• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.148-154
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• 2003

Moraxella sp. CK-l is known to inhibits the growth of Anabaena cylindrica, a cyanobacterium. It has been documented that the ability of this growth inhibition of Anabaena cylindrica was attributed to extracellular autolysin from Moraxella sp. CK-l. However, it remains to be elucidated identification and characterization of autolysin have yet been elucidated. In this study, we tried to purify and identify autolysin secreted from Moraxella sp. CK-l. Cells were grown in a complex liquid medium (BGC-11) and culture supernatants were collected, followed by ammonium sulfate fractionation. Fractions were further separated with anion exchange column, Mono-Q, in FPLC system and analyzed by SDS/PAGE. The fraction containing high autolysin activity showed a single distinct protein peak in anion column and molecular mass of about 17 kDa in SDS/PAGE. Nterminal amino acid sequencing of the protein was analyzed, of which result showed the homology with some proteases, including extracellular serine protease, Dichelobacter nodosus.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.229-234
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• 2015

Nafamostat mesilate (NM) is a serine protease inhibitor with anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory effects. NM has been used in Asia for anticoagulation during extracorporeal circulation in patients undergoing continuous renal replacement therapy and extra corporeal membrane oxygenation. Oxidative stress is an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic vascular disease and is associated with vascular endothelial function. We investigated whether NM could inhibit endothelial dysfunction induced by tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$ ). Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with TNF-${\alpha}$ for 24 h. The effects of NM on monocyte adhesion, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) protein expression, p38 mitogenactivated protein kinase (MAPK) activation, and intracellular superoxide production were then examined. NM ($0.01{\sim}100{\mu}g/mL$) did not affect HUVEC viability; however, it inhibited the increases in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and p66shc expression elicited by TNF-${\alpha}$ (3 ng/mL), and it dose dependently prevented the TNF-${\alpha}$ -induced upregulation of endothelial VCAM-1 and ICAM-1. In addition, it mitigated TNF-${\alpha}$ -induced p38 MAPK phosphorylation and the adhesion of U937 monocytes. These data suggest that NM mitigates TNF-${\alpha}$ -induced monocyte adhesion and the expression of endothelial cell adhesion molecules, and that the anti-adhesive effect of NM is mediated through the inhibition of p66shc, ROS production, and p38 MAPK activation.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.183-190
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• 2017

Ficus carica L. (common fig), one of the first plants cultivated by humans, originated in the Mediterranean basin and currently grows worldwide, including southwest Asia and South Korea. It has been used as a traditional medicine for treatment of metabolic, cardiovascular, and respiratory diseases as well as hemorrhoids and skin infections. Its pharmacological properties have recently been studied in detail, but research on the anti-cancer effect of its latex has been only been studied on a limited basis on several cell lines, such prostate cancer, breast cancer, and leukemia. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer activity of the latex of Ficus carica L.and its underlying mechanism in FaDu human hypopharynx squamous carcinoma cells. (See Ed. note above) We confirmed through SDS-PAGE analysis and gelatinolytic activity analysis that the latex of Ficus carica contains cysteine protease ficin. Our data showed that the latex inhibited cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the latex treatment markedly induced apoptosis in FaDu cells as determined by FACS analysis, elevated expression level of cleaved caspase-9, -3 and PARP (poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase), and. increased the expression of Bax (pro-apoptotic factor) while decreasing the expression of Bcl-2 (anti-apoptotic factor). Taken together, these results suggested that latex containing the ficin inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis by caspase and the Bcl-2 family signaling pathway in FaDu human hypopharynx squamous carcinoma cells. These findings point to the potential of latex of Ficus carica to provide a novel chemotherapeutic drug due to its growth inhibition effects and induction of apoptosis in human oral cancer cells.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.241-246
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• 2004

To develop novel anti-aging peptides from the germinated black rice, we treated with bromelain, papain and Pronase E. And we investigated the effects of the germinated black rice peptide (GBRP) as anti-aging cosmetic ingredients, and compared with the non-germinated black rice protein (NBRP). We investigated the effects on in vitro inhibition of matrix-metalloprotease (MMP), proliferation of human skin fibroblasts, stimulation of collagen synthesis and expression of UVA-induced MMPs in human skin fibroblasts, UVA induced MMP-1 expression and collagen contents in human skin fibroblasts were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). As a result, the molecular weight distributions of GBRP and NBRP were determined by gel permeation chromatography to be approximately 900 and 10,000 daltons. GBRP increased skin cell proliferation about 40% and reduced UVA-induced MMP-1 expression about 50%. Also the collagen protein level of cells, which were cultured with GBRP, was increased about 25%. These results suggest that the geminated plant seed peptides can be novel anti-aging ingredients for cosmetics.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.446-451
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• 2009

In this study, cathepsin S (CTSS) inhibitory fraction was isolated from Paecilomyces tenuipes and anti-obesitic effects of the fraction were evaluated in mice, fed a high-fat diet. Hot water extract of P. tenuipes (DHW) was divided into 2 fractions, water eluate fraction (DHP1) and methanol eluate fraction (DHP2) using Diaion HP-20. $IC_{50}$ values for DHW, DHP1 and DHP2 against CTSS were 108.7, 890.3 and 2.3 ${\mu}g$/mL, respectively. To evaluate anti-obesitic effects of the fractions, each fraction was administrated orally to C57BL/6 mice for 4 weeks with a high-fat diet. DHP2 had the highest inhibitory effect on CTSS activity, causing serious reduction in weight gain, a reduction in the amount of adipose tissue and in serum lipids levels. These results suggest that the inhibition of CTSS by compounds derived from P. tenuipes may be effective in preventing and in ameliorating obesity.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.229-246
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• 1997

Implantation is a most important biological process during pregnancy whereby conceptus establishes its survival as well as maintenance of pregnancy. During the periimplantation period, both uterine endometriurn and conceptus synthesize and secrete a host of growth factors and cytokines which mediate the actions of estrogen and /or progesterone and also exert their steroid-independent actions. Growth factors expressed by the materno-conceptal unit en masse have important roles in cell migration, stimulation or inhibition of cell proliferation, cellular differentiation, maintenance of pregnancy and materno-conceptal communications in an autorcrine /paracrine manner. The present review focuses on the role of the intrauterine IGF system during periimplantation conceptus development. The IGF system comprises of IGF- I and IGF- II ligands, types I and II IGF receptors and six or more IGF-binding proteins(IGFBPs). IGFs and IGFBPs are expressed and secreted by uterine endometrium with tissue, pregnancy stage and species specificities under the influence of estrogen, progesterone and other growth factor(s). Conceptus also synthesizes components of the IGF system beginning from a period between 2-cell and blastocyst stages. Maternal IGFs are utilized by both maternal and conceptal tissues; conceptus-derived growth factors are believed to be taken up primarily by conceptus. IGFs enhance the development of both maternal and conceptal compartments in a wide range of biological processes. They stimulate proliferation and differentiation of endometrial cells and placental precursor cells including decidual transformation from stromal cells, placental formation and the synthesis of some steroid and protein hormones by differentiated endometrial cells or placenta. It is also well-documented in a number of experimental settings that both IGFs stimulate preimplantation embryo development. In slight contrast to these, prenatal mice carrying a null mutation of IGF and /or IGF receptor gene do not exhibit any apparent growth retardation until after implantation. Reason (s) for this discrepancy between the knock-out result and the in vitro ones, however, is not known. IGFBPs, in general, are believed to inhibit IGF action within the materno-conceptal unit, thereby allowing endometrial stromal cell differentiation as well as dampening ex cessive placental invasion into maternal tissue. There is evidence, however, indicating that IGFBP can enhance IGF action depending on environrnental conditions perhaps by directioning IGF ligand to the target cell. There is also a third possibility that certain IGFBPs and their proteolytic fragments may have their own biological activities independent of the IGF. In addition to IGFBPs, IGFBP proteases including those found within the uterine tissue or lumen are thought to enhance IGF bioavailability by degrading their substrates without affecting their bound ligand. In this regard, preliminary results in early pregnant pigs suggest that a partially characterized IGFBP protease activity in uterine luminal fluid enhances intrauterine IGF bioavailability during conceptus morphological development. In summary, a number of in vitro results indicate that IGFs stimulates the development of the rnaterno-conceptal unit during the periimplantation period. IGFBPs appear to inhibit IGF action by sequestering their ligands, whereas IGFBP proteases are thought to enhance intrauterine bioavailability of IGFs. Much is remaining to be clarified, however, regarding the roles of the individual IGF system components. These include in vivo evidence for the role of IGFs in early conceptus development, identification of IGF-regulated genes and their functions, specific roles for individual IGFBPs, identification and characterization of IGFBP proteases. The intrauterine IGF club house thus will be paying a lot of attention to forthcoming results in above and other areas, with its door wide-open!

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.367-376
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• 2008

This study was conducted to investigate 1he quality characteristics of 1he soybean anchovy sauces added with medicinal herbs, Saururu chinensis Baill. and Houttuynia cordata Thunb. and fermented for 4 months. The total nitrogen content of 1he soybean anchovy sauce increased with the fermentation time showing the highest values in the sauce with Houttuynia cordata Thunb.. The contents of total sugar and reduced sugar were high in the order of the sauces with Houttuynia cordata Thunb.(sauce T), with Saururu chinensis Baill.(sauce B), and control. The content of salt decreased much more in the sauces with medicinal herbs. After 4 months of fermentation, pH was lowered from 5.86 to 5.27 in control, to 5.38 and 5.54 in sauce B and sauce T, respectively. Generally the total aerobic bacterial count increased until 3 months of fermentation and then decreased, and the addition of medicinal hems reduced the count especially showing apparent reduction in the sauce T. During the fermentation, total protease activity generally increased with the highest value in the sauce T. In the changes of nucleotides and their related compounds, the contents of AMP, ADP, and ATP were increased and hypoxanthine decreased during the fermentation, and IMP produced after 3 months. The soybean anchovy sauce B had 1he highest IMP and the lowest hypoxanthine after 4 months. The content of total amino acids increased showing 177.1 mg% and 134.7 mg% in the sauce B and sauce T respectively compared with 171.2 mg% of control. The contents of glutamic acid and aspartic acid were 29.2 mg% in sauce B and 34.3 mg% in sauce T, which were higher compared with 25.9 mg% of control. The fermented soybean anchovy sauce had 1he functionality of ACE inhibition with 70.5% (control), 72.5% (sauce B) and 81.6% (sauce T). In the results of sensory evaluation, the sance T scored the highest and the sauce B was preferred to control.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.148-161
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of chlorhexidine (CHX) on microtensile bond strength (${\mu}TBS$) of dentin bonding systems. Dentin collagenolytic and gelatinolytic activities can be suppressed by protease inhibitors, indicating that MMPs (Matrix metalloproteinases) inhibition could be beneficial in the preservation of hybrid layers. Chlorhexidine (CHX) is known as an inhibitor of MMPs activity in vitro. The experiment was proceeded as follows: At first, flat occlusal surfaces were prepared on mid-coronal dentin of extracted third molars. GI (Glass Ionomer) group was treated with dentin conditioner, and then, applied with 2 % CHX. Both SM (Scotchbond Multipurpose) and SB (Single Bond) group were applied with CHX after acid-etched with 37% phosphoric acid. TS (Clearfil Tri-S) group was applied with CHX, and then, with adhesives. Hybrid composite Z-250 and resin-modified glass ionomer Fuji-II LC was built up on experimental dentin surfaces. Half of them were subjected to 10,000 thermocycle, while the others were tested immediately. With the resulting data, statistically two-way ANOVA was performed to assess the ${\mu}TBS$ before and after thermo cycling and the effect of CHX. All statistical tests were carried out at the 95 % level of confidence. The failure mode of the testing samples was observed under a scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Within limited results, the results of this study were as follows; 1. In all experimental groups applied with 2 % chlorhexidine, the microtensile bond strength increased, and thermo cycling decreased the micro tensile bond strength (P > 0.05). 2. Compared to the thermocycling groups without chlorhexidine, those with both thermocycling and chlorhexidine showed higher microtensile bond strength, and there was significant difference especially in GI and TS groups. 3. SEM analysis of failure mode distribution revealed the adhesive failure at hybrid layer in most of the specimen. and the shift of the failure site from bottom to top of the hybrid layer with chlorhexidine groups. 2 % chlorhexidine application after acid-etching proved to preserve the durability of the hybrid layer and microtensile bond strength of dentin bonding systems.