• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제64권5호
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• pp.705-715
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• 2021

Objective : Through our previous clinical trials, the demonstrated therapeutic effects of MSC in chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) were found to be not sufficient. Therefore, the need to develop stem cell agent with enhanced efficacy is increased. We transplanted enhanced Wnt3-asecreting human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) into injured spines at 6 weeks after SCI to improve axonal regeneration in a rat model of chronic SCI. We hypothesized that enhanced Wnt3a protein expression could augment neuro-regeneration after SCI. Methods : Thirty-six Sprague-Dawley rats were injured using an Infinite Horizon (IH) impactor at the T9-10 vertebrae and separated into five groups : 1) phosphate-buffered saline injection (injury only group, n=7); 2) hMSC transplantation (MSC, n=7); 3) hMSC transfected with pLenti vector (without Wnt3a gene) transplantation (pLenti-MSC, n=7); 4) hMSC transfected with Wnt3a gene transplantation (Wnt3a-MSC, n=7); and 5) hMSC transfected with enhanced Wnt3a gene (1.7 fold Wnt3a mRNA expression) transplantation (1.7 Wnt3a-MSC, n=8). Six weeks after SCI, each 5×10⁵ cells/15 µL at 2 points were injected using stereotactic and microsyringe pump. To evaluate functional recovery from SCI, rats underwent Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor test on the first, second, and third days post-injury and then weekly for 14 weeks. Axonal regeneration was assessed using growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43), microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2), and neurofilament (NF) immunostaining. Results : Fourteen weeks after injury (8 weeks after transplantation), BBB score of the 1.7 Wnt3a-MSC group (15.0±0.28) was significantly higher than that of the injury only (10.0±0.48), MSC (12.57±0.48), pLenti-MSC (12.42±0.48), and Wnt3a-MSC (13.71±0.61) groups (p<0.05). Immunostaining revealed increased expression of axonal regeneration markers GAP43, MAP2, and NF in the Wnt3a-MSC and 1.7 Wnt3a-MSC groups. Conclusion : Our results showed that enhanced gene expression of Wnt3a in hMSC can potentiate axonal regeneration and improve functional recovery in a rat model of chronic SCI.

• Mycobiology
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• 제50권1호
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• pp.66-78
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• 2022

The identification of oleaginous yeast species capable of simultaneously utilizing xylose and glucose as substrates to generate value-added biological products is an area of key economic interest. We have previously demonstrated that the Cutaneotrichosporon dermatis NICC30027 yeast strain is capable of simultaneously assimilating both xylose and glucose, resulting in considerable lipid accumulation. However, as no high-quality genome sequencing data or associated annotations for this strain are available at present, it remains challenging to study the metabolic mechanisms underlying this phenotype. Herein, we report a 39,305,439 bp draft genome assembly for C. dermatis NICC30027 comprised of 37 scaffolds, with 60.15% GC content. Within this genome, we identified 524 tRNAs, 142 sRNAs, 53 miRNAs, 28 snRNAs, and eight rRNA clusters. Moreover, repeat sequences totaling 1,032,129 bp in length were identified (2.63% of the genome), as were 14,238 unigenes that were 1,789.35 bp in length on average (64.82% of the genome). The NCBI non-redundant protein sequences (NR) database was employed to successfully annotate 11,795 of these unigenes, while 3,621 and 11,902 were annotated with the Swiss-Prot and TrEMBL databases, respectively. Unigenes were additionally subjected to pathway enrichment analyses using the Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), Cluster of Orthologous Groups of proteins (COG), Clusters of orthologous groups for eukaryotic complete genomes (KOG), and Non-supervised Orthologous Groups (eggNOG) databases. Together, these results provide a foundation for future studies aimed at clarifying the mechanistic basis for the ability of C. dermatis NICC30027 to simultaneously utilize glucose and xylose to synthesize lipids.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제64권4호
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• pp.800-811
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• 2022

The integration of metabolomics and transcriptomics may elucidate the correlation between the genotypic and phenotypic patterns in organisms. In equine physiology, various metabolite levels vary during exercise, which may be correlated with a modified gene expression pattern of related genes. Integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic studies in horses have not been conducted to date. The objective of this study was to detect the effect of moderate exercise on the metabolomic and transcriptomic levels in horses. In this study, using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, we analyzed the concentrations of metabolites in muscle and plasma; we also determined the gene expression patterns of branched chain (alpha) keto acid dehydrogenase kinase complex (BCKDK), which encodes the key regulatory enzymes in branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) catabolism, in two breeds of horses, Thoroughbred and Jeju, at different time intervals. The concentrations of metabolites in muscle and plasma were measured by ¹H NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy, and the relative metabolite levels before and after exercise in the two samples were compared. Subsequently, multivariate data analysis based on the metabolic profiles was performed using orthogonal partial least square discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), and variable important plots and t-test were used for basic statistical analysis. The stress-induced expression patterns of BCKDK genes in horse muscle-derived cells were examined using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to gain insight into the role of transcript in response to exercise stress. In this study, we found higher concentrations of aspartate, leucine, isoleucine, and lysine in the skeletal muscle of Jeju horses than in Thoroughbred horses. In plasma, compared with Jeju horses, Thoroughbred horses had higher levels of alanine and methionine before exercise; whereas post-exercise, lysine levels were increased. Gene expression analysis revealed a decreased expression level of BCKDK in the post-exercise period in Thoroughbred horses.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.350-358
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• 2023

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) is a viral infectious disease that occurs in children under 5 years of age. Its main causes are coxsackievirus (CV) and enterovirus (EV). Since there are no efficient therapeutics for HFMD, vaccines are effective in preventing the disease. To develop broad coverage against CV and EV, the development of a bivalent vaccine form is needed. The Mongolian gerbil is an efficient and suitable animal model of EV71 C4a and CVA16 infection used to investigate vaccine efficacy following direct immunization. In this study, Mongolian gerbils were immunized with a bivalent inactivated EV71 C4a and inactivated CVA16 vaccine to test their effectiveness against viral infection. Bivalent vaccine immunization resulted in increased Ag-specific IgG antibody production; specifically, EV71 C4a-specific IgG was increased with medium and high doses and CVA16-specific IgG was increased with all doses of immunization. When gene expression of T cell-biased cytokines was analysed, Th1, Th2, and Th17 responses were found to be highly activated in the high-dose immunization group. Moreover, bivalent vaccine immunization mitigated paralytic signs and increased the survival rate following lethal viral challenges. When the viral RNA content was determined from various organs, all three doses of bivalent vaccine immunization were found to significantly decrease viral amplification. Upon histologic examination, EV71 C4a and CVA16 induced tissue damage to the heart and muscle. However, bivalent vaccine immunization alleviated this in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that the bivalent inactivated EV71 C4a/CVA16 vaccine could be a safe and effective candidate HFMD vaccine.

• 식물분류학회지
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• 제53권1호
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• pp.32-37
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• 2023

Spiraea prunifolia f. simpliciflora Nakai is a perennial shrub widely used for horticultural and medicinal purposes. We simultaneously obtained the complete plastid genome (plastome) and nuclear ribosomal gene transcription units, 45S nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) and 5S nrDNA of S. prunifolia f. simpliciflora, using Illumina short-read data. The plastome is 155,984 bp in length with a canonical quadripartite structure consisting of 84,417 bp of a large single-copy region, 18,887 bp of a short single-copy region, and 26,340 bp of two inverted repeat regions. Overall, a total of 113 genes (79 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNAs, and four rRNAs) were annotated in the plastome. The 45S nrDNA transcription unit is 5,848 bp in length: 1,809 bp, 161 bp, and 3,397 bp for 18S, 5.8S, and 26S, respectively, and 261 bp and 220 bp for internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 1 and ITS 2 regions, respectively. The 5S nrDNA unit is 512 bp, including 121 bp of 5S rRNA and 391 bp of intergenic spacer regions. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the genus Spiraea was monophyletic and sister to the clade of Sibiraea angustata, Petrophytum caespitosum and Kelseya uniflora. Within the genus Spiraea, the sections Calospira and Spiraea were monophyletic, but the sect. Glomerati was nested within the sect. Chamaedryon. In the sect. Glomerati, S. prunifolia f. simpliciflora formed a subclade with S. media, and the subclade was sister to S. thunbergii and S. mongolica. The close relationship between S. prunifolia f. simpliciflora and S. media was also supported by the nrDNA phylogeny, indicating that the plastome and nrDNA sequences assembled in this study belong to the genus Spiraea. The newly reported complete plastome and nrDNA transcription unit sequences of S. prunifolia f. simpliciflora provide useful information for further phylogenetic and evolutionary studies of the genus Spiraea, as well as the family Rosaceae.

• 한국가축번식학회지
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.389-397
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• 2001

CART는 leptin에 의해 조절되는 포식인자이며 섭식과 운동 습성에 관계된 것으로 알려져 있다. 사람의 CART Leu34Phe 돌연변이는 비만의 표현형을 나타내었지만, 생쥐의 CART 돌연변이는 일반사료의 섭취 후 급격한 체중증가를 나타내지는 않았다 생체 내 신경세포에서 CART의 역할을 확인하기 위한 새로운 형질전환 모델을 확립하고자 분화하는 신경세포의 유전자 발현을 조절하는 NF-L promoter와 CART의 재조합 발현 벡터를 구축하였다. 형질전환 생쥐는 유전자 미세 주입법에 의하여 생산되었으며, PCR과 Southern blot의 방법으로 확인하였다. 이러한 형질전환 생쥐에서 CART의 과 발현을 수정 후 13.5일째 초기 배아와 생후 6주째 형질전환 생쥐의 뇌와 척수에서 확인하였다. 본 연구의 결과는 섭식 관련 유전자들이 상호 연관된 섭식행동에서 CART의 역할을 연구하는데 모델 동물로써 이용할 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.311-323
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• 2022

Background and Objectives: Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are emerging as a treatment for atopic dermatitis (AD), a chronic inflammatory skin disorder that affects a large number of people across the world. Treatment of AD using human umbilical cord blood-derived MSCs (hUCB-MSCs) has recently been studied. However, the mechanism underlying their effect needs to be studied continuously. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the immunomodulatory effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) secreted by hUCB-MSCs on AD. Methods and Results: To explore the mechanism involved in the therapeutic effect of MSCs for AD, a secretome array was performed using culture medium of hUCB-MSCs. Among the list of genes common for epithelium development and skin diseases, we focused on the function of EGF. To elucidate the effect of EGF secreted by hUCB-MSCs, EGF was downregulated in hUCB-MSCs using EGF-targeting small interfering RNA. These cells were then co-cultured with keratinocytes, Th2 cells, and mast cells. Depletion of EGF disrupted immunomodulatory effects of hUCB-MSCs on these AD-related inflammatory cells. In a Dermatophagoides farinae-induced AD mouse model, subcutaneous injection of hUCB-MSCs ameliorated gross scoring, histopathologic damage, and mast cell infiltration. It also significantly reduced levels of inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)-4, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC), and IL-22, as well as IgE levels. These therapeutic effects were significantly attenuated at all evaluation points in mice injected with EGF-depleted hUCB-MSCs. Conclusions: EGF secreted by hUCB-MSCs can improve AD by regulating inflammatory responses of keratinocytes, Th2 cells, and mast cells.

• 대한핵의학회지
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• 제35권5호
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• pp.313-323
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• 2001

목적: 저선량 방사선에 의해 그 이후의 고선량 방사선에 저항이 생기는 유익한 반응을 보인다는 방사선적응반응이라는 현상이 알려져 있지만, 저선량 방사선이 어떤 기작에 의해 이런 반응을 일으키는지에 대해서는 아직 알려지지 않고 있다. 본 연구에서는 정상 인체세포주에서 저선량 $^{99m}Tc$에 의해 방사선적응반응이 유도되는지를 확인하고, 이 때 활성화되는 유전자를 찾아보고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법: 인체 정상 림프구 세포주인 NC-37 세포주 $2{\times}10^6mL$개의 세포에 $^{99m}Tc$을 148 MBq/mL로부터 148 Bq/mL의 농도가 되도록 10배씩 희석하여 첨가하고 44시간동안 배양하였다. 결과: 각각의 군에 대해 이상 염색체를 계수하여 148 KBq/mL의 $^{99m}Tc$을 첨가한 군에서 방사선적응반응이 가장 현저하게 유도되었음을 확인하였다. 이 세포군에서 mRNA를 추출하고 여기에서 cDNA를 만든 후 gene discovery array (GDA) 여과기를 이용하여 대조군에 비해 발현이 증가된 casein kinase II beta chain, immunoglobulin, HLA-B 그리고 아직 알려지지 않은 2개의 유전자 등 6개의 유전자를 찾아내었다. Representational difference analysis (RDA)법을 통해서는 대조군에 비해 발현이 증가된 유전자 클론을 20개 찾아내었다. 결론: 인체세포주 NC-37에서 저선량의 $^{99m}Tc$에 의해 방사선적응반응이 유도된다는 사실을 밝혔으며, 이때 다수의 유전자가 발현된다는 사실을 알 수 있었다.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제15권4호
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• pp.373-383
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• 2011

성 호르몬과 유사한 기능을 하는 것으로 알려진 내분비교란물질은 흰쥐 흉선세포에 세포자연사를 일으켜 흉선의 기능을 감소시키는 것으로 보고되고 있으나, 그 작용 기전에 대해서는 잘 알려져 있지 않다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 내분비 교란물질 중 하나인 Tributyltin(TBT)를 흰쥐에 투여한 후 흉선의 상피세포가 지방세포로 분화되는지를 조사하고, 이로 인한 T 세포의 세포자연사와 연관성을 조사함으로써 TBT가 흉선기능에 미치는 영향을 알아보고자 하였다. 3주령 된 암컷 흰쥐에 각각 TBT 1, 10, 25 mg/kg/day를 1주일 동안 경구 투여한 후, 흉선을 획득하여 무게와 세포 수를 측정하였고, 파라핀 절편으로 H&E 염색, TUNEL 분석을 수행하였다. 또한 real-time PCR 방법으로 상피세포 표지 유전자들, 지방세포유도 유전자들과 세포자연사 관련 유전자들을 비교 분석하였으며, 유세포 분석기를 통해 세포자연사 정도를 조사하였다. 흉선의 무게와 세포 수는 대조군과 비교하여 TBT의 농도가 높을수록 유의하게 감소하였다. H&E 염색 결과, TBT의 농도가 증가할수록 흉선의 크기가 감소하고 피질과 수질의 경계가 흐려짐을 관찰하였다. TUNEL 염색 결과에서는 대조군에 비해 TBT를 투여한 군에서 세포자연사가 증가하였으며, 유세포 분석결과에서도 TBT 농도 의존적으로 세포자연사가 증가하였다. Real-time PCR 결과, 상피세포 표지 유전자인 EVA, IL-7, AIRE, KGF는 TBT의 농도가 증가할수록 발현양이 유의하게 감소한 반면, 지방세포 유도와 관련된 유전자인 $PPAR{\gamma}$, aP2, PEPCK, CD36은 TBT의 농도가 증가할수록 발현양이 유의하게 증가하였다. 세포자연사와 관련된 유전자인 $TNF{\alpha}$, TNFR1도 TBT의 농도가 증가할수록 발현양이 유의하게 증가하였다. 위의 결과를 종합하여 볼 때, 내분비교란물질인 TBT는 흉선 상피세포에 직접적으로 작용하여 지방세포로 분화 유도시킴으로써 흉선의 기능을 상실케 만들면서 T 세포의 발달에 영향을 미치는 것으로 보인다. 이러한 결과는 지속적으로 노출되는 TBT가 흉선의 기능을 떨어뜨림으로써 면역력 저하를 유발시킬 수 있음을 제시하고 있다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.245-251
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• 2006

목 적: 제2형 당뇨의 위험도가 높은 PCOS 환자와 미토콘드리아와의 연관성을 보기 위하여 mitochondria DNA copy 수를 알아보고자 하였다. 연구방법: 연구대상자는 ESHRE의 진단 기준을 만족하는 다낭성난소증후군 여성 28명과 연령이 비슷하며 규칙적인 생리를 하는 여성 28명의 대조군을 대상으로 하였다. 연구대상자들의 genomic DNA는 혈액에서 추출하였으며, 미토콘드리아의 ribosomal RNA 부위를 중합효소 연쇄반응을 통해 증폭한 후 클로닝 하여 표준곡선을 작성한 후, 이를 토대로 다낭성난소증후군 환자의 미토콘드리아 initial quantity를 계산하였다. 결 과: Real-time PCR 결과 다낭성난소증후군 환자의 mtDNA copy 수는 $2,167,887.50{\pm}1,252,459.28$, 정상 대조군은 $1,726,410{\pm}407,858.519$으로 다낭성난소증후군 환자에서 약간 감소하였으나 유의한 차이는 없었다 (p=0.08). 결 론: 본 연구에서는 다낭성난소증후군 환자의 혈액에서 mtDNA copy 수를 조사한 결과, 정상 대조군과 다낭성난소증후군 환자 사이에서 mtDNA copy 수의 유의한 차이가 없었다. 다낭성난소증후군의 병인에는 상당히 복합적인 요소가 있는 것으로 보여지며 그 중 인종적, 지역적 그리고 유전적인 변이가 있는 것으로 보이기 때문에 앞으로 여러 인종에서 더 많은 다낭성난소증후군 환자를 대상으로 연구하여야 될 것으로 사료되는 바이다.