• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.337-343
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• 2020

Activation of osteoclast and inactivation of osteoblast result in loss of bone mass with bone resorption, leading to the pathological progression of osteoporosis. The receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) is a member of the TNF superfamily, and is a key mediator of osteoclast differentiation. A flavanone glycoside isolated from the fruit of Poncirus trifoliata, poncirin has anti-allergic, hypocholesterolemic, anti-inflammatory and anti-platelet activities. The present study investigates the effect of poncirin on osteoclast differentiation of RANKL-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. We observed reduced formation of RANKL-stimulated TRAP-positive multinucleated cells (a morphological feature of osteoclasts) after poncirin exposure. Real-time qPCR analysis showed suppression of the RANKL-mediated induction of key osteoclastogenic molecules such as NFATc1, TRAP, c-Fos, MMP9 and cathepsin K after poncirin treatment. Poncirin also inhibited the RANKL-mediated activation of NF-κB and, notably, JNK, without changes in ERK and p38 expression in RAW264.7 cells. Furthermore, we assessed the in vivo efficacy of poncirin in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced bone erosion model. Evaluating the micro-CT of femurs revealed that bone erosion in poncirin treated mice was markedly attenuated. Our results indicate that poncirin exerts anti-osteoclastic effects in vitro and in vivo by suppressing osteoclast differentiation. We believe that poncirin is a promising candidate for inflammatory bone loss therapeutics.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.540-548
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• 2011

Characteristics of leaf morphology was examined in 11 natural populations of Acer pictum subsp. mono (Maxim.) Ohashi in Korea. Nested Anova showed that there were statistically significant differences among populations as well as among individuals within populations in all 14 quantitative characters. In all the leaf characters, variance components among individuals within populations were higher than those among populations. Some morphological characters such as the ration of Blade length to Petiole length (0.90), Uower lobe width (0.85), Blade length (0.83), and Middle lobe width (0.83) showed the relative high differences in the values of differentiation (Dij) among populations. Of the ten populations, Gwangyang (1.36) and Cheongyang (1.30) were highly differentiated based on the total mean Dij of fourteen morphological characters, while Ulju (0.30) and Jeongseon (0.44) were scarcely differentiated.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.52-58
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• 2014

Morphological and genetic variation of two populations of Platichthys stellatus were investigated based on 30 individuals each, collected from Uljin (seedling release area) and Pohang (control) in Korea. Morphological analyses demonstrated that the two populations of P. stellatus were well distinguishable in body color of the blind side and fin shape. Mitochondrial DNA control region analysis indicated no significant differences between the two populations ($F_{ST}=-0.00849$, P>0.05). We also analyzed microsatellite DNA loci of the two populations using six markers. Observed heterozygosity ($H_O$) and expected heterozygosity ($H_E$) were 0.550 and 0.592, respectively, in P. stellatus from Uljin, but 0.700 and 0.737 in P. stellatus from Pohang. An index of differentiation in genetic structure revealed significant differences between the two populations ($F_{ST}=0.0208$, P<0.05). Our results suggest that the Uljin population may be comprised of released P. stellatus, whereas the Pohang population may be wild P. stellatus, highlighting the necessity of continuous monitoring of the two populations.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.112-120
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• 2001

Genetic diversity of 47 East-Asian vegetable soybean was characterized by means of agro-morphological traits and RAPD markers. A field trial was conducted to evaluate 14 agro-morphological traits. To study RAPD-based DNA analysis, a total of sixty 10-mer random primers were screened. Of these, 23 polymorphic markers in 16 varieties used for screening. Among 207 markers amplified, 48 were polymorphic for at least one pairwise comparison within the 47 varieties. A higher differentiation level between varieties was observed by using RAPD markers compared to morphological markers. Correspondence analysis using both types of marker showed that RAPD data could fully discriminate between all varieties, whereas morphological markers could not achieve a complete discrimination. Genetic distances between the varieties were estimated from simple matching coefficients, ranged from 0.0 to 0.640 with an average of 0.295$\pm$0.131 for morphological traits and 0.042 to 0.625 with an average of 0.336$\pm$0.099 for RAPD data, respectively. Cluster analysis based on genetic dissimilarity of these varieties gave rise to 4 distinct groups. The clustering results based on RAPDs did not match with those based on morphological traits. Geographical distribution of most varieties in each of the groups were not well defined. The results suggested that the level of genetic diversity within this group of East-Asian vegetable soybean varieties was sufficient for a breeding program and can be used to establish genetic relationships among them with unknown or unrelated pedigrees.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.333-345
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• 2007

Determination and differentiation of cells in the skeletal muscle lineage is positively regulated by cell-cell contact. differentiation proteins proposed to mediate this effect include both classical MyoD and MEF members : potential interactions between the promyogenic activities of these classes of protein, however, are unknown. We show here that MyoD and MEF, two promyogenic family members that determine to each other in a cis fashion, form ineraction with MyoD- and MEF. These proteins contain myosin heavy chains and are enriched at sites of cell-cell contact between myoblasts, Therefore, In differentiation of MyoD MEF from CST (Chungsimyeonjatang) interact dependently, suggesting that the interactions occur in a cis fashio : consistent with this conclusion, MyoD-mediated differentiation is required for myoblast to occur by CST. Inhibition in myoblasts of a MyoD by STP in its ability to associate with MEF interferes with differentiation as assessed by morphological and transcription level, suggesting that this interaction is functionally important in myogenesis. Also, some of the differentiation-mediated proteins that are required for myogenesis seem to be based on interdependent activities of promyogenic classical SMAD-subfamilly.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.398-405
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• 1998

We investigated the effects of triterpene acids (TAs), ursolic acid (UA) and oleanolic acid (OA), on the induction of proliferation and differentiation of normal rat mammary epithelial cells (RMEC) or organoids cultured in Matrigel or primary culture system. To elucidate the effects, we tested their differentiation inducing activities with intercellular communication ability, cell cycle patterns, induction of apoptosis, and morphological differentiation in the three dimensional extracellular culture system. To study the changes of RMEC subpopulation in culture, the cultured cells were isolated, immunostained with peanut lectin (PNA) and anti-Thy-1.1 antibody and then analyzed with flow cytometry. Four different subpopulations, such as PNA and Thy-1.1 negative cells (B-), PNA positive cells (PNA+), Thy-1.1 positive cells (Thy-1.1+), PNA and Thy-1.1 positive cells (B+), were obtained and the size of each subpopulation was changed in culture with time in the presence of TAs. Intercellular communication was observed in culture for 7 days in TAs-treated cells, but not in culture for 4 days with scrape-loading dye transfer technique. $G_2$/M phase cells and the number of apoptotic population were increased in TAs-treated groups in cell cycle analyses. S phase fractions were reduced and the change of $G_1$ phase cells was not observed. The colonies with distinct multicelfular structures, such as stellate, ductal, webbed, squamous, lobulo-ductal colonies, were observed in Matrigel culture and the frequencies of each colony were changed in the presence of TAs. These results suggest that UA and OA have differentiation inducing effects on rat mammary epithelial cells in primary or in Matrigel culture.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.156-166
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• 2021

Objectives The purpose of this study is to confirm the regulate effect of T helper (Th) 2 differentiation that Baekho-tang extract may produce to improves skin lipid barrier damages. Methods Four-weeks-old NC/Nga mice were divided into four groups: control group (Ctrl, n=10), lipid barrier eliminated group (LBE, n=10), Dexamethasone treatment after lipid barrier elimination group (DxT, n=10), and Baekho-tang extract treatment group after lipid barrier elimination group (BHTT, n=10). Baeko-tang extract was administered for 3 days after removal of the skin fat barrier in BHTT group. Then, we identified changes in external symptoms of the skin, factors affecting skin barrier such as potential of hydrogen (pH), filaggrin (FLG), transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and Th2 differentiation factors like Interleukin (IL)-4, Kallikrein Related Peptidase 7 (KLK7) and protease activated receptor 2 (PAR-2) through our immunohistochemistry. Results After lipid barrier elimination, the reduction of morphological skin inflammations was less in BHTT group than in LBE group and DxT group. Also, pH and TEWL were significantly decreased with BHTT group. However, FLG was significantly increased in BHTT group compared to LBE, DxT, and Ctrl group. All kinds of Th2 differentiation factors (IL-4, KLK7 and PAR-2) were also decreased in BHTT compared to the LBE and DxT. Conclusions As a result of this study, BHT administration decreased pH, TEWL, and increased FLG, thus participating in recovering damaged skin barrier. Since Th2 differentiation factors were decreased as well, BHT's regulatory effect in sequential immune reactions may be a possible explanation of how it enhances recovery of the damaged lipid barrier.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.57-64
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• 2022

Objectives The purpose of this study is to confirm the regulate effect of T helper (Th) 2 differentiation that Sabaek-san extract may produce to improves skin lipid barrier damage. Methods Four-weeks-old NC/Nga mice were divided into four groups: control group (Ctrl, n=10), lipid barrier eliminated group (LBE, n=10), Dexamethasone treatment after lipid barrier elimination group (DXT, n=10), and Sabaek-san extract treatment group after lipid barrier elimination (SBT, n=10). Sabaek-san extract was administered for 3 d after removal of the skin fat barrier in SBT group. Then, we identified changes in external symptoms of the skin, factors affecting skin barrier such as potential of hydrogen (pH), filaggrin, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and Th2 differentiation factors like Interleukin (IL)-4, Kallikrein Related Peptidase 7 (KLK7), and protease activated receptor 2 (PAR-2) through our immunohistochemistry. Results After lipid barrier elimination, the reduction of morphological skin inflammations was less in SBT group than in LBE and DXT group. Also, pH and TEWL were significantly decreased with SBT group. However, filaggrin was significantly increased in SBT group compared to LBE, DXT, and Ctrl group. All kinds of Th2 differentiation factors (IL-4, KLK7 and PAR-2) were also decreased in SBT compared to the LBE and DXT. Conclusions As a result of this study, SBT administration decreased pH, TEWL, and increased filaggrin, thus participating in recovering damaged skin barrier. Since Th2 differentiation factors were decreased as well, SBT's regulatory effect in sequential immune reactions may be a possible explanation of how it enhances recovery of the damaged lipid barrier.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.1837-1847
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• 2020

Objective: To evaluate the pancreatic differentiation potential of α-1,3-galactosyltransferase knockout (GalTKO) pig-derived bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) using epigenetic modifiers with different pancreatic induction media. Methods: The BM-MSCs have been differentiated into pancreatic β-like cells by inducing the overexpression of key transcription regulatory factors or by exposure to specific soluble inducers/small molecules. In this study, we evaluated the pancreatic differentiation of GalTKO pig-derived BM-MSCs using epigenetic modifiers, 5-azacytidine (5-Aza) and valproic acid (VPA), and two types of pancreatic induction media - advanced Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (ADMEM)-based and N2B27-based media. GalTKO BM-MSCs were treated with pancreatic induction media and the expression of pancreas-islets-specific markers was evaluated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence. Morphological changes and changes in the 5'-C-phosphate-G-3' (CpG) island methylation patterns were also evaluated. Results: The expression of the pluripotent marker (POU class 5 homeobox 1 [OCT4]) was upregulated upon exposure to 5-Aza and/or VPA. GalTKO BM-MSCs showed increased expression of neurogenic differentiation 1 in the ADMEM-based (5-Aza) media, while the expression of NK6 homeobox 1 was elevated in cells induced with the N2B27-based (5-Aza) media. Moreover, the morphological transition and formation of islets-like cellular clusters were also prominent in the cells induced with the N2B27-based media with 5-Aza. The higher insulin expression revealed the augmented trans-differentiation ability of GalTKO BM-MSCs into pancreatic β-like cells in the N2B27-based media than in the ADMEM-based media. Conclusion: 5-Aza treated GalTKO BM-MSCs showed an enhanced demethylation pattern in the second CpG island of the OCT4 promoter region compared to that in the GalTKO BM-MSCs. The exposure of GalTKO pig-derived BM-MSCs to the N2B27-based microenvironment can significantly enhance their trans-differentiation ability into pancreatic β-like cells.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.510-522
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• 2017

To better understand the morphological variation for Perilla crop in different areas of China, we studied the morphological variation in 87 accessions (84 cultivated var. frutescens and three cultivated var. crispa) from high latitude (Northeast China) and middle latitude (North and Northwest China) areas of China by examining seven quantitative and 10 qualitative characters. Analysis of the morphological variation determined that there was significant morphological differences in five quantitative traits between cultivated var. frutescens and cultivated var. crispa, including effective number of branches (QN2), number of internodes (QN3), number of branches (QN4), length of the largest inflorescence (QN5), and days from germination to flowering (QN7). However, two quantitative traits-plant height and number of florets of the largest inflorescence-did not show any significant differences between cultivated var. frutescens and cultivated var. crispa. In addition, significant differences for six quantitative traits were found between the accessions of cultivated var. frutescens originating from high and middle latitude areas in China, which included QN2, QN3, QN5, number of florets of the largest inflorescence (QN6), and QN7. Principal components analysis (PCA) identified five quantitative characters [plant height (QN1), QN2, QN3, QN4, QN7] and six qualitative characters [fragrance of plant (QL1), color of reverse side of leaf (QL3), degree of pubescence (QL5), color of flower (QL6), shape of leaf (QL7), and hardness of seed (QL10)] that contributed to the positive direction on the first axis. The other quantitative and qualitative characters contributed to the negative direction on the first axis. Most accessions of cultivated var. frutescens and cultivated var. crispa were clearly separated by the first axis. In addition, most accessions of cultivated var. frutescens are from high latitude and middle latitude areas that were clearly separated by the first axis, except for several accessions. The findings from this study will provide useful information towards understanding the morphological variation of Perilla crop according to geographical distribution in high and middle latitude regions of China.