• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.53 no.2
• /
• pp.215-221
• /
• 2010

Purpose : Interleukin-17 (IL-17) is produced by activated CD4+T cells and exhibits pleiotropic biological activity on various cell types. IL-17 was reported to be involved in the immunoregulatory response in IgA nephropathy (IgAN). Our aim was to investigate the association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IL-17 receptor A (IL-17RA) gene and childhood IgAN. Methods : We analyzed the SNPs in the IL-17RA in 156 children with biopsy-proven IgAN and 245 healthy controls. We divided the IgAN patients into 2 groups and compared them with respect to proteinuria (${\leq}4$ and >$4mg/m^2/h$, ${\leq}40$ and >$40mg/m^2/h$, respectively) and the presence of pathological levels of biomarkers of diseases such as interstitial fibrosis, tubular atrophy, or global sclerosis. Results : No difference was observed between the SNP genotypes rs2895332, rs1468488, and rs4819553 between IgAN patients and control subjects. In addition, no significant difference was observed between allele frequency of SNPs rs2895 332, rs1468488, and rs4819553 between patients in the early and advanced stage of the disease. However, significant difference was observed between the genotype of SNP rs2895332 between patients with proteinuria (>$4mg/m^2/h$) and those without proteinuria (codominant model OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.19-.66, P <0.001; dominant model OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.17-.69 P =0.002; recessive model OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.01-.06 P =0.025). Conclusion : Our results indicate that the SNP in IL-17RA (rs2895332) may be related to the development of proteinuria in IgAN patients.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.29 no.7
• /
• pp.925-937
• /
• 2016

In the last few decades, transgenic animal technology has witnessed an increasingly wide application in animal breeding. Reproductive traits are economically important to the pig industry. It has been shown that the bone morphogenetic protein receptor type IB (BMPR1B) A746G polymorphism is responsible for the fertility in sheep. However, this causal mutation exits exclusively in sheep and goat. In this study, we attempted to create transgenic pigs by introducing this mutation with the aim to improve reproductive traits in pigs. We successfully constructed a vector containing porcine BMPR1B coding sequence (CDS) with the mutant G allele of A746G mutation. In total, we obtained 24 cloned male piglets using handmade cloning (HMC) technique, and 12 individuals survived till maturation. A set of polymerase chain reactions indicated that 11 of 12 matured boars were transgene-positive individuals, and that the transgenic vector was most likely disrupted during cloning. Of 11 positive pigs, one (No. 11) lost a part of the terminator region but had the intact promoter and the CDS regions. cDNA sequencing showed that the introduced allele (746G) was expressed in multiple tissues of transgene-positive offspring of No.11. Western blot analysis revealed that BMPR1B protein expression in multiple tissues of transgene-positive $F_1$ piglets was 0.5 to 2-fold higher than that in the transgene-negative siblings. The No. 11 boar showed normal litter size performance as normal pigs from the same breed. Transgene-positive $F_1$ boars produced by No. 11 had higher semen volume, sperm concentration and total sperm per ejaculate than the negative siblings, although the differences did not reached statistical significance. Transgene-positive $F_1$ sows had similar litter size performance to the negative siblings, and more data are needed to adequately assess the litter size performance. In conclusion, we obtained 24 cloned transgenic pigs with the modified porcine BMPR1B CDS using HMC. cDNA sequencing and western blot indicated that the exogenous BMPR1B CDS was successfully expressed in host pigs. The transgenic pigs showed normal litter size performance. However, no significant differences in litter size were found between transgene-positive and negative sows. Our study provides new insight into producing cloned transgenic livestock related to reproductive traits.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.53 no.4
• /
• pp.548-553
• /
• 2010

Purpose : IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most commonly occurring form of chronic glomerulonephritis in pediatric cases. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes have been implicated in various inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The present study was conducted to investigate the association between 2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the HLA-G gene and childhood IgAN. Methods : The authors analyzed and compared $HLA-G$ gene SNPs (rs1736936 and rs2735022) in 174 patients with childhood IgAN and in 438 healthy controls. In addition, IgAN patients were dichotomized and compared with respect to proteinuria (< and >$4mg/m^2/hour$), the presence or absence of podocyte foot process effacement, and the presence of pathologically early and advanced disease markers such as interstitial fibrosis, tubular atrophy, or global sclerosis. Results : No significant SNP frequency differences were observed for the $HLA-G$ gene between IgAN patients and the control group. Moreover, no significantly associated SNP was observed with the presence of proteinuria, podocyte foot process effacement, or pathologically advanced markers. However, the haplotype, composed of rs1736936 and rs2735022, showed a significant association with the susceptibility to develop childhood IgAN (haplotype T/C: dominant model, $P$=0.049; haplotype C/T: recessive model, $P$=0.030). Conclusion : Our results indicate that rs1736936 and rs2735022 as the $HLA-G$ gene promoter haplotype might be associated with the susceptibility to develop childhood IgAN in the Korean population.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.22 no.8
• /
• pp.1057-1063
• /
• 2012

Epilepsy is the most prevalent chronic neurological disorder and can be controlled by antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in up to 70% of patients. We performed an association study between adverse drug reactions and the genetic polymorphisms of CYP2C9, CYP2C19, ABCB1, and SCN1A. The clinical data of 83 epilepsy patients who had received AEDs containing carbamazepine (CBZ) were collected. We extracted genomic DNA from peripheral blood and then genotyped CYP2C9 ($CYP2C9^*2$, $CYP2C9^*3$), CYP2C19 ($CYP2C9^*2$, $CYP2C9^*3$), ABCB1 (C3435T), and SCN1A (IVS5N+5 G>A) using direct sequencing. The allele frequencies of $CYP2C9^*3$, $CYP2C9^*2$, $CYP2C9^*3$, ABCB1 (3435C>T), and SCN1A (IVS5N+5 G>A) were 0.93, 0.72, 0.91, 0.61, and 0.55, respectively. Statistically significant differences were indicated from the data obtained. Patients with SCN1A genotype CC or CT were compared with patients with SCN1A genotype TT while using more than 500mg of carbamazepine. We have associated functional polymorphisms with the dose used in regular clinical practice for Korean epilepsy patients who had received antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) containing carbamazepine. For AEDs, we found that one of the SCN1A genotypes is associated with a 500 mg dose. There was no association found with CNS ADR caused by AEDs.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.28-33
• /
• 2001

Purpose: H. pylori infection is thought to contribute to iron-deficiency anemia, especially during puberty. The ferritin protein Pfr of H. pylori is homologous to eukaryotic and prokaryotic ferritins. The purpose of this study was to analyze the H. pylori pfr status in gastric biopsy specimens according to clinical data, including antral gastritis with or without iron-deficiency anemia. Methods: A total of 26 H. pylori-positive patients aged from ten to 18 years were categorized into subgroups based on the presence or absence of iron-deficiency anemia. All of them had antral gastritis. Sixteen patients were proved to have iron-deficiency anemia by hematological study, two of which had a duodenal ulcer. The other ten patients showed normal hematological findings. DNA isolation was performed from each of the gastric biopsy specimens. PCR amplification of the pfr gene coding was done using two sets of primers. The pfr region, 501 bp, was generated by linking the sequences of the two PCR products. The nucleotide and protein sequences were compared between the pfr regions from Korean H. pylori strains and the NCTC 11638, 26695, and J99 strain, which were obtained from the Genbank. Sequence comparisons were also performed for the pfr regions between the iron-deficiency anemia (+) and (-) groups. Results: Analysis of the complete coding region of pfr gene revealed three sites of mutation. The Ser39Ala mutation was found in 100% (26/26), Gly111Asn in 26.9% (7/26), and Gly82Ser in 11.5% (3/26). There were no significant differences in the mutations of the pfr regions between the iron deficiency anemia (+) and (-) groups. Conclusion: The mutation in the pfr gene did not relate with the clinical phenotype, iron deficiency anemia. Further studies are needed on the aspects of host side or other complex factors to elucidate anemia. Further studies are needed on the aspects of host side or other complex factors to elucidate the mechanisms by which the H. pylori infection might lead to iron deficiency anemia.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.53 no.4
• /
• pp.303-310
• /
• 2011

Phylogenetic relationships of Jeju dogs to other domestic and foreign dog breeds were assessed using mtDNA D-loop sequences. Neighbor-joining trees were constructed using complete sequences (970 bp excluding the tandem repeat region) determined for five Cheju, four Jindo, four Sapsaree, five Pungsan, two of each East and West Laika dogs (Canis familiaris), two gray wolves (Canis lupus) and two coyotes (Canis latrans) and also published complete sequences for dogs. Coyote sequences were used as outgroups. In addition, a total of 214 haplotypes of 598bp D-loop sequences from 30 dog breeds were collected from GenBank and used to investigate genetic structure of population. In the analyses of full D-loop sequence variation and the phylogenetic trees constructed by neighbor-joining method, neither haplotypes nor clades specific for any domestic dog breeds were observed. The inter-species sequence variation (4.51%) between domestic dogs and wolves was much higher than the intra-species sequence variation within domestic dogs (1.63%) and wolves (3.64%). The divergence of the dog and wolf occurred approximately 1~2 million years ago based on these values. The taxa of Jeju dog breed in the phylogenetic tree are clustered separately and intermingled with other taxa of breeds, suggesting that active crossbreeding of Jeju dogs with other domestic breeds.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Food Science of Animal Resources Conference
• /
• 2000.11a
• /
• pp.59-75
• /
• 2000

This study was carried out to develop a DNA marker for identifying between Korean cattle (Hanwoo) and other breeds. First experiment was performed to isolate Hanwoo specific DNA marker at sequence characterized amplified regions (SCARs). Five breeds of cattle including Hanwoo, Holstein, Hereford, Angus and Charolais were represented with the from 8 to 20 individuals. Fourteen primers of 300 arbitrary primers of 10 nucleotides showed reproducible polymorphism across the breeds. An amplified band of 0.9 kb in the primer MG-3 showed the specificity to Holstein breed. And MG-6 and MG-12 detected the Hereford and Hanwoo specific markers at the size of 2.0 kb and 1.0 kb, respectively. A 1.0 kb band of MG-12 was cloned and sequenced. A SCAR primer was designed based on the obtained sequences. It was possible to identify the Hanwoo from Holstein breed. Second experiment was carried out to observe the genotype frequencies of MC1R in 1,044 samples of imported beef and eight different cattle breeds including Hanwoo, Holstein, Angus, Brown-Swiss, Charolais, Limousin, Simmental and Hereford. The primers for the amplification of bovine MC1R gene were designed based on a bovine MC1R gene sequence (GenBank accession no.Y19103). A size of 350 bp was amplified by polymerase chain reaction(PCR), digested with two different restriction enzyme, BsrFI and MspA II, and electrophoresed in 2.5% Metaphore agarose gel for determination of genotypes. Genotype frequencies of Hanwoo were 0.10 in E+e and 0.90 in ee. Allele ED was shown in all of Holstein and Angus breeds tested which have black coat color phenotypes. We suggested that SCAR marker and the bovine MC1R gene could be used as a DNA marker for distinguishing beef between Hanwoo and Holstein.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.412-416
• /
• 2011

Taste sensation plays a crucial role in selecting and ingesting foods with different qualities which convey information about their nutrient content and/or safety. Sweetness is one of the five modalities in humans and serves as an energy resource for metabolism. There are reports on allelic polymorphisms which influence perception of sweetness in mice and humans. Since the influence of genetic factors on taste disorder has not been studied, we investigated the association of genetic polymorphisms in TAS1R3 and guanine nucleotide binding protein, alpha transducing 3 (GNAT3) genes and taste disorder. A total of 150 individuals composed of 50 patients with taste disorder and 100 healthy controls were recruited for the study and PCR-mediated directing sequencing method was used to genotype for two different single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) - rs307355 (T>C) and rs35744813 (T>C) in the TAS1R3 gene, and rs7792845 (T>C) and rs1524600 (C>T) in the the GNAT3 gene. The allele and genotype frequencies of rs307355 and rs35744813 in the TAS1R3 gene showed a significant association between patients with taste disorder (p=0.022 and p=0.013 in both of SNPs, respectively). In addition, the frequency of T-T haplotype in the TAS1R3 gene was higher in taste disorder cases than in the controls (OR, 1.93: 95%. CI, 1.09-3.39, p=0.022). In the GNAT3, the genotype frequency of rs7792845 in the patients was also different from the controls (p=0.048), but allele frequency was not significantly associated in either group. Our result provides the frequencies of SNPs and haplotypes of the TAS1R3 and GNAT3 genes for the fundamental information of nutrigenetics in perception of the taste of sweetness in the Korean population. Also, the study suggests that the allelic polymorphisms of TAS1R3 and GNAT3 genes may be useful as a molecular marker for evaluating patients with taste disorder. Further studies with large samples are required to clarify our observation.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.103-112
• /
• 2010

Pemetrexed has demonstrated clinical activity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) as well as other solid tumors. It transports into the cells via reduced folate carrier (RFC) and is polyglutamated by folypolyglutamate synthetase (FPGS). Pemetrexed directly inhibits several folate-dependent enzymes such as thymidylate synthase (TS), dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), and glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase (GARFT). We investigated the effects of genetic variations and the expression of RFC, FPGS, TS and DHFR enzymes on drug sensitivity to pemetrexed in NSCLC cells. Polymorphisms in RFC, FPGS, and DHFR were genotyped in four NSCLC cells - A549, PC14, HCC-1588, and H226. Real-time RT-PCR and Western blot was performed to evaluate mRNA transcripts and protein of these genes. The cytotoxicity of pemetrexed was measured by SRB assay. In PC14 and H226 cells, increased mRNA expressions of RFC and FPGS were associated with higher cytotoxicity to pemetrexed. 2R/2R genotype of TS and its increased mRNA expression were associated with drug resistance to pemetrexed in A549 cells, whereas 3R/3R genotype in TS with decreased mRNA expression was associated with higher sensitivity in H226 cells. After pemetrexed treatment, an inverse change of DHFR mRNA and protein expression was found. The strongest linkage disequilibrium (LD) was discovered between-1726C>T and -1188A>C SNP of DHFR gene. Our findings suggest the cytotoxic effect of pemetrexed may be associated with genetic polymorphisms and the expression level of genes involved in pemetrexed metabolisms in NSCLC cells.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.20 no.6
• /
• pp.825-830
• /
• 2010

Two diallelic markers at candidate gene loci, the prolactin receptor 3 (PRLR3) gene and the retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) gene were evaluated for their association with growth and litter size traits in Berkshire. Genetic evaluation was conducted for 5,919 pigs with pedigree information, which included 3,480 growth performance records and 775 litter size records of 224 sows. From the same herd, genotyping was carried out on 144 and 156 animals for PRLR3 and RBP4, respectively. After assigning a genotype to subjects in which both parents had a homozygous genotype, numbers of genotyped animals increased to 474 and 338, for the PRLR3 gene and RBP4 gene, respectively. The genotype effects of two markers were estimated with breeding values of the genotyped animals. The additive effects of total number of piglets born and number of piglets born alive in the PRLR3 locus were -0.28 and -0.13, respectively. The dominance effect of the RBP4 locus on average daily gain was -10.58 g. However, the polymorphism of the RBP4 locus in total number of piglets born and number of piglets born alive has shown -0.34 and -0.33 of the additive genetic effects. In view of the results, MAS (marker-assisted selection) favoring B alleles of RBP4 and PRLR3 loci could potentially accelerate the rate of the genetic improvement in the litter size traits.