• Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering
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• 제36권6호
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• pp.975-980
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• 2019

Infrared (IR) spectroscopy is a powerful technique for observing organic molecules, as it combines sensitive vibrational excitations with a non-destructive probe. However, gaseous volatile compounds in the air are challenging to detect, as they are not easy to immobilize in a sensing device and give enough signal by themselves. In this study, we fabricated a thin nanocrystalline metal-organic framework (nMOF) film on a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) substrate to enhance the IR vibration signal of the gaseous volatile compounds captured within the nMOF pores. Specifically, we synthesized nanocrystalline HKUST-1 (nHKUST-1) particles of ca. 80 nm diameter and used a colloidal dispersion of these particles to fabricate nHKUST-1 films by a spin-coating process. After finding that benzene was readily adsorbed onto nHKUST-1, an nHKUST-1 film deposited on a plasmonic Au substrate was successfully applied to the IR detection of gaseous benzene in air using surface-enhanced IR spectroscopy.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제32권5호
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• pp.621-629
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• 2022

Bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) typically contain multiple immunogenic molecules that include antigenic proteins, making them good candidates for vaccine development. In animal models, vaccination with OMVs has been shown to confer protective immune responses against many bacterial diseases. It is possible to genetically introduce heterologous protein antigens to the bacterial host that can then be produced and relocated to reside within the OMVs by means of the host secretion mechanisms. Accordingly, in this study we sought to develop a novel platform for recombinant OMV (rOMV) production in the widely used bacterial expression host species, Escherichia coli. Three different lipoprotein signal peptides including their Lol signals and tether sequences-from Neisseria meningitidis fHbp, Leptospira interrogans LipL32, and Campylobactor jejuni JlpA-were combined upstream to the GFPmut2 model protein, resulting in three recombinant plasmids. Pilot expression studies showed that the fusion between fHbp and GFPmut2 was the only promising construct; therefore, we used this construct for large-scale expression. After inducing recombinant protein expression, the nanovesicles were harvested from cell-free culture media by ultrafiltration and ultracentrifugation. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated that the obtained rOMVs were closed, circular single-membrane particles, 20-200 nm in size. Western blotting confirmed the presence of GFPmut2 in the isolated vesicles. Collectively, although this is a non-optimized, proof-of-concept study, it demonstrates the feasibility of this platform in directing target proteins into the vesicles for OMV-based vaccine development.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.357-364
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• 1995

이질아메바에 의한 장염 환자의 조직 또는 이질아메바를 실험적으로 감염시킨 동물의 조직 검사에서 호중구의 침윤이 특징적으로 관찰된다. 그러나 이와같은 호중구의 침윤을 설명할 수 있는 기전에 대한 연구는 매우 미흡하다. 따라서 본 연구자들은 아메바 감염 초기에 인체 대장상피 세포에서 interleukin-8(IL-8)이 유도되어 호중구 침윤과 같은 염증반응이 유발될 것이라는 가설을 설정하였다. 이를 위하여 인체 대장상피세포주인 HT-29에 이질아메바 영양형을 실험적으로 노출시킨 뒤 발현되는 IL-S mRNA를 역전사 중합효소법(reverse transcriptional polymerase chain reaction, RT-PCR)으로 검사함과 퐁시에 발현된 IL-8 mRNA를 인공적으로 합성시킨 표준 RNA와 RT-PCR법을 이용하여 정량하였다. 실험 결과 이질아메바 영양형에 노출된 30분 후 부터 IL-8 mRAN가 발현되기 시작하였다 그리고 그 발현 분자수는 노출 시간의 증가에 따라 계속 증가하여 3시간 대에는 $3.1{\;}{\times}{\;}10^7{\;}molecules/\mu\textrm{g}$ total RNA를 나타내었다. 동시에 IL-8 mRNA의 발현은 노출시킨 이질아메바 영양형의 수에 비례하였다. 즉 HT-29/아메바 영양형의 비율이 10:1인 경우 IL-8 mRNA의 발현 분자수는 $1.2{\;}{\times}{\;}10^7{\;}molecules/\mu\textrm{g}$ total RNA로 나타났다. 이와같은 IL-8 mRNA의 발현은 IL-8 단백질 분비로 이어짐을 ELISA 검사로 확인할 수 있었다. 한편 이질아메바 파쇄액(Iysate)도 대장상피세포군인 Caco-2에서 IL-8 mRNA발현을 유도하였다. 결론적으로 본 실험은 이질아메바 감염 초기에 대장상피세포로 부터 IL-8이 발현되며, 이에 의하여 염증반응이 촉발될 가능성이 있음을 시사해 준다.

• 대한소아치과학회지
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• 제37권3호
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• pp.308-316
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• 2010

상아모세포는 부착분자들을 이용하여 기질에 부착하는 세포이며, 인테그린과 같은 부착분자들이 일련의 세포와 세포외기질을 인지하는 신호전달분자로 알려져 있다. 본 연구의 목적은 상아모세포(MDPC-23 세포)와 I형 아교질과의 상호작용과 TGF-${\beta}1$과 TNF-${\alpha}$가 세포부착분자의 발현에 미치는 영향을 알아보기 위해 시행하였다. 본 연구에서 MDPC-23 세포는 농도의존적으로 I형 아교질에 부착했으며, 면역형광염색법에서 MDPC-23 세포가 아교질에 부착할 때, 국소부착점에서 인테그린 ${\alpha}1$, ${\alpha}2$, CD44, FAK 그리고 paxillin의 발현양상을 관찰할 수 있었다. 싸이토카인 TGF-${\beta}1$은 MDPC-23 세포의 아교질에 대한 부착성 및 인테그린 ${\alpha}1$, ${\alpha}2$와 chondroitin sulfate의 발현을 증가시켰으며, RT-PCR의 결과에서는 인테그린 ${\alpha}1$의 mRNA의 양이 TGF-${\beta}1$에 의해서 증가되었음을 확인하였다. 결론적으로 MDPC-23 세포는 아교질에 부착 친화성을 갖고 있으며, 부착 시에 인테그린 ${\alpha}1$, ${\alpha}2$와 CD44 그리고 chondroitin sulfate와 같은 부착분자들이 관여한다. 그리고 TGF-${\beta}1$은 인테그린 ${\alpha}1$, ${\alpha}2$ 그리고 chondroitin sulfate와 같은 부착분자의 발현을 증가시켰다.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.140-145
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• 2008

Expression of olive flounder hepcidin I (HepI) fused with truncated OmpA signal peptides ($OmpASP_{tr}$) as directional signals does not produce soluble fusion proteins. However, by inserting amino acid segments (xxx) varying in pI and hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity into a leader sequence containing a truncated OmpASP ($OmpASP_{tr}$) and a factor Xa cleavage site (Xa) [$OmpASP_{tr}{\mid}(xxx){\mid}Xa$], we were able in some cases to express soluble recombinant HepI. Soluble expression of the recombinant protein strongly correlated with (xxx) insertions of high pI and hydrophilicity. Therefore, we modified the $OmpASP_{tr}{\mid}(xxx){\mid}Xa$ sequence by inserting Arg and Lys into (xxx) to increase the hydrophilicity of the signal peptide region. These modifications enhanced the expression of soluble recombinant HepI. Hydropathic profile analysis of the $OmpASP_{tr}{\mid}(xxx){\mid}Xa$ HepI fusion proteins revealed that the transmembrane-like domains derived from the $OmpASP_{tr}{\mid}(xxx){\mid}Xa$ sequence were larger than the internal positively charged domain native to HepI. It should therefore be possible to overcome the obstacle of internal positively charged domains to obtain soluble expression of recombinant proteins by monitoring the hydrophilicity and hydropathic profile of the signal peptide region using a computer program.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.256-262
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• 2005

We examined the signaling molecules involved in the 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced neuronal cell death and increase in cellular glutathione (GSH) level in SK-N-SH cells. The 6-OH-DA-induced cell death was significantly prevented by the pretreatment with N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a thiol antioxidant, and BAPTA, an intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ chelator. Although 6-OHDA induced ERK phosphorylation, the pretreatment with PD98059, an ERK inhibitor, did not block 6-OHDA-induced cell death. In addition, the 6-OHDA-induced activation of caspase-3, a key signal for apoptosis, was blocked by the pretreatment with NAC and BAPTA. While the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was significantly increased in the 6-OHDA-treated cells, the cellular GSH level was not altered for the first 6-hr exposure to 6-OHDA, but after then, the level was significantly increased, which was also blocked by the pretreatment with NAC and BAPTA, but not by PD98059. Depletion of GSH by pretreating the cells with DL-buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine (BSO), a glutathione synthesis inhibitor, rather significantly potentiated the 6-OHDA-induced death. In contrast to the pretreatment with NAC, 6-OHDA-induced cell death was not prevented by the post-treatment with NAC 30 min after 6-OHDA treatment. The results indicate that the GSH level which is increased adaptively by the 6-OHDA-induced ROS and intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ is not enough to overcome the death signal mediated through ROS-$Ca^{2+}$ -caspase pathway.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권23호
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• pp.10355-10361
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• 2015

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules found in multicellular eukaryotes which are implicated in development of cancer, including cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). Expression is controlled by transcription factors (TFs) that bind to specific DNA sequences, thereby controlling the flow (or transcription) of genetic information from DNA to messenger RNA. Interactions result in biological signal control networks. Materials and Methods: Molecular components involved in cSCC were here assembled at abnormally expressed, related and global levels. Networks at these three levels were constructed with corresponding biological factors in term of interactions between miRNAs and target genes, TFs and miRNAs, and host genes and miRNAs. Up/down regulation or mutation of the factors were considered in the context of the regulation and significant patterns were extracted. Results: Participants of the networks were evaluated based on their expression and regulation of other factors. Sub-networks with two core TFs, TP53 and EIF2C2, as the centers are identified. These share self-adapt feedback regulation in which a mutual restraint exists. Up or down regulation of certain genes and miRNAs are discussed. Some, for example the expression of MMP13, were in line with expectation while others, including FGFR3, need further investigation of their unexpected behavior. Conclusions: The present research suggests that dozens of components, miRNAs, TFs, target genes and host genes included, unite as networks through their regulation to function systematically in human cSCC. Networks built under the currently available sources provide critical signal controlling pathways and frequent patterns. Inappropriate controlling signal flow from abnormal expression of key TFs may push the system into an incontrollable situation and therefore contributes to cSCC development.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.272-278
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• 2008

The carbon-ion beam (CIB) generated by the heavy-ion medical accelerator in Chiba (HIMAC) was targeted to 7-day-old rice. Physiological parameters such as growth, and gene expression profiles were examined immediately after CIB irradiation. Dose-dependent growth suppression was seen three days post-irradiation (PI), and all the irradiated plants died by 15 days PI. Microarray (Agilent rice 22K) analysis of the plants immediately after irradiation (iai) revealed effects on gene expression at 270 Gy; 353 genes were up-regulated and 87 down-regulated. Exactly the same set of genes was affected at 90 Gy. Among the highly induced genes were genes involved in information storage and processing, cellular processes and signaling, and metabolism. RT-PCR analysis confirmed the microarray data.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.45-59
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• 2007

We describe the gene expression profile of third leaves of rice (cv. Nipponbare) seedlings subjected to salt stress (130 mM NaCl). Transcripts of Mn-SOD, Cu/Zn-SOD, cytosolic and stromal APX, GR and CatB were up-regulated, whereas expression of thylakoid-bound APX and CatA were down-regulated. The levels of the compatible solute proline and of transcripts of its biosynthetic gene, ${\Delta}^1$-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS), were strongly increased by salt stress. Interestingly, a potential compatible solute, ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid (GABA), was also found to be strongly induced by salt stress along with marked up-regulation of transcripts of GABA-transaminase. A dye-swap rice DNA microarray analysis identified a large number of genes whose expression in third leaves was altered by salt stress. Among 149 genes whose expression was altered at all the times assayed (3, 4 and 6 days) during salt stress, there were 47 annotated novel genes and 76 unknown genes. These results provide new insight into the effect of salt stress on the expression of genes related to antioxidant enzymes, proline and GABA as well as of genes in several functional categories.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.469-474
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• 2012

Fagopyrum esculentum(FE) is an important food crop and medicinal plant that is used to improve diabetes, obesity, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and constipation in Korea, but the underlying mechanisms involved in its anti-allergic activity are not fully understood. We investigated the effects on the release of inflammatory mediator and proximal signal events in $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$-mediated RBL-2H3 cell activation. FE reduced antigen (DNP-HSA)-induced release of histamine, prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) and cysteinyl Leukotriene (cysLT) in IgE-sensitized RBL-2H3 cells. In addition, it inhibited antigen-induced HDC2 and COX-2 and 5-LO mRNA expression in IgE-sensitized RBL-2H3 cells. FE also suppressed antigen-induced $Fc{\varepsilon}RI{\beta}$ and $Fc{\varepsilon}RI{\gamma}$ subunit mRNA expression in these cells. To identify the mechanisms underpinning the inhibition of release of inflammatory mediators such as histamine and PGD2 and cysLT by FE, we examined the proximal signal events of intracellular FceRI signaling molecules. FE suppressed antigen-induced phosphorylation of Lyn, Syk, LAT, $PLC{\gamma}1$, PI3K, Akt and cPLA2. Collectively, the anti-allergic effects of FE in vitro suggest its possible therapeutic application to inflammatory allergic diseases, in which its inhibition of inflammatory mediator and FceRI-dependent signaling events in mast cells may be hugely beneficial.