• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.394-400
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• 2014

Avascular necrosis of the femoral head (ANFH) is commonly observed in patients treated with excessive glucocorticoid (GC). Single administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has shown to induce immune stimulatory factors. However, the effect of repeated administration of LPS on GC-induced ANFH has not been studied. Thus, the purpose of this study was (i) to examine the cytokine profile induced by repeated LPS administrations and (ii) to test the effect of repeated LPS treatments on GC-induced ANFH. A mouse necrosis model of ANFH was designed by chronic GC administration with co-treatment of LPS. Mice body weights in the LPS/prednisolone (PDN) co-treated group were lower than that of the untreated control group, but spleen weights were greater than the control group. The levels of IL-6, $TNF{\alpha}$, and IL-33 in the liver and spleen of the LPS/PDN group were lower than the untreated control group, whereas $TNF{\alpha}$ level in the femoral head of the LPS/PDN group increased. Collectively, the effect of repeated LPS on the pathogenesis of GC-induced ANFH was associated with the $TNF{\alpha}$ level in the femoral head, but the pathogenesis did not correspond to cytokine levels in immune tissues.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.102-110
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• 1999

Genetic determinant for the secondary metabolism was studied in heterologous expression in Streptomyces lividans TK-24 using Streptomyces griseus ATCC 10137 as a donor strain. Chromosomal DNA of S. griseus was ligated into the high-copy number Streptomyces shuttle plasmid, pWHM3, and introduced into S. lividans TK-24. A plasmid clone with 4.3-kb BamHI DNA of S. griseus (pMJJ201) was isolated by detecting for stimulatory effect on actinorhodin production by visual inspection. The 4.3-kb BamHI DNA was cloned into pWHM3 under the control of the strong constitutive ermEp promoter in both directions (pMJJ202); ermEp promoter-mediated transcription for coding sequence reading right to left: pMJJ203; ermEp promoter-mediated transcription for coding sequence reading left to right) and reintroduced into S. lividans TK-24. The production of actinorhodin was markedly stimulated due to introduction of pMJJ202 on regeneration agar. The introduction of pMJJ202 also stimulated production of actinorhodin and undecylproidigiosin in submerged culture employing the actinorhodin production medium. Introduction of pMJJ203 resulted in a marked decrease of production of the two pigments. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the 4.3-kb region revealed three coding sequences: two coding sequences reading left to right, ORF1 and ORF2, one coding sequence reading right to left, ORF3. Therefore, it was suggested that the ORF3 product was responsible for the stimulation of antibiotic production. The C-terminal region of ORF3 product showed a local alignment with Myb-related transcriptional factors, which implicated that the ORF3 product might be a novel DNA-binding protein related to the regulation of secondary metabolism in Streptomyces.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.309-315
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• 2003

Renal dipeptidase (RDPase, membrane dipeptidase, dehydropeptidase 1, EC 3.4.13.19) has been widely studied since it was first purified from porcine kidney brush border membrane. It was reported that RDPase activity in urine samples of acute and chronic renal failure patients decreases. Nitric oxide (NO) is a highly reactive free radical involved in a number of physiological and pathological processes. NO is able to act in a dual mode, leading either to induction of apoptosis or to blunted execution of programmed cell death. NO inhibited the RDPase release from porcine renal proximal tubules, which could be blocked by L-NAME. Chitosan, the linear polymer of D-glucosamine in $\beta$(1\longrightarrow4) linkage, not only reversed the decreased RDPase release by NO but also increased NO production in the proximal tubule cells. The stimulatory effect of NO on RDPase release from proximal tubules in the presence of chitosan must be different from the previously proposed mechanism of RDPase release via NO signaling pathway. Chitosan stimulated the RDPase release in the proximal tubules and increased RDPase activity to 220% and 250% at 0.1% and 1%, respectively. RDPase release was decreased to about 40% in the injured proximal tubules and was recovered in proportion to the increase of chitosan. Chitosan may be useful in recovery of renal function from $HgCl_2$injury.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.219-229
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• 1996

In order to investigate intra-pancreatic cholinergic roles on insulin action in exocrine secretion, the pancreas was isolated from rats and continuously perfused with modified Krebs-Henseleit solution. Intra-arterial infusion of insulin (100 nM) or cholecystokinin (CCK, 14 pM) alone resulted in stimulation of the volume flow and amylase output. Also insulin potentiated the action of CCK in the exocrine secretion. Tetrodotoxin and atropine completely abolished the potentiating action of insulin and CCK as well as the action of insulin alone, but did not change the action of CCK alone. In order to see an effect of intra-pancreatic neural activation on the insulin action, electrical field stimulation (EFS) with parameters of 20 V, 2 msec and 8 Hz was applied to the isolated pancreas for 10 min under 2.5 or 18 mM glucose background. The EFS voltage-dependently elevated the flow rate and amylase output, and potentiated exocrine secretion in 18 mM glucose infusion compared with 2.5 mM glucose. The potentiating effects of EFS and 18 mM glucose were not observed in the streptozotocin-treated pancreas although it was perfused with 18 mM glucose. However, it was restored when the diabetic pancreas was perfused with porcine insulin(100 nM). Tetrodotoxin and atropine inhibited the pancreatic secretion induced by EFS with the background of 18 mM glucose. The results of present investigation indicate that the intra-pancreatic cholinergic tone exerts a stimulatory influence on the action of insulin in pancreatic exocrine secretion of rats.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.25 no.6 s.53
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• pp.689-696
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• 1995

Effects of several cytokines($IL-1{\beta},\;TNF_{\alpha},\;and\;IFN_{\gamma}$) have been examined on fetal rat osteoblast-like cells. To investigate whether cytokines play direct causal roles in production of lysosomal enzyme, fetal rat osteoblast-like cells were treated with $IL-1{\beta},\;TNF_{\alpha},\;and\;IFN_{\gamma}$, respectively or combined. And acid phosphatase was determined by biochemical method. Alkaline phosphatase was assayed to determine the effects of $IL-1{\beta},\;TNF_{\alpha},\;and\;IFN_{\gamma}$ on the expression of this enzyme. And also experiment of calcified nodule formation was performed to assess the effects of cytokines on the bone-forming activity of osteoblast-like cells in vitro. Acid phosphatase activity was significantly increased by the addition of $IL-1{\beta}\;and\;TNF_{\alpha}$, whereas decreased by $IFN_{\gamma}$. However, no significant change:: in alkaline phosphatase activity was observed when the osteoblast-like cells were treated with $IL-1{\beta}\;and\;TNF_{\alpha}$. Interestingly, $IFN_{\gamma}$ showed stimulatory effect on alkaline phosphatase activity. The number of calcified nodules was decreased by treatment of cultures with 1 ng/ml $IL-1{\beta},\;20\;ng/ml\;TNF_{\alpha}$, and 500 u/ml $IFN_{\gamma}$ continuously for 21 days, while considerable number of calcified nodules were formed in control group of osteoblast-like cell in culture for 21 days. These results seem to suggest that cytokines may play crucial roles in bone remodeling through the direct action on the osteoblast-like cell.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.217-221
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• 2003

To clarify the roles of gonadal steroids on pancreatic exocrine secretion, effects of progesterone and estradiol-$17{\beta}$ on spontaneous and secretagogue-induced exocrine response of isolated perfused rat pancreas were investigated. Intra-arterial infusion of progesterone resulted in significant increase of the spontaneous pancreatic fluid and amylase secretion dose-dependently. However, estradiol-$17{\beta}$ did not exert any influence on spontaneous pancreatic exocrine secretion. Exogenous secretin, cholecystokinin (CCK), and acetylcholine markedly stimulated pancreatic fluid and amylase secretion. Progesterone initially enhanced secretin-induced amylase secretion, but this stimulatory response declined thereafter to basal value. Moreover, secretin-induced fluid secretion was not affected by infusion of progesterone. Therefore, initial increase of secretion-induced amylase secretion by progesterone seems to be a non-specific action by washout effect of secretin. Estradiol-$17{\beta}$ failed to change the secretin-induced fluid and amylase secretion. Both progesterone and estradiol-$17{\beta}$ did not exert any influence on CCK-induced fluid and amylase secretion. Acetylcholine-induced exocrine secretion of isolated perfused pancreas also was not affected by intra-arterial infusion of progesterone or estradiol-$17{\beta}$. It is concluded from the above results that progesterone could enhance the spontaneous pancreatic fluid and amylase secretion of isolated perfused rat pancreas through non-genomic shortterm action, and that these effects could be masked by more potent stimulants such as secretin, CCK, and acetylcholine.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.59-66
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• 1989

To determine the relation between cGMP and ion reabsorption in rat medullary thick ascending limb of Henle's loop (mTALH) the effects of loop diuretics, furosemide and ethacrynic acid, on the guanylate cyclase of rat mTALH were investigated. The interactions between loop diuretics and cyclooxygenase inhibitors, aspirin and indomethacin, on guanylate cyclase of rat mTALH were also investigated. Furosemide and ethacrynic acid increased guanylate cyclase activity and these effects were not inhibited by aspirin or indomethacin. Arachidonic acid potentiated the stimulatory effect of furosemide on guanylate cyclase. These results suggest that furosemide and ethacrynic acid activate guanylate cyclase directly, and in addition, furosemide affects indirectly via prostaglandin. The reabsorption of sodium chloride may be, at least partially, controlled by cGMP in mTALH.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.352-357
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• 1993

The effects of culture broth filtrates, sugar changes and utilizationon the growth and acid production of P. freudenreichii KFCC 31227and L. acidophilus KFCC 32825 were investigated in S.G.Y.(Skim milk, glucose, yeast extract) and SMW (skin milk whey)medium by the single and mixed cultures. The growth and acid production by mixed culture and in cultured broth filtrate of the other party were more affected than those of single culture and self-cultured broth filtrate. When the two strains were cultured, P. freudenreichii KFCC 31227 utilized with lactose more than glucose and L. acidophilus KFCC 32825 was glucose more than lactose in the growth and acid production. The mixed culture of two strains was more affected to sugar utilization than single culture. This result was considered due to the synergistic effect by interaction of these two strains in mixed culture.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2000

A phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) is a upstream component of insulin signaling by which protein synthesis can be stimulated in many systems. To elucidate involvement of PI3K and its downstream mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in the insulin signaling in pleimplantation mouse embryos, 8-cell embryos were cultured to blastocysts in the presence or absence of insulin and／or inhibitor drugs. The number of blastomeres per blastocyst, protein synthesis, and protein phosphorylation were examined. There was significant difference in embryonic development to blastocyst stage and hatching was potentiated by the insulin supplementation. The increase in the mean celt numbers per blastocyst was apparent in the insulin culture. Wortmannin, a PI3K inhibitor and rapamycin, an inhibitor of mTOR abolished the stimulatory effect of insulin on morphological development mitosis and protein synthesis. In autoradiography, phosphoproteins pp22 and pp30 which undergo phosphorylation in response to insulin were identified. Taken together, it can be suggested that PI3K and mTOR engaged in insulin signaling in the mouse embryo 8-cell onward and mediate embryotropic offset of insulin.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.305-312
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• 2002

The effects of two natural polyamines (putrescine and spermidine) on the synthesis of ArcA, a response regulator of the Arc two-component signal transduction system, were studied using an E. coli mutant deficient in polyamine biosynthesis. Endogenous polyamine deficiency of the mutant resulted in marked reduction in the ArcA level determined by Western blot analysis. Putrescine supplement to the growth medium effectively increased the ArcA level of the mutant in a concentration-dependent manner. Spermidine also stimulated the ArcA level in the mutant to a greater degree than putrescine. Expression of arcA'::lacZ operon fusion in the mutant was stimulated 6-fold and 10-fold by putrescine and spermidine at a 1mM concentration, respectively, indicating that the stimulatory effect of the polyamines on ArcA synthesis is due to transcriptional induction, and that spermidine is a more potent arcA inducer than putrescine. The polyamine-dependent arcA'::lacZ induction was growth-phase-dependent and independent of either arcA or fnr which are two regulators involved in anaerobic stimulation of the Arch level. These results suggested that putrescine and spermidine polyamines may be potential intracellular signal molecules in the control of arcA expression, and thereby may play an important role in cellular metabolism.