• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.407-412
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• 2009

In this study, a rapid and efficient concentrating procedure that can be used for detecting viruses in vegetables was developed. The Sabin strain of poliovirus type 1 was used to evaluate the efficiency of virus recovery. The procedure included: (a) elution with 0.25 M threonine-0.3 M NaCl pH 9.5; (b) polyethylene glycol (PEG) 8000 precipitation; (c) chloroform extraction; (d) 2$^{nd}$ PEG precipitation; (f) RNA extraction; (g) reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) combined with semi-nested PCR. The overall recoveries by elution/concentration were 29.0% from cabbage and 13.7% from lettuce. The whole procedure usually takes 18 hr. The overall detection sensitivity was 100 RT-PCR units of genogroup II norovirus (GII NoV)/25 g cabbage and 100 RT-PCR units of GII NoV/10 g lettuce. The virus detecting method developed in this study should facilitate the detection of low levels of NoV in cabbage and lettuce.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.255-263
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• 2021

Human Astrovirus (HuAstV) is an important gastrointestinal pathogen that is frequently reported worldwide. Monitoring of contaminated groundwater has been suggested since HuAstV is transmitted through the fecal-oral route. This study developed a test method based on conventional reverse transcription (RT)-nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) that involves SL^® non-specific reaction inhibitor for unknown non-specific amplification taking place in the groundwater environment. An optimal method for detecting HuAstV in groundwater sample through analysis and comparison against conventionally reported method was also suggested. The developed method enabled the production of nested PCR amplicon of 630 nt, which is a sufficient length for similarity analysis based on sequencing and genotyping. Amplicons suspected to be HuAstV were amplified in two out of the twenty groundwater samples collected in Korea, presenting 99.77% and 99.73% similarity against HuAstV 1 strain lhar/2011/kor (JN887820.1) in sequencing, respectively. These amplicons were identified as HuAstV 1.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.622-627
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• 2012

Mast cells and basophils are important effector cells in immunoglobulin-E (IgE)-mediated allergic reactions. Using the human basophilic KU812F cells, we assessed the inhibitory effects of 6-methoxyluteolin, isolated from Chrysanthemum zawadskii, in the $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$-mediated allergic reaction. We determined that 6-methoxyluteolin inhibited anti-$Fc{\varepsilon}RI$ ${\alpha}$ chain antibody (CRA-1)-induced histamine release, as well as elevation of intracellular calcium concentration $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, the inhibitory effects of 6-methoxyluteolin on the cell surface expression and the mRNA level of the $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$ ${\alpha}$ chain were determined by flow cytometric analysis and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respectively. Therefore, these results show that 6-methoxyluteolin is a potent inhibitor of histamine release and calcium influx via down-regulation of the $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$ ${\alpha}$ chain.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.253-262
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• 2018

The spermatogenesis is the process by which spermatozoa are generated in the testes. The spermatozoa travel male reproductive tract during which they meet many substances secreted from reproductive organs. One of the substances is epididymal protease inhibitor (EPPIN) that is involved in the post-testicular maturation including capability of fertilizing the eggs. The expression of EPPIN gene was investigated in various tissues of sexually mature and regressed male Syrian hamsters by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The EPPIN gene was identified in the testis and epididymis of the male Syrian hamsters and compared to the genes reported previously. There was no expression of EPPIN gene in reproductively and completely regressed testes of Syrian hamster. These results suggest that the expressions of the EPPIN gene are associated with the reproductive capability in the Syrian hamsters.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.488-494
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• 2015

A recent report showed that nuclear factor of activated T cell (NFATc) 1 is a member of the NFAT family and is strictly implicated osteoblast differentiation and bone formation. Furthermore, the precise expression and function of NFATc1 in periodontal tissue remains unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the function of NFATc1 in osteoblastic differentiation, and the underlying mechanism regulating periodontal regeneration in human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs). NFATc1 messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels were accessed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blot assay, respectively. Cell proliferation determined using MTT assay. Differentiation was evaluated by alkaline phosphatase activity and formation of calcium nodule with alizarin red S staining. The mRNA expression of osteoblastic differentiation related genes were examined by RT-PCR. Marked upregulation of NFATc1 mRNA and protein was observed in cells grown in osteogenic medium (OS). NFATc1 transactivation was detected in hPDLCs that had been incubated in OS for 14 days. Treatment with $10{\mu}M$ cyclosporine A (CsA), a known calcineurin inhibitor, reduced the proliferation of hPDLCs, while $5{\mu}M$ CsA had no effect. Inhibition of the calcineurin/NFATc1 pathway by CsA, attenuated OS-induced osteoblastic differentiation in hPDLCs. In summary, this study demonstrates for the first time that NFATc1 plays a key role in osteoblastic differentiation of hPDLCs and activation of NFATc1 could provide a novel mechanism for periodontal bone regeneration.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.113-118
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• 2009

In this study, we have shown the transcriptional regulation of the human GD3 synthase (hST8Sia I) induced by valproic acid (VPA) in human neuroblastoma SK-N-BE(2)-C cells. To elucidate the mechanism underlying the regulation of hST8Sia I gene expression in VPA-stimulated SK-N-BE(2)-C cells, we characterized the promoter region of the hST8Sia I gene. Functional analysis of the 5'-flanking region of the hST8Sia I gene by the transient expression method showed that the -1146 to -646 region, which contains putative binding sites for transcription factors c-Ets-1, CREB, AP-1 and NF-${\kappa}B$, functions as the VPA-inducible promoter of hST8Sia I in SK-N-BE(2)-C cells. Site-directed mutagenesis and electrophoretic mobility shift assay indicated that the NF-${\kappa}B$ binding site at -731 to -722 was crucial for the VPA-induced expression of hST8Sia I in SK-N-BE(2)-C cells. In addition, the transcriptional activity of hST8Sia I induced by VPA in SK-N-BE(2)-C cells was strongly inhibited by SP600125, which is a c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor, and $G{\ddot{O}}6976$, which is a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, as determined by RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) and luciferase assays. These results suggest that VPA markedly modulated transcriptional regulation of hST8Sia I gene expression through PKC/JNK signal pathways in SK-N-BE(2)-C cells.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.178-183
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• 2010

Costunolide is an active compound isolated from the stem bark of Magnolia sieboldii, and is considered a potential therapeutic for the treatment of various cancers. In this study, we investigated the underlying mechanism whereby costunolide induces the apoptosis of human leukemia cells. Using apoptosis analysis and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results obtained during this study show that costunolide is a potent inducer of apoptosis and that it is triggered due to the premature activation of Cdc2. $G_1$-synchronized cells, which cannot undergo mitosis, were found to be more sensitive to costunolide, and Cdc2 mRNA levels were increased by costunolide treatment. Furthermore, the Cdk inhibitors, olomucine and butyrolactone I, were found to suppress costunolide-induced apoptosis. In addition, the PKC activator TPA rescued cells from cell death by costunolide, and this was prevented by the PKC inhibitor staurosporin. The present study suggests that costunolide induces the apoptosis of HL-60 leukemic cells by modulating cyclin-dependent kinase Cdc2.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.1258-1266
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• 2005

The present study was carried out in order to assess the protective effects of calycosin-7-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside, isolated from Astragali radix (AR), on hyaluronidase (HAase) and the recombinant human interleukin-$1\beta$ (IL-$1\beta$)-induced matrix degradation in human articular cartilage and chondrocytes. We isolated the active component from the n-butanol soluble fraction of AR (ARBu) as the HAase inhibitor and structurally identified as calycosin-7-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside by LC-MS, IR, ${1}^H$ NMR, and ${13}^C$ NMR analyses. The $IC_{50}$ of this component on HAase was found to be 3.7 mg/ml by in vitro agarose plate assay. The protective effect of ARBu on the matrix gene expression of immortalized chondrocyte cell line C28/I2 treated with HAase was investigated using a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and its effect on HAase and IL-$1\beta$-induced matrix degradation in human articular cartilage was determined by a staining method and calculating the amount of degraded glycosaminoglycan (GAG) from the cultured media. Pretreatment with calycosin-7-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside effectively protected human chondrocytes and articular cartilage from matrix degradation. Therefore, calycosin-7-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside from AR appears to be a potential natural ant-inflammatory or antii-osteoarthritis agent and can be effectively used to protect from proteoglycan (PG) degradation.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.678-683
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• 2008

Aconitum pseudo-laeve var. erectum has traditionally been used for the treatment of water retention in the body. Administration of the aqueous extract of Aconitum pseudo-laeve var. erectum has the efficiency of anti-inflammatory activity and modulates the intestinal immune system. However, the mechanism of anti-inflammatory action of Aconitum pseudo-laeve var. erectum has not been clarified yet. In the present study, the effect of Aconitum pseudo-laeve var. erectum against LPS-stimulated expressions of COX-2 and iNOS in cells of the murine RAW 264.7 macrophages was investigated using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), PGE2 immunoassay, and NO detection. The results of the present study indicate that Aconitum pseudo-laeve var. erectum is a potent inhibitor of the LPS-induced NO and $PGE_{2}$ production by blocking iNOS and $NF{\kappa}B$ activation in RAW 264.7 macrophages. These findings suggest that Aconitum pseudo-laeve var. erectum is a potential therapeutic for the treatment of inflammatory syndrome.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.331-337
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• 2015

Synthetic pyrethroids (SPs) are the most common pesticides which are recently used for indoor pest control. The widespread use of SPs has resulted in the increased exposure to wild animals and humans. Recently, some SPs are suspected as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and have been assessed for their potential estrogenicity by adopting various analyzing assays. In this study, we examined the estrogenic effects of lambda-cyhalothrin (LC) and cypermethrin (CP), the most commonly used pesticides in Korea, using BG-1 ovarian cancer cells expressing estrogen receptors (ERs). To evaluate the estrogenic activities of two SPs, LC and CP, we employed MTT assay and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in LC or CP treated BG-1 ovarian cancer cells. In MTT assay, LC ($10^{-6}M$) and CP ($10^{-5}M$) significantly induced the growth of BG-1 cancer cells. LC or CP-induced cell growth was antagonized by addition of ICI 182,720 ($10^{-8}M$), an ER antagonist, suggesting that this effect appears to be mediated by an ER-dependent manner. Moreover, RT-PCR results showed that transcriptional level of cyclin D1, a cell cycle-regulating gene, was significantly up-regulated by LC and CP, while these effects were reversed by co-treatment of ICI 182,780. However, p21, a cyclin D-ckd-4 inhibitor gene, was not altered by LC or CP. Moreover, $ER{\alpha}$ expression was not significantly changed by LC and CP, while down-regulated by E2. Finally, in xenografted mouse model transplanted with human BG-1 ovarian cancer cells, E2 significantly increased the tumor volume compare to a negative control, but LC did not. Taken together, these results suggest that LC and CP may possess estrogenic potentials by stimulating the growth of BG-1 ovarian cancer cells via partially ER signaling pathway associated with cell cycle as did E2, but this estrogenic effect was not found in in vivo mouse model.