• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.197-202
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• 2007

구리는 환경에 광범위하게 존재하며, 생물체에게 필수적인 무기질이지만 고농도로 존재할 경우 독성을 발휘한다. 본 연구는 프로티옴 기술을 응용하여 수서태계에 구리와 같은 중금속의 존재 여부를 신속하게 평가하기 위한 생물지표를 발굴하기 위하여 수행되었다. 즉, 송사리(Oryzias latipes)를 이용하여 여러 농도의 구리용액(0.1, 1, 5 mg/L)에 24시간 노출시킨 다음, 머리부분에서 선택적으로 발현이 증가되는 단백질을 동정하고자 시도하였다. 본 시스템에서 유의적으로 발현이 증가하는 것으로 나타난 단백질은 beta-tubulin, heat shock cognate 70 (hsc70)이었으며, 이 결과의 일부를 semi-quantitative RT-PCR를 이용하여 확인하였다. 이와 같이 구리 처리에 특이적으로 발현이 증가된 송사리 단백질들은 노출평가를 위한 생물지표로서 개발을 위하여 더 연구할 가치가 있는 것으로 평가된다.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제46권5호
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• pp.690-699
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• 2022

Background: Few studies reported the therapeutic effect of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) in lung inflammatory diseases. However, the anti-inflammatory role and underlying molecular in cadmium-induced lung injury have been poorly understood, directly linked to chronic lung diseases (CLDs): chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cancer etc. Therefore, in this study we aim to investigate the therapeutic activities of water extract of KRG (KRG-WE) in mouse cadmium-induced lung injury model. Method: The anti-inflammatory roles and underlying mechanisms of KRG-WE were evaluated in vitro under cadmium-stimulated lung epithelial cells (A549) and HEK293T cell line and in vivo in cadmium-induced lung injury mouse model using semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), luciferase assay, immunoblotting, and FACS. Results: KRG-WE strongly ameliorated the symptoms of CdSO4-induced lung injury in mice according to total cell number in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and severity scores as well as cytokine levels. KRG-WE significantly suppressed the upregulation of inflammatory signaling comprising mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and their upstream enzymes. In in vitro study, KRG-WE suppressed expression of interleukin (IL)-6, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, and IL-8 while promoting recovery in CdSO₄-treated A549 cells. Similarly, KRG-WE reduced phosphorylation of MAPK and c-Jun/c-Fos in cadmium-exposed A549 cells. Conclusion: KRG-WE was found to attenuate symptoms of cadmium-induced lung injury and reduce the expression of inflammatory genes by suppression of MAPK/AP-1-mediated pathway.

• 원예과학기술지
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• 제29권5호
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• pp.467-473
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• 2011

Flavonoid are large group of the polyphenolic compounds which are distinguished by an aromatic or phenolic ring structure and the phenolic compounds are induced by microbial infection, ultraviolet radiation, temperature and chemical stress. They are known for their antioxidant activity, anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and anti-cancer activities. In this study, changes in flavonoid content were investigated using heterologous chalcone isomerase (CHI) expression system. Also, phenolic compounds level was measured to examine the relation between flavonoids and phenols contents. Explants of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) were transformed with Agrobacterium tumefaciens LBA 4404 strain containing pFLH-CHI (derived from pPZP2Ha3) vector constructed with CHI gene from Brassica rapa. The putative transgenic plants were confirmed by genomic DNA PCR analysis. Also the transcription levels of the gene were analyzed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR with gene specific primers. The total flavonoid contents were increased at $T_0$ and $T_1$ generations over 1.4 and 4.0 fold, respectively. Total phenol contents also increased at $T_1$ generation. These results indicate that CHI gene plays an important role to regulate the accumulation of flavonoids and its component changes.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.17-21
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• 2015

Alteration in ion channel or transporter expression levels affects cell volume which is produced by movement of water and ion across the plasma membrane. In particular, aquaporin (AQP) channels among ion channels play a crucial role in movement of water across the cell membrane. This study was performed to identify whether AQP expression is changed in bovine follicular cystic follicles using microarray, RT-PCR and Western blotting analyses. In microarray data, AQP4 expression was decreased, whereas AQP7 was increased in cystic follicles. Additional experiments were focused on the AQP7 expression increased in cystic follicles. The microarray data was confirmed by semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot analysis. AQP7 mRNA and protein expressions were significantly increased in the cystic follicles (p<0.05). Application of estrogen ($10{\mu}g/ml$) to bovine ovarian cells showed a trend of increase in AQP7 expression. From these results, we suggest that the increase in AQP7 expression in cystic follicles may play an important role in movement of water in bovine ovary. In addition, AQP7, a aquaglyceroporin permeating water and glycerol, could be a good target in development of methods for the cryopreservation of bovine ovary.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제8권3호
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• pp.127-135
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• 2002

Anterior subcapsular cataract was developed by opacification with transdifferentiation and abnormal proliferation of lens epithelial cells (LECs) and pathological accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM). After-cataract also be caused by a similar transdifferentiation of LECs remaining after surgery and the accompanying increase of ECM deposits. It is blown that prostaglandin E2 and cytokine, such as TGF-$\beta$, bFGF, and IL-1, were associated with abnormal proliferation and transdifferentiation of LECs. The aim of this study was to detect the expression of transforming growth factor-$\alpha$ (TGF-$\alpha$), transforming growth factor-$\beta_1$(TGF-$\beta_1$) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in LECs of senile and diabetic cataract. The expressions of these growth factors in lens epithelial cells were determined. The sample for growth factor determination were collected in senile cataract patients without metabolic disorder, especially diabetes mellitus and diabetic cataract patients. The mRNA expression of growth factors was detected by semi-quantitative reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) followed by Southern blot analysis. Statistics were analysed using Wilcoxon rank sum test. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR/southern analysis of RNA obtained from thirty surgical specimens demonstrated that the level of mRNA expression of TGF-$\alpha$, -$\beta_1$ and bFGF was increased in diabetic cataract lens tissues compared with senile cataract specimens but non-significant, bFGF and TGF-$\beta_1$ mRNA expression were detected in most patients, expression level of TGF-$\beta_1$ was most high on the basis of normal ocular concentration. Detection rate of TGF-$\alpha$ in diabetic cataract was 1.5 fold higher than in senile cataract (P=0.098). TGF-$\alpha$, TGF-$\beta_1$, and bFGF mRNA expression of LECs were detected in senile and diabetic cataract. In both patient groups, expression level of TGF-$\beta_1$, mRNA was high, so We suggest TGF-$\beta_1$ strong influence in development of senile cataract and of diabetic cataract also. TGF-$\alpha$ expression level was similar but more frequently detected in diabetic cataract than in senile cataract. In conclusion, TGF-$\alpha$ may be associated with early development of diabetic cataract.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.265-272
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• 2011

It is well known that adipose tissue or body fat has been proved as a crucial component of brain-peripheral axis which can modulate the activities of reproductive hormonal axis in female mammals including rodents and human. Concerning the male reproduction, however, the role of adipose tissue has not been thoroughly studied. The present study was carried out to elucidate the effect of a high-fat (HF) diet on the reproductive system of postpubertal male rats. The HF diet (45% energy from fat, HF group) was applied to male rats from week 8 after birth for 4 weeks. The blood glucose levels, body and tissue weights were measured. Histological studies were performed to assess the structural alterations in the reproductive tissues. To determine the transcriptional changes of reproductive hormone-related genes in hypothalamus and pituitary, total RNAs were extracted and applied to the semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Body weights (p<0.01) and blood glucose levels (p<0.01) of HF group were significantly higher than those of control animals. Similarly, the weights of epididymis (p<0.05), prostate (p<0.01), seminal vesicle (p<0.01) in HF group were higher than control levels. The weights of testis were not changed. The weights of kidney (p<0.001) and spleen (p<0.01) were significantly higher than control levels while the adrenal and pancreas weights were not changed. There were only slight alterations in the microstructures of accessory sex organs; the shape of luminal epithelial cells in epididymis from HF group were relatively thicker and bigger than those from control animals. In the semi-quantitative RT-PCR studies, the mRNA levels of hypothalamic GnRH (p<0.05) in HF group were significantly higher than those from the control animals. The mRNA levels of kisspeptin in HF group tend to be higher than control levels, the difference was not significant. Unlike the hypothalamic GnRH expression, the mRNA levels of pituitary $LH{\beta}$ and $FSH{\beta}$ were significantly decreased in HF group (p<0.05). The present study indicated that the 4-weeks feeding HF diet during the postpubertal period can alter the hypothalamus-pituitary (H-P) neuroendocrine reproductive system These results suggest that the increased body fat and the altered leptin input might disturb the H-P reproductive hormonal activities in male rats, and the changed activities seem to be responsible for the changes of tissue weights in accessory sex organs.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제49권1호
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• pp.15-24
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• 2007

본 연구의 목적은 생후 발달과정에서 숫 백서 생식기의 일부인 efferent ductules (ED)에서 다양한 connexin 이형질체의 발현과 양상을 알아보았다. 1주, 2주, 1개월, 3개월 그리고 6개월령의 백서의 ED로부터 total RNA을 분리하였으며, semi-quantitative RT-PCR 방법을 사용하여 총 14개 connexin 이형질체의 mRNA 발현 양상을 알아보았다. 백서의 ED에서 연구된 14개 중 6개 connexin 이형질체의 발현이 보여졌으며, connexin 26과 30의 mRNA 발현은 연령에 따라 심한 변화를 보여주었다. Connexin 31.1의 발현은 1달령의 ED에서 가장 낮게 나타났으며, connexin 37과 45는 주로 초기 발달 과정에서 높은 수준으로 발현됨을 보여주었다. 또한, connexin 43의 발현은 1주령에서 가장 낮았으며 2주령 이후에는 큰 변화없이 일정한 수준을 유지하였다. 본 연구는 백서의 ED에서 다양한 종류의 connexin 이형질체가 발현되며, 이러한 발현은 생후 연령에 따라 서로 다르게 조절됨을 보여준다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.685-689
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• 2013

Objective: To study the effects of down-regulation of HDAC6 expression on proliferation, cell cycling and migration of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells and related molecular mechanisms. Methods: ESCC cell line EC9706 cells were randomly divided into untreated (with no transfection), control siRNA (transfected with control siRNA) and HDAC6 siRNA (transfected with HDAC6 small interfering RNA) groups. Effects of HDAC6 siRNA interference on expression of HDAC6 mRNA and protein in EC9706 cells were investigated by semi-quantitative RT-PCR, Western blotting and immunocytochemistry methods. Effects of down-regulation of HDAC6 expression on cell proliferation, cell cycle, and cell migration were studied using a CCK-8 kit, flow cytometry and Boyden chambers, respectively. Changes of mRNA and protein expression levels of cell cycle related factor (p21) and cell migration related factor (E-cadherin) were investigated by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting methods. Results: After transfection of HDAC6 siRNA, the expression of HDAC6 mRNA and protein in EC9706 cells was significantly downregulated. In the HDAC6 siRNA group, cell proliferation was markedly inhibited, the percentage of cells in G0/G1 phase evidently increased and the percentage of cells in S phase decreased, and the number of migrating cells significantly and obviously decreased. The mRNA and protein expression levels of p21 and E-cadherin in the HDAC6 siRNA group were significantly higher than those in the untreated group and the control siRNA group, respectively. Conclusions: HDAC6 siRNA can effectively downregulate the expression of HDAC6 mRNA and protein in EC9706 cells. Down-regulation of HDAC6 expression can obviously inhibit cell proliferation, arrest cell cycling in the G0/G1 phase and reduce cell migration. The latter two functions may be closely related with the elevation of mRNA and protein expression of p21 and E-cadherin.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제13권3호
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• pp.183-190
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• 2009

In mammals, puberty is a dynamic transition process from infertile immature state to fertile adult state. The neuroendocrine aspect of puberty is started with functional activation of hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal hormone axis. The timing of puberty can be altered by many factors including hormones and/or hormone-like materials, social cues and metabolic signals. For a long time, attainment of a particular body weight or percentage of body fat has been thought as crucial determinant of puberty onset. However, the precise effect of high-fat (HF) diet on the regulation of hypothalamic GnRH neuron during prepubertal period has not been fully elucidated yet. The present study was undertaken to test the effect of a HF diet on the puberty onset and hypothalamic gene expressions in immature female rats. The HF diet (45% energy from fat, HF group) was applied to female rats from weaning to around puberty onset (postnatal days, PND 22-40). Body weight and vaginal opening (VO) were checked daily during the entire feeding period. In the second experiment, all animals were sacrificed on PND 36 to measure the weights of reproductive tissues. Histological studies were performed to assess the effect of HF diet feeding on the structural alterations in the reproductive tissues. To determine the transcriptional changes of reproductive hormone-related genes in hypothalamus, total RNAs were extracted and applied to the semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Body weights of HF group animals tend to be higher than those of control animals between PND 22 and PND 31, and significant differences were observed PND 32, PND 34, PND 35 and PND 36 (p<0.05). Advanced VO was shown in the HF group (PND $32.8{\pm}0.37$ p<0.001) compared to the control (PND $38.25{\pm}0.25$). The weight of ovaries (p<0.01) and uteri (p<0.05) from HF group animals significantly increased when compared to those from control animals. Corpora lutea were observed in the ovaries from the HF group animals but not in control ovaries. Similarly, hypertrophy of luminal and glandular uterine epithelia was found only in the HF group animals. In the semi-quantitative RT-PCR studies, the transcriptional activities of KiSS-1 in HF group animals were significantly higher than those from the control animals (p<0.001). Likewise, the mRNA levels of GnRH (p<0.05) were significantly elevated in HF group animals. The present study indicated that the feeding HF diet during the post-weaning period activates the upstream modulators of gonadotropin such as GnRH and KiSS-1 in hypothalamus, resulting early onset of puberty in immature female rats.

• 대한화장품학회지
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.75-79
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• 2006

다양한 약용식물의 피부노화에 미치는 영향을 평가하였으며, 이 중 권백(Selaginella tamariscina)은 동양에서 암환자 치료를 위한 전통약용식물로 알려져 있다. 우리는 피부노화에 대한 화장품 소재로 권백에 대한 다양한 생물학적 평가를 하였다. 권백의 항산화 효과를 알아보기 위해 DPPH radical과 superoxide anion radical 소거효과를 측정하였다. 그 결과 DPPH radical의 $IC_{50}$ 값은 $65.1{\mu}g/mL$이고, xanthine/xanthine oxidase에 의한 superoxide anion radical의 $IC_{50}$ 값은 $40.9 {\mu}g/mL$이었다. 세포내 활성산소 소거평가를 위해 사람 진피 섬유아세포(human dermal fibroblast)를 배양하여 UVB $20 mJ/cm^2$에 의해 증가된 세포내 활성산소(ROS)가 권백을 처리함으로써 활성산소 소거효과가 증가하였다. 사람 진피 섬유아세포에서 UVA에 의해 발현된 MMP-1 단백질과 mRNA가 권백에 의해 농도 의존적으로 감소하였다. 뿐만 아니라, 권백은 zymography와 semi-quantitative RT-PCR을 이용하여 UVA 조사된 사람 진피 섬유아세포에 MMP-2 (gelatinase)의 활성 감소를 확인하였다. 결론적으로 권백은 자외선에 의한 세포손상을 보호하여 항노화 화장품의 새로운 소재로 이용될 것으로 사료된다.