• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.368-375
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• 2008

Approximately 120 UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs), which are classified into 14 distinct groups (A to N), have been annotated in the Arabidopsis genome. UGTs catalyze the transfer of sugars to various acceptor molecules including flavonoids. Previously, UGT71C1 was shown to glycosylate the 3-OH of hydroxycinnamates and flavonoids in vitro. Such secondary metabolites are known to play important roles in plant growth and development. To help define the role of UGT71C1 in planta, we investigated its expression patterns, and isolated and characterized a loss-of-function mutation in the UGT71C1 gene (named ugt71c1-1). Our analyses by quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), microarray data mining, and histochemical detection of GUS activity driven by the UGT71C1 promoter region, revealed the tissue-specific expression patterns of UGT71C1 with highest expression in roots. Interestingly, upon treatment with methyl viologen (MV, paraquat), ugt71c1-1 plants displayed enhanced resistance to oxidative stress, and ROS scavenging activity was higher than normal. Metabolite profiling revealed that the levels of two major glycosides of quercetin and kaempferol were reduced in ugt71c1-1 plants. In addition, when exposed to MV-induced oxidative stress, eight representative ROS response genes were expressed at lower levels in ugt71c1-1 plants, indicating that ugt71c1-1 probably has higher non-enzymatic antioxidant activity. Taken together, our results indicate that ugt71c1-1 has increased resistance to oxidative stress, suggesting that UGT71C1 plays a role in some glycosylation pathways affecting secondary metabolites such as flavonoids in response to oxidative stress.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.245-252
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• 2015

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Salvia plebeia R. Br. ethanolic extract with different aspects (stem/leaf and whole plant) on differentiation and lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. The morphological changes and the degrees of lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells were measured by Oil Red O staining and intra-cellular triglyceride (TG) assay. The mRNA expressions of special peroxisome proliferation activated receptor- genes (PPAR), CCAAT/ enhancer-binding protein (C/$EBP{\alpha}$), fatty acid synthase (FAS) and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) were detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The 50% ethanolic extracts ($100{\mu}g/mL$) of stem and leaf (SALE) and 30% ethanolic extracts (100 g/mL) of whole plant (SAE) from Salvia plebeia R. Br. were significantly attenuated lipid accumulation during adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells. Ethyl acetate-soluble fractions ($50{\mu}g/mL$) significantly inhibited lipid droplet accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells. In addition, SALE induced down-regulation of specific adipogenic transcriptional factors (C/$EBP{\alpha}$ and $PPAR{\gamma}$) and target genes (FAS and LPL) during adipogenesis. Salvia plebeia R. Br. may be used as a safe and efficient natural substance to manage obesity.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.235-240
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• 2010

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) functionally expressed in salivary epithelial cells, but their roles remain elusive. Among TLRs family, TLR3 is activated by dsRNA, a byproduct of viral infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of TLR3 in the inflammatory immune responses using HSG cells. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), real-time PCR and ELISA were performed to identify expression of TLRs and TLR3-mediated chemokine inductions. The chemotaxis assay of activated T lymphocytes was also performed. Treatment of HSG cells with polyinosinic: polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)) significantly increased interferon-$\gamma$-inducible protein 10 (IP-10), interferoninducible T-cell $\alpha$ chemoattractant (I-TAC), and regulated on activation, normal T-cells expressed and secreted (RANTES) gene expressions in a concentration-dependent manner. Anti-TLR3 antibody blocked the increases of IP-10 and I-TAC genes. Poly(I:C)-induced increases of IP-10 and I-TAC were also confirmed at protein levels from cell lysates, but their release into extracellular medium was detected only in IP-10. We found that the culture media from HSG cells stimulated with poly(I:C) significantly increases T lymphocyte migration. Our results suggest that TLR3 plays an important role in chemokine induction, particularly IP-10, in salivary epithelial cells.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.787-794
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• 2007

Statement of problem. Surface microgrooves on Ti substrata have been shown to alter the expression of genes responsible for various biological activities of cultured fibroblasts. However, their effect on enhancing cell proliferation is not yet clear. Purpose. The purpose of this study was to determine the dimension of surface microgrooves on Ti substrata that enhances proliferation and alters gene expression of cultured human gingival fibroblasts. Material and methods. Commercially pure Ti discs with surface microgrooves of monotonous $3.5{\mu}m$ in depth and respective 15 and $30{\mu}m$ in width were fabricated using photolithography and used as the culture substrata in the two experimental groups in this study (TiD15 and TiD30), whereas the smooth Ti was used as the control substrata (smooth Ti group). Human gingival fibroblasts were cultured on the three groups of titanium substrata and the proliferation, DNA synthesis, and gene expression of theses cells were analyzed and compared between all groups using XTT assay, BrdU assay, and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respectively. Results. From the XTT assay at 48 h incubation, the proliferation of human gingival fibroblasts in TiD30 was significantly enhanced compared to that in smooth Ti and TiD15. The results from the BrdU assay showed that, at 24 h incubation, the DNA synthesis was significantly enhanced in TiD30 compared to that in smooth Ti. In RT-PCR, increase in the expression of PCR transcripts of fibronectin, CDK6, $p21^{cip1}$ genes was noted at 48h incubation. Conclusion. Surface microgrooves $30{\mu}m$ in width and $3.5{\mu}m$ in depth on Ti substrata enhance proliferation and alter gene expression of cultured human gingival fibroblasts.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.123-130
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• 2005

Many of the molecular and genotypic events taking place at the osteoblast cell level during bone-implant integration are still largely unknown. The objective of this study was to examine expression patterns of TGF-$\beta$ and IGF-I related genes during bone-implant integration. Titanium implants with machined surface were placed into 8 rabbit tibias. At 3rd, 7th, 14th, 28th day after implantation, the expression pattern of TGF-$\beta$ and IGF-I genes in bone with or without implant was examined using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). At the same time, histomorphometric analysis was evaluated, respectively. The bone-to-implant contacts (BIC) of experimental groups were 5.2%, 6.2%, 6.6%, 24.6% at 3rd, 7th, 14th, 28th day. This indicated that newly formed bone increased at the implant surface in bone marrow space after implantation. The expressions of TGF-$\beta$ and IGF-I were higher in implantation groups than untreated control groups during all experimental days. The increased expression of TGF-$\beta$ and IGF-I genes may be associated with the increased bone-to-implant contact. This result provided the evidence for existing biologic differences in tissue response after implantation and helped us to understand molecular biologic processes in tissue-implant integration.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.80 no.4
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• pp.392-400
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• 2017

Background: Most patients with influenza recover spontaneously or following treatment with an anti-viral agent, but some patients experience pneumonia requiring hospitalization. We conducted a retrospective review to determine the incidence and risk factors of pneumonia in hospitalized patients with influenza A or B. Methods: A total of 213 patients aged 18 years or older and hospitalized with influenza between January 2012 and January 2015 were included in this study. A reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay was used to detect the influenza A or B virus in the patients' sputum samples. We collected demographic and laboratory data, combined coexisting diseases, and radiologic findings. Results: The incidence of pneumonia was higher in patients in the influenza A group compared to those in the influenza B group (68.6% vs. 56.9%), but this difference was not statistically significant. The presence of underlying respiratory disease was significantly associated with pneumonia in the influenza A group (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 3.975; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.312-12.043; p=0.015). In the influenza B group, the white blood cell count (adjusted OR, 1.413; 95% CI, 1.053-1.896; p=0.021), platelet count (adjusted OR, 0.988; 95% CI, 0.978-0.999; p=0.027), and existence of an underlying medical disease (adjusted OR, 15.858; 95% CI, 1.757-143.088; p=0.014) were all significantly associated with pneumonia in multivariate analyses. Conclusion: The incidence of pneumonia was 65.7% in hospitalized patients with influenza A or B. The risk factors of pneumonia differed in hospitalized patients with influenza A or B.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.40
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• pp.10.1-10.6
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• 2018

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the changes in gene expression after incubation of cells with proteins released from different silk mat layers. Methods: A silk cocoon from Bombyx mori was separated into four layers of equal thickness. The layers were numbered from 1 to 4 (from the inner to the outer layer). The proteins were released by sonication of a silk mat layer in normal saline. The concentration of proteins was determined by spectrophotometry. They were incubated with RAW264.7 cells, and changes in the expression of genes were evaluated by cDNA microarray analysis and quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Results: Layer 1 and 4 groups had higher protein concentrations compared to those in layer 2 and 3 groups. The genes associated with inflammation and angiogenesis showed significantly higher expression in layer 1 and 4 groups. The results of qRT-PCR were in agreement with those of the cDNA microarray analysis. Conclusions: The silk mat from the middle portion of the silkworm cocoon yielded a lower protein release and caused an insignificant change in the expression of genes that are associated with inflammation and angiogenesis.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.166-171
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• 2015

PURPOSE. The aim of this study was to evaluate antibacterial activity and osteoblast-like cell viability according to the ratio of titanium nitride and zirconium nitride coating on commercially pure titanium using an arc ion plating system. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Polished titanium surfaces were used as controls. Surface topography was observed by scanning electron microscopy, and surface roughness was measured using a two-dimensional contact stylus profilometer. Antibacterial activity was evaluated against Streptococcus mutans and Porphyromonas gingivalis with the colony-forming unit assay. Cell compatibility, mRNA expression, and morphology related to human osteoblast-like cells (MG-63) on the coated specimens were determined by the XTT assay and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS. The number of S. mutans colonies on the TiN, ZrN and $(Ti_{1-x}Zr_x)N$ coated surface decreased significantly compared to those on the non-coated titanium surface (P<0.05). CONCLUSION. The number of P. gingivalis colonies on all surfaces showed no significant differences. TiN, ZrN and $(Ti_{1-x}Zr_x)N$ coated titanium showed antibacterial activity against S. mutans related to initial biofilm formation but not P. gingivalis associated with advanced periimplantitis, and did not influence osteoblast-like cell viability.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.13-18
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• 2008

Marine birnavirus(MABV) are well known fish pathogens in Asian countries such as Korea, Japan, and China. Prevalence of viral disease, geological distribution and host or reservoir of viruses were investigated from wild marine fishes in southern coast of Korea in 2003 and 2005. RT-PCR results showed that MABV were detected in 17 fishes(10.6%) from 160 fishes. Comparative analysis of the nucleotide sequences and the deduced amino acids of MABV genome from wild fishes were similar to reference strains of MABV and distinguished with IPNV strains.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.155-162
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• 2013

Objective: Stress is known to be an inhibitor of the reproductive hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. However, the neural and molecular connections between stress and reproduction are not yet understood. It is well established that in both humans and rodents, kisspeptin (encoded by the kiss1 gene) is a strong stimulator of the HPG axis. In the present study we hypothesized that endocannabinoids, an important neuromodulatory system in the brain, can act on the HPG axis at the level of kiss1 expression to inhibit reproductive function under stress. Methods: Adult male Wistar rats were unilaterally implanted with an intracerebroventricular cannula. Afterwards, the animals were exposed to immobilization stress, with or without the presence of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist AM251 (1 ${\mu}g/rat$). Blood samples were collected through a retro-orbital plexus puncture before and after stress. Five hours after the stress, brain tissue was collected for reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction measurements of kiss1 mRNA. Results: Immobilization stress (1 hour) resulted in a decrease in the serum luteinizing hormone concentration. Additionally, kiss1 gene expression was decreased in key hypothalamic nuclei that regulate gonadotrophin secretion, the medial preoptic area (mPOA), and to some extent the arcuate nucleus (ARC). A single central administration of AM251 was effective in blocking these inhibitory responses. Conclusion: These findings suggest that endocannabinoids mediate, at least in part, immobilization stress-induced inhibition of the reproductive system. Our data suggest that the connection between immobilization stress and the HPG axis is kiss1 expression in the mPOA rather than the ARC.