• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.1-12
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• 2001

A competitive indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ci ELISA) for the organophosphorus insecticide acephate, O,S-dimethyl acetylphosphoramidothioate, was developed using a polyclonal antibody. Three different haptens mimicking the analyze and containing hexanoic acid moiety as a linker were synthesized, and then conjugated with the carrier proteins bovine serum albumin and keyhole limpet hemocyanin by the N-hydroxysuccinimide active ester method. Polyclonal antibodies raised against hapten-KLH conjugates in rabbits and the hapten-BSA conjugates as coating antigens were screened and selected for the assay in the homologous and/or heterologous ELISA system. The effects of various assay conditions, including blocking reagents, detergent content, organic solvents, pH, and preincubation of tile mixture of the polyclonal antibody and the analyze on the sensitivity were evaluated. The $IC_{50}$ value of acephate of 110 ng/mL was obtained in an optimized heterologous system using hapten-3-BSA as a coating antigen and a polyclonal antibody 8377, showing the detection range of 10-1000 ng/mL and the lowest detection limit of 4 ng/mL. The cross-reactivities of the structurally related insecticides, including methamidophos were less than 0.02%. These results indicate that the ELISA could be a convenient and alternative tool for monitoring acephate residues in agricultural products and environmental samples.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.42-51
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• 2006

We investigated the mechanism of contraction induced by S1P in esophageal smooth muscle cells. Western blot analysis demonstrated that $S1P_1$, $S1P_2$, $S1P_3$, and $S1P_5$ receptors existed in the cat esophagus. Only penetration of EDG-5 ($S1P_2$) antibody into permeabilized cells inhibited S1P-induced contraction. Pertussis toxin (PTX) also inhibited contraction, suggesting that it was mediated by $S1P_2$ receptors coupled to a PTXsensitive $G_i$ protein. Specific antibodies to $G_{i2}$, $G_q$ and $G_{\beta}$ inhibited contraction, implying that the S1P-induced contraction depends on PTX-insensitive $G_q$ and $G_{\beta}$ dimers as well as the PTX-sensitive $G_{i2}$. Contraction was not affected by the phospholipase $A_2$ inhibitor DEDA, or the PLD inhibitor ${\rho}$-chloromercuribenzoate, but it was abolished by the PLC inhibitor U73122. Incubation of permeabilized cells with $PLC{\beta}3$ antibody also inhibited contraction. Contraction involved the activation of a PKC pathway since it was affected by GF109203X and chelerythrine. Since $PKC{\varepsilon}$ antibody inhibited contraction, $PKC{\varepsilon}$ may be required. Preincubation of the muscle cells with the MEK inhibitor PD98059 blocked S1P-induced contraction, but the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor SB202190 did not. In addition, co-treatment of cells with GF 109203X and PD98059 did not have a synergistic effect, suggesting that these two kinases are involved in the same signaling pathway. Our data suggest that S1P-induced contraction in esophageal smooth muscle cells is mediated by $S1P_2$ receptors coupled to PTX-sensitive $G_{i2}$ proteins, and PTX-insensitive $G_q$ and $G_{\beta}$ proteins, and that the resulting activation of the $PLC{\beta}3$ and $PKC{\varepsilon}$ pathway leads to activation of a p44/p42 MAPK pathway.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.209-218
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• 1987

Leptospira interrogans, the causative organism of leptospirosis, is characterized by a fine helical morphology, and the helix is almost always right-handed. However, one of the striking features of recent isolates of L. interrogans in Korea was the heterogeneity in their morphology. Even under optimal culture conditions($30^{\circ}C$, EMJH medium), rods, spiral forms with right or left-handed helices, and even spherical forms of L. interrogans were present. Although the literature notes the presence of left-handed helices, long rods, and spherical forms in cultures of L. interrogans isolates, little is known about the cause of this morphologic heterogeneity. In an attempt to answer this question, this study was initiated to examine the effects of culture conditions, especially temperature and medium, on the morphology of L. interrogans. Four temperatures($5^{\circ}C$, $15^{\circ}C$, $30^{\circ}C$, and $37^{\circ}C$) and two types of media(Fletcher and EMJH) were used; one strain from Korean isolates and L. interrogans serovar canicola obtained from the Pasteur Institute(Paris, France) were employed throughout the study. The findings are as follows: 1. The L. interrogans isolated in Korea(UM-19) had a larger cell diameter($0.25{\sim}0.30\;{\mu}m$: $0.10{\sim}0.15\;{\mu}m$), and helix diameter($0.10{\sim}0.60\;{\mu}m$: $0.10{\sim}0.15\;{\mu}m$) than that obtained from the Pasteur Institute, but they varied in their distances between the helices($0.31{\sim}1.00\;{\mu}m$: $0.50{\sim}0.70\;{\mu}m$). 2, When UM-19 was grown at $37^{\circ}C$ after months or longer preincubation at $5^{\circ}C$ or $15^{\circ}C$, the majority of the organisms were spiral forms; however, they became rods when subcultured at $30^{\circ}C$ or $37^{\circ}C$. No significant morphological differences were found between Fletcher and EMJH media. 3. When L. interrogans serovar canicola was subcultured more than ten times at $37^{\circ}C$, some of the organism lost their motility as well as the hooks at either one or both ends, but only in Fletcher medium. The number of variants increased with the frequency of subculturing. These findings suggested that L. interrogans strain (UM-19) is different, in their morphology, from that of the Pasteur Institute, and its various morphologies may represent stages of the life cycle and vary with incubation temperature.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.66-83
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• 2002

Recently, we have provided evidence that ginsenosides, the active components of Panax ginseng, utilize pertussis toxin (PTX)-insensitive $G{\alpha}_{q/11}-phospholipase\;C-{\beta}3(PLC-{\beta}3)$ signal transduction pathway for the enhancement of $Ca^{2+}-activated\;Cl^{-}$ current in the Xenopus oocyte (British J. Pharmacol. 132, 641-647, 2001; JBC 276, 48797-48802, 2001). Other investigators have shown that stimulation of receptors linked to $G{\alpha}-PLC$ pathway inhibits the activity of G proteincoupled inwardly rectifying $K^+$ (GIRK) channel. In the present study, we sought to determine whether ginsenosides influenced the activity of GIRK 1 and GIRK 4 (GIRK 1/4) channels expressed in the Xenopus oocyte, and if so, the underlying signal transduction mechanism. In oocyte injected with GIRK 1/4 channel cRNAs, bath-applied ginsenosides inhibited high potassium (HK) solution-elicited GIRK current $(EC_{50}:4.9{\pm}4.3\;{\mu}g/ml).$ Pretreatment of the oocyte with PTX reduced the HK solution-elicited GIRK current by $49\%,$ but it did not alter the inhibitory ginsenoside effect on GIRK current. Prior intraoocyte injection of cRNA(s) coding $G{\alpha}_q,\;G{\alpha}_{11}\;or\;G{\alpha}_q/G{\alpha}_{11},\;but\;not\;G{\alpha}_{i2}\;or\;G{\alpha}_{oA}$ attenuated the inhibitory ginsenoside effect. Injection of cRNAs coding $G{\beta}_{1{\gamma}2}$ also attenuated the ginsenoside effect. Similarly, injection of the cRNAs coding regulators of G protein signaling 1, 2 and 4 (RGS1, RGS2 and RGS4), which interact with $G{\alpha}_i\;and/or\;G{\alpha}_{q/11}$ and stimulates the hydrolysis of GTP to GDP in active GTP-bound $G{\alpha}$ subunit, resulted in a significant reduction of ginsenoside effect on GIRK current. Preincubation of GIRK channel-expressing oocyte in PLC inhibitor (U73122) or protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor (staurosporine or chelerythrine) blocked the inhibitory ginsenoside effect on GIRK current. On the other hand, intraoocyte injection of BAPTA, a free $Ca^{2+}$ chelator, had no significant effect on the ginsenoside action. Taken together, these results suggest that ginsenosides inhibit the activity of GIRK 1/4 channel expressed in the Xenopus oocyte through a PTX-insensitive and $G{\alpha}_{q/11}$-,PLC-and PKC-mediated signal transduction pathway.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.392-400
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• 2002

We have previously found that the saponins but not other components in the ginseng reduce the secretion of catecholamines (CAs) from bovine adrenal chromaffin cells, a model of sympathetic nerves, evoked by acetylcholine (ACh) due to the blockade of $Na^+$ influx through nicotinic ACh receptor-operated cation channels, and it has been concluded that the inhibitory effect may be associated with the anti-stress action of ginseng. However, the saponins, which showed the great reduction of the CA secretion, were mainly the protopanaxiatriols. The protopanaxadiol and oleanolic acid saponins had a little or little such effect. Recent studies demonstrated that the oligosaccharides connected to the hydroxyl groups of the aglycones of the saponins are in turn hydrolyzed by gastric acid and enzymes in the intestinal bacteria when the ginseng is orally administrated. In this study, the effects of their major 6 kinds of metabolites on the secretion of CAs were investigated. All metabolites (M1, 2, 3 and 5 derived from the protopanaxadiols, and M4 and 11 from the protopanaxiatriols) reduced the ACh-evoked secretion from the cells. In the metabolites, the M4 inhibition was the most potent ($IC_{50}({\mu}M):M4(9)$ < M2 (18) < M3 (19) < M1l (22) < M5 (36) < MI (38)). Although M4 also reduced the CA secretion induced by high $K^+$, a stimulation activating voltage-sensitive $Ca^{2+}$ channels, the inhibitory effect was much less than that on the ACh-evoked secretion. M4 inhibited the ACh-induced $Na^+$ influx into the cells in a concentration-dependent manner similar to that of the inhibition of the ACh-evoked secretion. When the cells were washed by the incubation buffer after the preincubation of the cells with M4 and then incubated without M4 in the presence of ACh, the M4 inhibition was not completely abolished. On the other hand, its inhibition was maintained even by increasing the external ACh concentration. These results indicate that the saponins are metabolized to the more active substances in the digestive tract and the metabolites attenuate the secretion of CAs from bovine adrenal chromaffin cells stimulated by ACh due to the noncompetitive blockade of the ACh-induced $Na^+$ influx into the cells. These findings may further explain the anti-stress action of ginseng.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.8
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• pp.45-50
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• 1990

This study was carried out ot investigate the effects of fetal calf serum (FCS) and gonadotropins supplemented to the medium on maturation and fertilization in vitro of porcine follcular oocytes. Ovaries were obtained from gilts at local slaughter-house. Oocyte-cumulus complexes were recovered by puncturing the ovarian follicles(3~5 mm in diameter). The complexes from individual ovaries were pooled in a $0.4m{\ell}$ droplet of medium covered with paraffin oil, then washed twice in fresh droplet and cultured for 36hrs in culture media according to experimental conditions. Boar epididymal spermatozoa were capacitated by preincubation for 4hrs in m-KRB medium and the preincubated spermatozoa were insemenated in the fertilization medium containing the cultured oocytes. The results obtained in this study are summarized as follows: 1. The maturation rates of oocytes cultured in m-KRB and m-KRB supplemented to 10% FCS were 82 and 37%, respectively. When PMSG, hCG. and PMSGt hcG($10Iu/m{\ell}$) were added to the media supplemented to 10% FCS, the maturation rates were 66, 58 and 68%, respectively. 2. Expansion of cumulus cells was not occured in m-KRB and m-KRB supplemented to 10% FCS. However, when PMSG, hCG and PMSG+hCG($10Iu/m{\ell}$) were added to m-KRB supplemented to 10% FCS, the expansion rates of cumulus cell layers were 92, 13 and 91%, respectively. 3. When oocytes were mltured in m-KRB, the rates of penetration and formation of male pronucle: were 93 and 7%, respectively. By adding FCS and gonadotropin to m-KRB, the penetration and formation of male pronuclei were 100 80%, respectively.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.223-235
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• 1993

Background: Superoxide anion which was produced by macrophage and neutrophil has a defensive role to kill invasive microorganisms and also an injurious role to produce self lung damage. Production of oxygen free radicals including superoxide is a main mechanism of acute lung injury caused by bacterial endotoxin. Endotoxin is known to activate alveolar macrophage to produce increased oxygen free radicals after the stimulation with various biological materials (priming effect). Calcium is a very important intracellular messenger in that cellular process of superoxide production. Method: This experiment was performed to elucidate the effects of endotoxin and calcium on superoxide production by phorbol myristate acetate-stimulated alveolar macrophage and the effect of verapamil on priming effect of endotoxin. Results: 1) Preincubation of macrophages with endotoxin (E. coli 055-B5) primed the cells to respond with increased superoxide production after the stimulation with PMA. Priming with endotoxin ($10^{-1}$ug/ml) produced a maximal enhancement of superoxide production (43%). 2) Verapamil could inhibit the superoxide production by PMA stimulated macrophage regardless of the presence of extracellular calcium. This means that the inhibitory effect of verapamil is caused by a mechanism independent of blocking calcium influx. 3) Verapamil could inhibit the priming effect of endotoxin on alveolar macrophage (from 30% increment to 13% increment) and could inhibit the superoxide production by PMA-stimulated macrophage preincubated with endotoxin. Conclusion: We concluded that verapamil could inhibit the superoxide production by PMA-stimulated rat alveolar macrophage and also inhibit the priming effect of endotoxin on alveolar macrophage. These inhibitory effects of verapamil could be one of the mechanisms of verapamil effects on endotoxin induced lung injury.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.457-473
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• 2002

The purposes of this study is to evaluate the combination effects of TGF-${\beta}_1$ and PDGF-BB on the periodontal ligament cells to use as a regeneration promoting agent of periodontal tissue. Human periodontal ligament cells were prepared from the first premolar tooth extracted for the orthodontic treatment and were cultured in DMEM/100% FBS at the $37^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$ incubator. Authors measured the DNA synthesis, total protein, collagen and noncollagenous protein synthesis according to the concentration of TGF-${\beta}_1$,(1,5ng/ml) and PDGF-BB (1,10 ng/ml) in combination. To explore further this delayed effect of TGF-${\beta}_1$, we preincubated human periodontal ligament cells with TGF-${\beta}_1$ for 4 or 24 hours before PDGF-BB stimulation. The results were as follows: The DNA synthetic activity was increased dose dependently by TGF-${\beta}_1$, PDGF-BB. The combination of TGF-${\beta}_1$ and PDGF-BB consistently enhanced the DNA synthetic activity to PDGF-BB alone. The ability of TGF-${\beta}_1$ to enhance DNA synthetic activity in PDGF-BB treated periodontal ligament cells was dose dependent. The maximum mitogenic effect was at the 5ng/ml of TGF-${\beta}_1$ and l0ng/ml of PDGF-BB. Preincubation of cell with TGF-${\beta}_1$ resulted in significantly greater response to PDGF-BB at all TGF-${\beta}_1$ concentration studied, and may be useful for clinical application in periodontal regenerative procedures. The total protein, collagen and noncollagen synthesis was increased dose pendently by TGF-${\beta}_1$, PDGF-BB. The % of collagen was slightly decreased according to the concentration of TGF-${\beta}_1$, PDGF-BB. The effect of TGF-${\beta}_1$, PDGF-BB were not specific for collagen synthesis since it also increased noncollagenous protein synthesis. This study demonstrates that PDGF-BB is major mitogens for human periodontal ligament cells in vitro, and supports a role for TGF-${\beta}_1$ as a regulation of the mitogenic and total protein formation to PDGF-BB in these cells.