• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.1382-1388
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• 2009

Rubus crataegifolius is a shrub species and is primarily distributed throughout Asia and Europe. We collected 550 representative samples of the eleven populations in Korea to estimate leaf variation within species. The 35 morphological characteristics allowed us to resolve well-supported fixed characteristics and variable characteristics. Sixteen of twenty-three quantitative characteristics and five of twelve qualitative characteristics showed significant differences among populations. We argued that the population differentiation can accounted for the variation in phenetic characteristics such as spine in this species, but were less successful in accounting for variation in other traits. Within a polystatistic leaf structure, their morphological differences could be modulated by ecological pressure such as temperature, altitude, duration of sunshine, and solar radiation. The phenogram showed two distinct clades. One was a group in central Korea and the other was a group in the southern regions of Korea. If morphological characteristics in R. crataegifolius populations reflect their ecological niche, morphology should be regarded with caution as the main criterion for population studies in R. crataegifolius.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.3715-3721
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• 2015

Leukemia is a clonal disorder with blocked normal differentiation and cell death of hematopoietic progenitor cells. Traditional modalities with most used radiation and chemotherapy are nonspecific and toxic which cause adverse effects on normal cells. Differentiation inducing therapy forcing malignant cells to undergo terminal differentiation has been proven to be a promising strategy. However, there is still scarce of potent differentiation inducing agents. We show here that Angelica sinensis polysaccharide (ASP), a major active component in Dong quai (Chinese Angelica sinensis), has potential differentiation inducing activity in human chronic erythro-megakaryoblastic leukemia K562 cells. MTT assays and flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that ASP inhibited K562 cell proliferation and arrested the cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase. ASP also triggered K562 cells to undergo erythroid differentiaton as revealed by morphological changes, intensive benzidine staining and hemoglobin colorimetric reaction, as well as increased expression of glycophorin A (GPA) protein. ASP induced redistribution of STAT5 protein from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. Western blotting analysis further identified that ASP markedly sensitized K562 cells to exogenous erythropoietin (EPO) by activating EPO-induced JAK2/STAT5 tyrosine phosphorylation, thus augmenting the EPO-mediated JAK2/STAT5 signaling pathway. On the basis of these findings, we propose that ASP might be developed as a potential candidate for chronic myelogenous leukemia inducing differentiation treatment.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.747-752
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• 2013

Oncostatin M (OSM) is a multifunctional cellular regulator acting on a wide variety of cells, which has potential roles in the regulation of gene activation, cell survival, proliferation and differentiation. Previous studies have shown that OSM can induce morphological and/or functional differentiation and maturation of many tumor cells. However, the action of OSM on the induction of differentiation of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been reported. Here, we investigated the effects of different concentrations of OSM on human HCC cell line SMMC-7721 growth, proliferation, cell cycling, apoptosis and differentiation in vitro. Cell growth was determined via MTT assay, proliferation by cell cycle analysis, apoptosis by flow cytometry, morphology by transmission electronic microscopy, and cell function by detection of biochemical markers. Our results demonstrated that OSM strongly inhibited the growth of SMMC-7721 cells in a dose-dependent manner, associated with decreased clonogenicity. Cell cycle analysis revealed a decreased proportion of cells in S phase, with arrest at G0/G1. The apotosis rate was increased after OSM treatment compared to the control. These changes were associated with striking changes in cellular morphology, toward a more mature hepatic phenotype, accompanied by significant reduction of the expression of AFP and specific activity of ${\gamma}$-GT, with remarkable increase in secretion of albumin and ALP activity. Taken together, our findings indicate that OSM could induce the differentiation and reduce cell viability of SMMC-7721 cells, suggesting that differentiation therapy with OSM offers the opportunity for therapeutic intervention in HCC.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.623-635
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• 2021

The effect of deer antler extract on muscle differentiation and muscle atrophy were evaluated to minimize muscle loss following aging. Various deer antler extracts (HWE, hot water extract of deer antler; FE, HWE of fermented deer antler; ET, enzyme-assisted extract of deer antler; UE, extract prepared by ultrasonication of deer antler) were evaluated for their effect on muscle differentiation and inhibition of 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside (AICAR)-induced muscle atrophy in C2C12 cells. Morphological changes according to the effect of antler extracts on muscle differentiation were confirmed by Jenner-Giemsa staining. In addition, the expression levels of genes related to muscle differentiation and atrophy were confirmed through qRT-PCR. In the presence of antler extracts, the length and thickness of myotubes and myogenin differentiation 1 (MyoD1) and myogenic factor 5 (Myf5) gene expression were increased compared to those in the control group (CON). Gene expression of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), MyoD1, and myogenin, along with the muscle atrophy factors muscle RING finger-1 (MuRF-1) and forkhead box O3a (FoxO3a) upon addition of deer antler extracts to muscle-atrophied C2C12 cells was determined by qRT-PCR after treatment with AICAR. The expression of MuRF-1 and FoxO3a decreased in the groups treated with antler extracts compared to that in the group treated with AICAR alone. In addition, gene expression of MyoD1 and myogenin in the muscle atrophy cell model was significantly increased compared that into the CON. Therefore, our findings indicate that antler extract can increase the expression of MyoD1, Myf5 and myogenin, inhibit muscle atrophy, and promote muscle differentiation.

• Korea-Australia Rheology Journal
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2005

In this study, the relationship between morphology and viscosity of the main culture broth of Cephalosporium acremonium M25 was investigated in a 2.5 L bioreactor. The differentiation of C. acremonium M25 showed a complex pattern during the main culture. The morphological changes of C. acremonium M25 were related to the rheological properties of the culture broth and it was well agreed with the power law model. As a result of rheology study, it was found that rheological properties of the main culture broths of C. acremonium M25 in bioreactor were closely related to morphological changes. Also, fractal dimension fairly predicted morphological and rheological changes in the main culture broth.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.156-156
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• 2001

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of nutrients and culture conditions on morphology during the seed culture of C. acremonium ATCC 20339 Morphological factors such as hyphal length number of tips number of arthrospores were observed to investigate the relationship between seed morphology and CPC production. During the time course of seed culture, hyphal length was shortened and the number of arthrospores increased rapidly On the other hand the number of tips deceased rapidly and this was closely related to the hyphal length Mixed nitrogen sources of 3% solybean meal and 1% cotton seed flour were determined as the proper organic nitrogen sources, in terms of the morphological factors in the seed culture. This fact was proven in batch culture for the production of Cephalosporin C. It was also found that a proper agitation speed enhanced the morphological differentiation of C. acremonium ATCC 20339, thus improving the production of Cephalosporin C.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.28-39
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• 2018

This study investigated the effect of snail extract on the growth parameters of old female rats (27 weeks). Rats were administered orally with snail extract at a dose of 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, chondroitin sulfate 10 mg/kg and 0.9% saline (control) for 8 weeks. Bone mineral density (BMD) and serum concentrations of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and insulinlike growth factor-binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) were significantly higher in rats exposed to snail extract for 8 weeks. MG-63 cells (human osteoblast-like cells) were treated with snail extract for 48 h. Their differentiation and proliferation was investigated with Western blot and morphological changes observed via immunofluorescence staining of ${\beta}-catenin$. Treatment with snail extract significantly increased the levels of growth factors including ${\beta}-catenin$ and IGF-1. The snail extract affected osteoblast formation. Morphological changes in MG-63 cells were observed via immunofluorescence staining. Treatment with snail extract increased the expression of ${\beta}-catenin$ in MG-63 cells. Results suggest that the treatment of MG-63 cells with snail extract increased the longitudinal growth and growth factor levels. Snail extract may be pharmacologically effective in osteogenic differentiation in vitro and represents a potential therapeutic agent for bone formation.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.221-226
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• 2007

Embryonic stem (ES) cells are known to have an infinite proliferation and pluripotency that are associated with complex processes. The objective of this study was to examine expression of genes differentially regulated during differentiation of human ES cells by suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH). Human ES cells were induced to differentiate into neural precursor cells via embryoid body. Neural precursor cells were isolated physically based on morphological criteria. Immunocytochemical analysis showed expression of pax6 in neural precursor cells, confirming that the isolated cells were neural precursor cells. Undifferentiated human ES cells and neural precursor cells were subject to the SSH. TPX2 (Targeting Protein for Xklp2 (Xenopus centrosomal kinesin-like protein 2)) was identified, cloned and analyzed during differentiation of human ES cells into neural lineages. Expression of TPX2 was gradually down-regulated in embryoid bodies and neural precursor cells relative to undifferentiated ES cells. Targeting Protein for Xklp2 has been shown to be involved in cell division by interaction with microtubule development in cancer cells. Taken together, result of this study suggests that TPX2 may be involved in proliferation and differentiation of human ES cells.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.2145-2148
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• 2012

Objective: This study concerns expression of PBK/TOPK during differentiation of HL-60 leukemic cells induced by tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA). Methods: Wright-Giemsa staining was performed to observe morphological changes in the HL-60 cells, and flow cytometry was used to assess the cell cycle and CD11b, CD14, CD13, and CD33 expression. PBK/TOPK levels were determined by Western blot analysis. Results: After treating HL60 cells with $5.1{\times}10^{-9}$ mmol/L of TPA for three days, the number of nitroblue-tetrazolium-positive cells and CD11b, CD13, and CD14 expression increased, whereas the PBK/TOPK levels decreased. Conclusions: TPA can inhibit proliferation and induce differentiation of HL60 cells of the granulocytic or monocytic lineage. PBK/TOPK expression was downregulated during this process, whereas the Pho-PBK/TOPK expression was increased.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.63-69
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• 1997

We have previously reported that NF-kB is involved in the regulation of nitric oxide synthase gene expression during differentiation of chick embryonic myoblasts. However, how NF-kB is timely activated during myogenesis remains elusive. One of the most prominent events in myogenesis is myoblast membrane fusion, which is accompanied with massive cytoskeletal reorganization. Here we show that the activity of NF-kB markedly increases in L6 rat myogenic cells that have just initiated morphological changes by treating nocodazole, a microtubule-disrupting agent. Furthermore, the induction of NF-kB activation was closely correlated with the myoblast fusion. In addition, a variety of agents that disrupt microtubules stimulated the myoblast fusion as well as the induction of NF-kB activation. In contrast, taxol, a microtubule-stabilizing agent, suppressed the induction of NF-kB activation and inhibited spontaneous differentiation of L6 cells as well. In addition, we found that the NF-KB in the cells consists of p50/p65 heterodimers. These results support the idea that reorganization of microtubule at early stages of differentiation plays a role as a signal for NF-KB activation during myogenesis.