• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• 제24권2호
• /
• pp.123-131
• /
• 2016

Osteoporosis is a bone pathology leading to increased fracture risk and challenging the quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of an anthraquinone glycoside, aloin, on osteogenic induction of MC3T3-E1 cells. Aloin increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, an early differentiation marker of osteoblasts. Aloin also increased the ALP activity in adult human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSC), indicating that the action of aloin was not cell-type specific. Alizarin red S staining revealed a significant amount of calcium deposition in cells treated with aloin. Aloin enhanced the expression of osteoblast differentiation genes, Bmp-2, Runx2 and collagen 1a, in a dose-dependent manner. Western blot analysis revealed that noggin and inhibitors of p38 MAPK and SAPK/JNK signals attenuated aloin-promoted expressions of Bmp-2 and Runx2 proteins. siRNA mediated blocking of Wnt-5a signaling pathway also annulled the influence of aloin, indicating Wnt-5a dependent activity. Inhibition of the different signal pathways abrogated the influence of aloin on ALP activity, confirming that aloin induced MC3T3-E1 cells into osteoblasts through MAPK mediated Wnt and Bmp signaling pathway.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
• /
• 제35권4호
• /
• pp.209-214
• /
• 2010

Cells that have endogenous multipotent properties can be used as a starting source for the generation of induced pluripotent cells (iPSC). In addition, small molecules associated with epigenetic reprogramming are also widely used to enhance the multi- or pluripotency of such cells. Skinderived precursor cells (SKPs) are multipotent, sphereforming and embryonic neural crest-related precursor cells. These cells can be isolated from a juvenile or adult mammalian dermis. SKPs are also an efficient starting cell source for reprogramming and the generation of iPSCs because of the high expression levels of Sox2 and Klf4 in these cells as well as their endogenous multipotency. In this study, valproic acid (VPA), a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, was tested in the generation of iPSCs as a potential enhancer of the reprogramming potential of SKPs. SKPs were isolated from the back skins of 5-6 week old C57BL/6 X DBA/2 F1 mice. After passage 3, the SKPs was treated with 2 mM of VPA and the quantitative real time RT-PCR was performed to quantify the expression of Oct4 and Klf4 (pluripotency specific genes), and Snai2 and Ngfr (neural crest specific genes). The results show that Oct4 and Klf4 expression was decreased by VPA treatment. However, there were no significant changes in neural crest specific gene expression following VPA treatment. Hence, although VPA is one of the most potent of the HDAC inhibitors, it does not enhance the reprogramming of multipotent skin precursor cells in mice.

• Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
• /
• 제15권6호
• /
• pp.771-779
• /
• 2018

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are multipotent stem cells that can differentiate into several cell types. In addition, many studies have shown that MSCs modulate the immune response. However, little information is currently available regarding the maintenance of immunomodulatory characteristics of MSCs through passages. Therefore, we investigated and compared cytokine and gene expression levels from adipose (AD) and bone marrow (BM)-derived MSCs relevant to immune modulation from early to late passages. METHODS: MSC immunophenotype, growth characteristics, cytokine expressions, and gene expressions were analyzed. RESULTS: AD-MSCs and BM-MSCs had similar cell morphologies and surface marker expressions from passage 4 to passage 10. Cytokines secreted by AD-MSCs and BM-MSCs were similar from early to late passages. AD-MSCs and BM-MSCs showed similar immunomodulatory properties in terms of cytokine secretion levels. However, the gene expressions of tumor necrosis factor-stimulated gene (TSG)-6 and human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G were decreased and gene expressions of galectin-1 and -3 were increased in both AD- and BM-MSCs with repeated passages. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that the immunophenotype and expression of immunomodulation-related cytokines of AD-MSCs and BM-MSCs immunomodulation through the passages were not significantly different, even though the gene expressions of both MSCs were different.

• 생명과학회지
• /
• 제32권2호
• /
• pp.108-118
• /
• 2022

뇌실하 영역은 뇌에서 신경줄기세포가 분포하는 곳으로 평생에 걸쳐 새로운 신경세포를 생성하는 곳이다. 많은 세포 안팎의 인자들이 신경줄기세포의 세포 증식과 신경세포로의 분화에 영향을 미친다. 최근 들어, L-type 칼슘 채널이 신경계의 발달을 조절하고 뇌실하 영역에 있는 신경줄기세포, 신경세포로 분화 중인 세포, 그리고 성숙한 신경세포에 분포한다고 밝혀졌다. L-type 칼슘 채널의 저해제인 nifedipine은 고혈압의 치료제로 오랜 기간 사용되어 왔다. 신경줄기세포에 nifedipine을 사용하여 L-type 칼슘 채널을 저해하는 연구는 많이 없는 상황이다. 이번 연구에서, 우리는 5일령 쥐의 뇌실하 영역에서 배양한 신경줄기세포에 nifedipine을 처리하여 신경세포로의 분화에 미치는 영향을 관찰하였다. Nifedipine은 Tuj1을 발현하는 신경세포의 수를 증가시킨 반면, Olig2를 발현하는 희소 돌기 아교 세포(oligodendrocytes)의 수에는 큰 영향을 미치지 않았다. Nifedipine은 S기를 표지하는 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU)가 들어간 세포의 수를 증가시켰고, 세포 분열시 나타나는 인산화된 히스톤 H3(PH3)를 발현하는 세포의 수를 증가시켰다. Nifedipine은 신경세포로의 분화를 촉진하는 Dlx2 유전자의 전사를 증가시켰고, 초기 신경세포에서 보이는 Mash1의 양도 증가시켰다. Nifedipine 외 또다른 L-type 칼슘 채널의 저해제인 verapamil을 처리하자, 신경세포로의 분화가 소폭 증가하였으나, 통계적 유의미성은 매우 낮았다. T-type 칼슘 채널의 저해제 유전자인 Cav3.1, Cav3.2, Cav3.3가 발현함을 관찰하여, T-type 칼슘 채널의 저해제인 pimozide를 신경줄기세포에 처리하였으나, 신경세포로의 분화에는 변화가 없었다. 이러한 결과를 통해 nifedipine이 신경줄기세포의 초기 분화를 증진함을 알 수 있으며, L-type 칼슘 채널이 신경세포로의 분화에 관여함을 알 수 있다.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• 제58권3호
• /
• pp.219-226
• /
• 2015

본 연구에서는 레몬 잎 메탄올 추출물(MLL)의 인간 유방암 줄기 세포인 MCF-7-SC에 대한 항암 활성을 조사하였다. MLL이 MCF-7-SC에서 apoptosis를 유도하였으며, 이를 apoptotic body의 형성, sub-G1 phase 및 annexin V-positive 세포와 Bax/Bcl-2 ratio의 증가, caspase-9과 caspase-3의 활성화 및 PARP의 절 단을 통하여 확인하였다. 동시에 MCF-7-SC에서 MLL은 acidic vesicular organelles의 형성, LC3-II의 축적 증가, Akt/mTOR/p70S6K의 활성 억제 등을 통하여 autophagy를 유도하였다. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)는 세포가 전이 상태를 획득하기 위한 중요한 과정이며, 이 기작은 암세포가 전이되는 것을 억제함에 있어서 중요한 표적이 된다. 낮은 농도에서의 MLL은 epithelial 마커 단백질인 E-cadherin이 증가와 mesenchymal 마커 단백질인 Snail과 Slug의 발현 감소를 통해 EMT 과정을 저해함으로써 MCF-7-SC에서 항전이 활성을 나타내었다. 본 연구에서는 레몬 잎 메탄올 추출물이 농도 의존적으로 유방암 줄기세포에 대해 세포 독성과 항전이 활성을 나타내고 있으며, 따라서 레몬잎은 항암 소재로서의 개발 가능성이 높은 식물이라고 사료된다.

• 한국발생생물학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 한국발생생물학회 2003년도 제3회 국제심포지움 및 학술대회
• /
• pp.101-101
• /
• 2003

Main strategy for a treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD), due to a progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, is a pharmaceutical supplement of dopamine derivatives or ceil replacement therapy. Both of these protocols have pros and cons; former exhibiting a dramatic relief but causing a severe side effects on long-term prescription and latter also having a proven effectiveness but having availability and ethical problems Embryonic stem (ES) cells have several characteristics suitable for this purpose. To investigate a possibility of using ES cells as a carrier of therapeutic gene(s), human ES (hES, MB03) cells were transfected with cDNAs coding for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in pcDNA3.1 (+) and the transfectants were selected using neomycin (250 $\mu /ml$). Expression of TH being confirmed, two of the positive clone (MBTH2 & 8) were second transfected with GTP cyclohydrolase 1 (GTPCH 1) in pcDNA3.1 (+)-hyg followed by selection with hygromycin-B (150 $\mu /ml$) and RT-PCR confirmation. By immune-cytochemistry, these genetically modified but undifferentiated dual drug-resistant cells were found to express few of the neuronal markers, such as NF200, $\beta$-tubulin, and MAP2 as well as astroglial marker GFAP. This results suggest that over-production of BH4 by ectopically expressed GTPCH I may be involved in the induction of those markers. Transplantation of the cells into striatum of 6-OHDA- denervated PD animal model relieved symptomatic rotational behaviors of the animals. Immunohistochemical analyses showed the presence of human cells within the striatum of the recipients. These results suggest a possibility of using hES cells as a carrier of therapeutic gene(s).

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• 제56권4호
• /
• pp.325-334
• /
• 2018

Toxoplasma gondii is an apicomplexan zoonotic protozoan parasite that infects most species of warm-blooded animals, including humans. The heavy incidence and severe or lethal damage caused by T. gondii infection clearly indicate a need for the development of an effective vaccine. T. gondii GRA8 is a member of the dense granules protein family and is used as a marker of acute infection. In the present study, we evaluated the protective immunity induced by DNA vaccination based on a recombinant eukaryotic plasmid, pDsRed2-GRA8, against acute toxoplasmosis in mice. BALB/c mice were intramuscularly immunized with the pDsRed2-GRA8 plasmid and then challenged by infection with the highly virulent GFP-RH strain of T. gondii. The specific immune responses and protective efficacy against T. gondii of this vaccine were analyzed by measuring cytokine and serum antibody titers, splenocyte proliferation assays, and the survival times of mice after challenge. Our results showed that mice immunized with pDsRed2-GRA8 demonstrated specific humoral and cellular responses, induced higher IgG antibody titers with predominant IgG2a production; increased levels of IL-10, IL-12 (p70), $IFN-{\gamma}$, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and splenocyte proliferation; and prolonged survival times compared to those of control mice. The present study showed that DNA immunization with pDsRed2-GRA8 induced humoral and cellular immune responses, and all immunized mice showed greater Th1-type immune responses and longer survival times than those of control mice. These results indicated that T. gondii GRA8 DNA immunization induces a partial protective effect against acute toxoplasmosis.

• 한국작물학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 한국작물학회 2017년도 9th Asian Crop Science Association conference
• /
• pp.93-93
• /
• 2017

To develop rice cultivars with increased biomass and grain yield, superior lodging resistance is an essential trait. The new breeding approach can be adopted for the improvement of stem lodging resistance by enhancing culm strength. The resistance to breaking type lodging is attributed to bending moment of basal culm (M), which is composed of the section modulus (SM) and bending stress (BS). The resistance to the bending type lodging is attributed to flexural rigidity (FR) of stem, which is composed of the secondary moment of inertia (SMI) and Young's modulus (YM). Starch and cell wall components such as cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin also play a significant role in physical strength of culm, and thus affect lodging. Leaf Star has a superior lodging resistance due to its thick and stiff culm because of its high M and FR compared with Koshihikari. Furthermore, Leaf Star contains high densities of hemicellulose, cellulose and low lignin density in culm compared with Koshihikari. In this study, we performed QTL analysis for these traits associated with culm strength, using 94 recombinant inbred lines (RILs, $F_8$), derived from a cross between Leaf Star and Koshihikari. The SM in the RILs showed a continuous distribution. QTLs for SM were detected on chrs.2, 3 and 10. Leaf Star alleles increased SM on chrs. 2 and 3, but Koshihikari allele increased on chr.10. These QTLs overlapped with those QTLs identified using backcrossed inbred line derived from a cross between Chugoku 117 and Koshihikari, the parents of Leaf Star. The FR in Leaf Star was higher than that in Koshihikari due to the larger SMI and YM. 3 QTLs for SMI were detected on chrs.2, 3 and 10. Leaf Star alleles increased SMI on chrs.2 and 3, and Koshihikari alleles increased on chr.10. One QTL on chr.3 and two QTLs on chr.5 for hollocelulose content were detected with Leaf Star alleles contribution. Moreover, two QTLs were detected for hemicellulose density on chrs.3 and 5. Leaf Star allele increased hemicellulose density on chr.5, and Koshihikari allele increased on chr.3. Furthermore, two QTLs for cellulose density were detected on chr.5, and one QTL on chr.2. For starch content, one QTL on chr.3 and two QTLs on chr.5 with Leaf Star alleles contribution were detected. TULK-6 carrying a chromosome segment of Leaf Star on chr.5 in the Koshihikari genetic background showed higher densities of starch and hemicellulose than those in Koshihikari. These results suggest that the detected QTLs for culm strength could be utilized for the improvement of lodging resistance in rice by marker-assisted selection.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제14권8호
• /
• pp.4583-4589
• /
• 2013

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of multimodality treatment of advanced paediatric hepatoblastoma (HB) and the factors affecting prognosis. Methods: A total of 35 children underwent multimodality treatments consisting of chemotherapy, surgery, interventional therapy, and autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. The patients were followed up every month. Results: Serum AFP levels in 33 out of 35 patients in this study were significantly increased (P = 0.0002). According to the statistical scatter plot, the values of serum AFP on the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentages were 1,210, 1,210 and 28,318 ng/dl, respectively. Of the 35 cases, 21 were stage IV. 18 cases were treated with systemic chemotherapy before surgery, and 3 cases with locally interventional chemotherapy before surgery. Statistical analysis showed that the preferred interventional treatment affected prognosis, and that there was a statistically significant difference (P = 0.024). Some 33 patients completed the follow-up, of which 17 were in complete remission (CR), 5 were in partial remission (PR), 1 became disease progressive (DP), and 10 died. The remission and overall survival rates were 66.7% (22/33) and 69.7% (23/33), respectively. Patients with the mixed HB phenotypes had worse prognoses than the epithelial phenotype (P < 0.001), and patients in stage IV had a lower survival rate than those in stage III (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Multimodality treatment can effectively improve remission rate and prolong the survival of children with advanced HB. In addition, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), a tumor marker of liver malignant tumors, HB pathological classification, and staging are highly useful in predicting prognosis.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제31권6호
• /
• pp.791-797
• /
• 2018

Objective: Trimethylation of histone 3 (H3) at 4th lysine N-termini (H3K4me3) in gene promoter region was the universal marker of active genes specific to cell lineage. On the contrary, coexistence of trimethylation at 27th lysine (H3K27me3) in the same loci-the bivalent H3K4m3/H3K27me3 was known to suspend the gene transcription in germ cells, and could also be inherited to the developed stem cell. In galline species, throughout example of H3K4m3 and H3K27me3 ChIP-seq analysis was still not provided. We therefore designed and demonstrated such procedures using ChIP-seq and mRNA-seq data of chicken follicular mesenchymal cells and male germ cells. Methods: Analytical workflow was designed and provided in this study. ChIP-seq and RNA-seq datasets of follicular mesenchymal cells and male germ cells were acquired and properly preprocessed. Peak calling by Model-based analysis of ChIP-seq 2 was performed to identify H3K4m3 or H3K27me3 enriched regions ($Fold-change{\geq}2$, $FDR{\leq}0.01$) in gene promoter regions. Integrative genomics viewer was utilized for cellular retinoic acid binding protein 1 (CRABP1), growth differentiation factor 10 (GDF10), and gremlin 1 (GREM1) gene explorations. Results: The acquired results indicated that follicular mesenchymal cells and germ cells shared several unique gene promoter regions enriched with H3K4me3 (5,704 peaks) and also unique regions of bivalent H3K4m3/H3K27me3 shared between all cell types and germ cells (1,909 peaks). Subsequent observation of follicular mesenchyme-specific genes-CRABP1, GDF10, and GREM1 correctly revealed vigorous transcriptions of these genes in follicular mesenchymal cells. As expected, bivalent H3K4m3/H3K27me3 pattern was manifested in gene promoter regions of germ cells, and thus suspended their transcriptions. Conclusion: According the results, an example of chicken H3K4m3/H3K27me3 ChIP-seq data analysis was successfully demonstrated in this study. Hopefully, the provided methodology should hereby be useful for galline ChIP-seq data analysis in the future.