• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.463-472
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• 2020

Direct reprogramming, also known as a trans-differentiation, is a technique to allow mature cells to be converted into other types of cells without inducing a pluripotent stage. It has been suggested as a major strategy to acquire the desired type of cells in cell-based therapies to repair damaged tissues. Studies related to switching the fate of cells through epigenetic modification have been progressing and they can bypass safety issues raised by the virus-based transfection methods. In this study, a protocol was established to directly convert fully differentiated fibroblasts into diverse mesenchymal-lineage cells, such as osteoblasts, adipocytes, chondrocytes, and ectodermal cells, including neurons, by means of DNA demethylation, immediately followed by culturing in various differentiating media. First, 24 h exposure of 5-azacytidine (5-aza-CN), a well-characterized DNA methyl transferase inhibitor, to NIH-3T3 murine fibroblast cells induced the expression of stem-cell markers, that is, increasing cell plasticity. Next, 5-aza-CN treated fibroblasts were cultured in osteogenic, adipogenic, chondrogenic, and neurogenic media with or without bone morphogenetic protein 2 for a designated period. Differentiation of each desired type of cell was verified by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction/western blot assays for appropriate marker expression and by various staining methods, such as alkaline phosphatase/alizarin red S/oil red O/alcian blue. These proposed procedures allowed easier acquisition of the desired cells without any transgenic modification, using direct reprogramming technology, and thus may help make it more available in the clinical fields of regenerative medicine.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.349-359
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• 2018

Background: Propofol is an intravenous anesthetic which has antioxidant effects due to its similarity in molecular structure to ${\alpha}$-tocopherol. It has been reported that ${\alpha}$-tocopherol increases osteoclast fusion and bone resorption. Here, we investigated the effects of propofol on signaling pathways of osteoclastogenic gene expression, as well as osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption using bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs). Methods: BMMs were cultured with macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) alone or M-CSF plus receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL) in the presence of propofol ($0-50{\mu}M$) for 4 days. Mature osteoclasts were stained for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and the numbers of TRAP-positive multinucleated osteoclasts were counted. To examine the resorption activities of osteoclasts, a bone resorption assay was performed. To identify the mechanism of action of propofol on the formation of multinucleated osteoclasts, we focused on dendritic cell-specific transmembrane protein (DC-STAMP), a protein essential for pre-osteoclastic cell fusion. Results: Propofol increased the formation of TRAP-positive multinucleated osteoclasts. In addition, the bone resorption assay revealed that propofol increased the bone resorption area on dentin discs. The mRNA expression of DC-STAMP was upregulated most strongly in the presence of both RANKL and propofol. However, SB203580, a p38 inhibitor, significantly suppressed the propofol/RANKL-induced increase in mRNA expression of DC-STAMP. Conclusion: We have demonstrated that propofol enhances osteoclast differentiation and maturation, and subsequently increases bone resorption. Additionally, we identified the regulatory pathway underlying osteoclast cell-cell fusion, which was enhanced by propofol through p38-mediated DC-STAMP expression.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.46 no.7
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• pp.441-450
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• 2023

β-Catenin (Ctnnb1) has been shown to play critical roles in the development and maintenance of epithelial cells, including the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Ctnnb1 is not only a component of intercellular junctions in the epithelium, it also functions as a transcriptional regulator in the Wnt signaling pathway. To identify which of its functional modalities is critically involved in mouse RPE development and maintenance, we varied Ctnnb1 gene content and activity in mouse RPE lineage cells and tested their impacts on mouse eye development. We found that a Ctnnb1 double mutant (Ctnnb1^dm), which exhibits impaired transcriptional activity, could not replace Ctnnb1 in the RPE, whereas Ctnnb1^Y654E, which has reduced affinity for the junctions, could do so. Expression of the constitutively active Ctnnb1^∆ex3 mutant also suppressed the development of RPE, instead facilitating a ciliary cell fate. However, the post-mitotic or mature RPE was insensitive to the loss, inactivation, or constitutive activation of Ctnnb1. Collectively, our results suggest that Ctnnb1 should be maintained within an optimal range to specify RPE through transcriptional regulation of Wnt target genes in the optic neuroepithelium.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.435-439
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• 1995

Some characteristics and pathogenicity of Hyphantria cunea nuclear polyhedrosis virus (HcNPV), a potential microbial pesticide was studied. H. cunea NPV replicated in the nucleus of S. frugiperda cells cultured in the TNMFH medium. In case of virus infected cell, prepolyhedra formation was observed at 24hrs post-infection. At 48 hrs post-infection, Most of the infected cell contained many mature polyhedra which were released into culture media 72 hrs post-infection, with the cells grown in suspension culture, pH of the culture medium increased during the virus replication: the pH of fresh medium was 6.35 and rose to 6.77 within 120 hrs. Polyhedra formed a band in linear density gradient of sucrose by centrifugation, which co-sedimented with $50{\sim}55%$ sucrose. The shape of the purified polyhedra was mostly tetragonal hexahedron and its size was about $2.5{\mu}m$. Electron microscopy and phase contrast microscopy showed that many bundled nucleocapsids were occluded in mature polyhedra at 48 hrs post infection. H. cunea larvae infected with NPV showed a higher motality in the second and third instar than in the fourth instar. Death rate of H. cunea larvae in the second and third instar fed with leaves coated with $1.5{\times}10^{9}{\sim}l.5{\times}10^{7}PIBs/ml$ reached more than 90%.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.163-169
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• 2001

OSBA(oocytes-sperm binding assay) is a tool developed for rapid test of optimal condition of IVF medium and protein source by binding ability of mouse sperm and egg. Mouse oocyte-cumulus complexes were prepared by removing of the cumulus cells with 0.1% hyaluronidase. 10$\pm$2 oocytes per 30 ${mu}ell$ medium drop were inseminated with 3 ${mu}ell$ sperm suspension and were cultured f3r 3 hours and 24 hours, respectively. And the oocytes were recovered gently and the No. of sperm bound on oocytes were counted. In the Exp. 1, the ratio of oocytes bound with one sperm at least were 60.2%(50/83), 2%(2/77) and 100%(79/79) in the medium with no protein, FBS(15%, v/v) and BSA(0.4%. w/v), respectively, Fetal bovine serum(FBS) seriously inhibited sperm binding on oocyte, although bovine serum albumin(BSA) promoted the binding ability. The inhibiting effect of FBS was dependent on the concentration of FBS. The sperm binding ability according to oocyte maturity was tested in the Exp. 2. There was no significant difference between Met. II (mature) and Met. I (intermediate mature) oocytes in the number of oocytes bound with sperm and the number of sperm bound on oocytes. Finally, in Exp. 3, two batches of Ham's F10 medium with good and poor quality by OSBA were tested (The ratios of embryos developed from PN 1-cell stage to hatched blastocyst; 25% vs. 70%). In the medium with good quality, sperm binding ability was significantly increased (P ＜ 0.05). The ratio of oocytes bound with one sperm at least was 66% and 90% in the medium with poor and good quality, respectively. Conclusively, It was possible to test IVF medium condition rapidly and easily by OSBA.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.217-222
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• 2002

Background: Scid.adh is a recently developed murine thymic lymphoma cell line, which has been used as in vitro model for the study of double negative stage III thymocytes. In this study, we compared the expression profile of a number of genes and proteins, which are tightly related to T cell development and apoptosis, in thymic lymphoma cell lines, R1.1, EL-4, and Scid.adh for the developmental staging. Methods: We examined the expression of development marker genes and proteins in three lymphoma cell lines by flow cytometry and RT-PCR. In addition, the expression of apoptosis-related molecules including bcl-2, bax and Fas was also investigated. Results: As previously reported, Scid.adh cell line expressed CD8 and CD25 but not TCR ${\alpha}$ chain, while R1.1 cells expressed TCR ${\alpha}$ chain and both CD4 and CD8 transcripts. These suggest that R1.1 might be in double positive stage, and low level of CD44 expression and the absence of CD25 support this suggestion. In contrast, EL-4 cells showed high level of TCR ${\alpha}$ chain transcript, and low-level of CD4 expression, suggesting that EL-4 is in more mature stage than R1.1. Further, this suggestion was supported by the lack of mT-20 in EL-4 cells, which is expressed in the immature thymocytes, and Scid.adh and R1.1 cell lines, but not in the terminally differentiated thymocytes and peripheral T cells. Among the apoptosis-related gene, transcripts of bcl-2 gene were detected in both R1.1 and EL-4 but not in Scid.adh cells, while bax was expressed in all cell lines. Fas expression was the highest in EL-4 cells and low in Scid.adh cell line. Conclusion: R1.1 cell may represent double positive stage, and EL-4 is more differentiated cell line. In addition, Scid.adh and EL-4 cell lines are suspected to be useful for the study of function of bcl-2 family and Fas during the thymocyte development, respectively.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.11
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• pp.1409-1414
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• 2013

Lymph node (LN) is the sites where mature lymphocytes become stimulated to respond to invading pathogens in the body. Lymphocytes screen the surfaces of pathogen-carrying antigen-presenting cells for cognate antigens, while moving along stromal structural back bone. Fibroblastic reticular cells (FRC) is stromal cell forming the 3 dimensional structure networks of the T cell rich zones in LN, and provide a guidance path for immigrating T lymphocytes. In these cooperative environments, the cell to cell bidirectional interactions between FRC and T cells in LN are therefore essential to the normal functioning of these tissues. Not only do FRCs physically construct LN architecture but they are essential for regulating T cell biology within these domains. FRC interact closely with T lymphocytes, is providing scaffolds, secreting soluble factors including cytokine in which FRCs influence T cell immune response. More recently, FRC have been found to induce peripheral T cell tolerance and regulate the extent to which newly activated T cells proliferate within LN. Thus, FRC-T cell crosstalk has important consequences for regulating immune cell function within LN. In addition, FRC have profound effects on innate immune response by secreting anti-microbial peptides and complement, etc in the inflammatory milieu. In summary, we propose a model in which FRC engage in a bidirectional touch to increase the T cell biological efficiency between FRC and T cells. This collaborative feedback loop may help to maintain tissue function during inflammation response.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.607-611
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• 2012

Non-toxic stimulation of dendritic cells (DCs), which are central immunomodulators, may aid the prevention of cancer. Furthermore, induction of apoptosis in cancer cells by anticancer agents contributes to the induction of DC maturation. We previously reported that extracts from $Pinus$ $parviflora$ Sieb. et Zucc pine cone and $Mucuna$ seed induce differentiation of mouse bone marrow cells into mature dendritic cells and also induce apoptosis in various human cancer cell lines. In the present study, we screened 31 kinds of edible beans with biological activity similar to that of extracts from pine cone and $Mucuna$ and found that the heat-stable extract from azuki bean ($Vigna$ $angula$) stimulated differentiation of bone marrow cells into immature DCs with the greatest efficacy. The level of IL-6 produced by sequential treatment of DCs with azuki extract and lipopolysaccharide was the highest among the examined beans. Azuki extract also inhibited the growth of human leukemia U937 cells, leading to induction of apoptosis. These results suggest that azuki bean and its extract are immunopotentiating foods that can be used as a dietary supplement for cancer prevention and immunotherapy.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.70-88
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• 1989

The storage sac of U. unicinctus can be divided into two parts morphologically as well as functionally ; one is proximal and the other distal storage sac. It is because of the seasonal morphological change of the storage sac caused by sperm accumulation in the storage sac. The proximal storage sac contains the mature sperm with the dumbbell-shaped acrosome and well developed one or two mitochondria in the middle piece, whilst the sperm of hemispherical acrosome associate closely with an accessory cell in the distal storage sac. This means that the sperm do not perform the synchronous development in a storage sac, which is not the case of sperm development in the coelomic cytophorus. In addition, the basal membrane of the distal storage sac is different from that of the proximal storage sac in term of tissue formation. Connective tissues, acces-sory cells and small lumen develop on the basal membrane of the distal sto-rage sac, which is well contrasted with the thin basal membrane of the proximal storage sac. The function of the storage sac is discussed in rela-tion of the sperm development and the seasonal change.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.105-117
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• 1995

This study was carried out to investigate the histomorphological changes and the electrophoretic patterns of egg components, obtained from 100 of 1-year-old female catfish(Silurus asotus). Especially, the light microscopic and ultrastructural changes of ooplasm and follicular membranes of oocytes, were observed by light and transmission electron microscope. All data were collected from October in 1992 to May in 1993. The size of the nucleoli and number of the yolk granules increased as the oocyte grew. Yolk granules were deposited in the oocyte as fluid. Due to the presence of large early and late maturing oocytes, their ovaries were large, transparent, granular, and greenish in color. As the percentages of fish in LMO and RO stage increased from March to April, mean of GSI values(19.95%) increased. Follicle cells such as granulosa cell and thecal cell change a squamous into cuboid shape in LPO and EMO stage. Processes, microvilli, from the granulosa cells and from the oocyte grow and make contact with each other in the pore canals of the zona radiata during vitellogenesis, but are withdrawn as the zona radiate becomes more compact and devoid of pore canals during oocyte maturation. The electrophoretic pattern of major band in mature stage was much thicker(21k, 24k, 32k, 45k, 67∼110k, 170k dalton) than that in previtellogenic phase.