Pleomorphic adenoma (PA) is the most common benign salivary gland tumor. It is biphasic and is characterized by an admixture of epithelial and spindle-shaped myoepithelial cells in a variable background stroma. Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma (EMC) is a malignant biphasic salivary gland tumor typically composed of clear myoepithelial cells that surround epithelial-lined ducts resembling intercalated ducts. The differential diagnosis between the two tumor may be occasionally encountered because of the shared histophatologic feature. And then, it would be more reliable to differentiate the tumors based on biological behavior such as the expression of distinct intermediate filaments such as cytokeratin, invasiveness- related molecules, and the growth factor receptor to aberrantly facilitate the tumor growth, and the growth fraction of tumors. Therefore, from the 10 cases of PA and 6 cases of EMC, we immunohistochemically examined the differential expression of the cytokine 7 and 14, matrix metalloproteinase-9, C-KIT, and Ki-67 between the two tumor. At the results, there were significant differences of CK7 expression in non-luminal cells (P = 0.000) and CK14 expression in luminal and non-luminal cells of the both tumors (P = 0.025 and P = 0.000, respectively). In the comparison of the biologic behavior, a significantly increased expression of MMP-9, C-KIT and Ki-67 was found in the cases of EMC when compared to those of PA (P = 0.043, P = 0.011, and P = 0.000, respectively). In conclusion, the differences of CK expression in luminal and non-luminal cells between PA and EMC seem to reflect the difference of the origin and the level of the maturation of the tumor cell. Increased expression of MMP-9, C-KIT, and Ki-67 in EMC may represent more aggressive biologic behavior of the tumor compared with benign salivary tumor such as PA. Our results may be helpful to understand the histiogenesis of the two tumors and the difference of biologic behavior and to differentiate them when the limited specimen was submitted. Further study of many more cases of EMC is needed to validate the usefulness of these molecules as the diagnostic aid.

To determine differential gene expression profiles in the salivary gland of a water stick-insect, Ranatra chinensis Mayrt, a subtractive cDNA library was constructed by suppression subtractive hybridization. The salivary gland was determined among three salivary gland-like tissues by investigating transcription levels of five trypsin genes isolated from R. chinensis. The major transcripts encoding trypsins (64.4% of the total ESTs) were eliminated from the library and then remaining salivary gland-specific genes were searched. A total of 643 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were clustered and assembled into 148 contigs (49 multiple sequences and 99 singletons), among which 35 contigs had matched BLASTx hits (E ≤ 1.00E-4). Salivary apyrase occupied 5.6% (36 ESTs) of the library. Apyrase is known to be released by female mosquitoes or blood-sucking assassin bugs to prevent blood clots during blood sucking. Therefore, apyrase in the salivary of R. chinensis might allow R. chinensis to facilitate feeding. Several contigs encoding acid phosphatase, hyaluronidase, prophenoloxidase, and dipeptidylpeptidase IV, commonly found in venoms of Hymenoptera, were also identified from the salivary gland-specific library. Discovery of salivary glandspecific genes should promote further studies on biologically active components in the saliva of R. chinensis.

To determine differential gene expression profiles in the salivary gland of a predatory flower bug species, Orius laevigatus Fieber, a subtractive cDNA library was constructed by suppression subtractive hybridization. The major transcripts encoding trypsins (28.6% of the total ESTs) were eliminated from the library and then remaining salivary gland-specific genes were searched. A total of 513 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were clustered and assembled into 129 contigs (64 multiple sequences and 65 singletons). About 58% were matched with insect genes. In total, 38 genes (179 ESTs) were found from the library by BLASTx search. A hemolysin-like protein occupied ca. 8% (41 ESTs) of the library. Hemolysin is known to destruct cells including blood cells by forming pores on the cell membrane. A hemolysin-like salivary protein of O. laevigatus might be hemolytic against the prey cells, thereby allowing O. laevigatus to facilitate feeding. Several contigs encoding lipase was also identified from the salivary gland-specific library. Discovery of salivary gland-specific genes should promote further studies on biologically active components in the saliva of O. laevigatus.

The pattern of wound healing process differs markedly according to the cell types. Gingival wounds heal more rapidly without scar, however dermal wounds show collagen laid down in thick disorganized patterns and keloid formation. This h as b een s uggested t o be d ue t o the presence of d ifferent E C M components a nd c ytokines a s well a s growth factors. The purpose of this study was to examine the differential expression of genes in connection with keloid formation in gingival fibroblasts (hGFs) and dermal fibroblasts (hDFs) in response to inflammation. In this study, we investigated the differences between hGFs and hDFs in the expression and production of cyclooxygenase (COX-2), prostaglandins E2 (PGE2), transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, collagens, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs) which play important roles in collagen deposition in wound healing. The hGFs and hDFs were primary cultured and allocated to arachidonic acid (AA) treatment group and control group. Protein and mRNA were extracted right after (0 hr) and 24 hr after AA treatment. At a defined concentration of AA in hGFs and hDFs, MTT assay was performed. The mRNA and protein expression levels of COX-2, TGF-β, collagen 1 and 3, MMP 1 and TIMP 1 were examined by Real-time PCR and Western blots. The amounts of PGE2 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The expression of COX-2 and TGF-β exhibited reduced levels in hGFs , but were increased in hDFs at 24 hr after AA treatment. Production of PGE2 was increased in hGFs and hDFs at right after AA treatment but, not changed at 24 hr after AA treatment. The protein and mRNA expression of collagen 1 and 3 were decreased in hGFs , whereas increased in hDFs at 24 hr AA treatment. Expression of MMP-1 protein was increased in hGFs at 24 hr but, was decreased in hDFs at 24 hr compared with that of control. The protein expression of TIMP-1 was decreased in hGFs but, was increased in hDFs at 24 hr compared with that of control. These observations demonstrate differential expression between gingival and dermal fibroblasts in regulation of collagenolytic capacity by extracellular matrix-associated genes in keloid formation associated with wound repair.

To determine differential gene expression profiles in the venom gland and sac (gland/sac) of a solitary hunting wasp species, Eumenes pomiformis Fabricius (1781), a subtractive cDNA library was constructed by suppression subtractive hybridization. A total of 541 expressed sequence tags (EST) were clustered and assembled into 102 contigs. In total, 37 genes were found from the library by BLASTx search and manual analysis. A eumenitin-like venom peptide, EpVP1, occupied ca. 26% of the library. A novel venom peptide, EpDTX, shared sequence similarity with trypsin inhibitors and dendrotoxin-like venom peptides known as K+ channel blockers, implying it could be responsible for the paralysis of prey. As well as phospholipase A2 and hyaluronidase known to be main components of wasp venoms, several contigs encoding enzymes, including metalloendopeptidases and a decarboxylase likely involved in the processing and activation of venomous proteins, peptides, and neurotransmitters, were also isolated from the library. The presence of a gene encoding insulin-like growth factor binding protein suggests that solitary hunting wasps might control the prey to stay in larval stage by their venom. The abundance of these venom components in the venom gland/sac and alimentary canal was confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) is toxic to living organisms, because its high reactivity causes oxidative damage to proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is an enzyme facilitating the removal of superoxide anions from living organisms. This study focused on the cloning of MnSOD cDNA from Hyphantria cunea and its induction upon bacterial infection and various stresses. The open reading frame of MnSOD is composed of 645 bp, encoding 215 amino acid residues. The theoretical molecular mass and pI of putative MnSOD was evaluated to be 24276 Da and 9.14, respectively. The MnSOD from H. cunea is highly similar to human MnSOD (59.5%) as well as Bombyx mori MnSOD (76.2%). MnSOD showed no big induction upon bacterial infection and stresses, compared to that of Cu/ZnSOD.

To determine differential gene expression profiles in a cypermethrin-resistant strain (CR) of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella Linnaeus (1758), a subtractive cDNA library was constructed by suppression subtractive hybridization. A total of 1196 expressed sequence tags (EST) were clustered and assembled into 579 contigs (100 multiplets and 479 singletons). About 46% (267) of 579 contigs had the matched BLASTx hits (E ≤ 10-5). Among these, 143 contigs had similarity to proteins with assigned molecular function in the Functional Catalogue database, and most of them (86%) were homologous to the genes from insects, particularly to Lepidoptera (56%). The contigs encoding carboxylesterase and cytochrome P450 known to be involved in the insecticide resistance were found in the library. They were identified as pxest3, pxest4, and CYP9G2 gene by 5' and 3' RACE. Among these, pxest4 was determined to be 2-fold over-transcribed in the CR strain by qrtPCR. Several contigs encoding enzymes including cytochrome oxidase subunit I that are likely involved in the insecticide resistance were also identified from the library. Discovery of the genes specific to cypermethrin resistance should promote further studies on the molecular mechanisms of insecticide resistance in P. xylostella.

Cyto kinc production by epiclerma l keratinocytes has been investiga ted ext ensive ly cluring the past decacle in the skm Furthermore‘ cyto kines produced by pidermal kerat inocytes may be regar decl as important regulators in inflammation, 1 nunune responses‘ and during wound healing, The associa tion of specific cytokine patterns in proliferative a ncl/or infl ammatory related cha nges in the s kin suggests a role in the pathogenesis of certain skin diseases, Although it is conceiva b1e that the pa ttern of cytokine express ion in o1'al kera tinocytes might be sirnilar t o tha t of epidermal origin, the1'e a re only sparse reports that have s hown t his experi menta lly, In addition, there is s ome evidence that there may be differe n ces in the proliferative capacity of oral versus epidermal keratinocytes, Since t his may be crucial for better un clerstanding the biologica l processes in the oral mucosa and how they may differ from the e pidennis, we a na lyzed the cyto kine expression pat tern of human oral kera tinocy tes, The purpose of this study were to investigate mRNA & protein express ion 0 1' va rious cy tokines between NHOK and NHEK by RT-PCR & immunoslot blotting, and to apply its results 1‘0 1' bet ter understancling t he pathological processes in the o1'al mucosal d1seases Cultured NHEK showecl larger a rea of cel lula r s tratil'icat ion tha n cul tu ++ 1'ed NHOK in 0 05mM Ca concentra tion, 1L - 1α , IL- 6 mRNA expression 0 1' cult ured NHOK we1'e hi gher than that of NHEK, TNF- mRNA expression of NHEK was about 1, 2 folds than that 0 1' NHOK, ICAM- 1 mRNA expression of NHOK was a bout 13 folds t han that of NHOK, while NHEK was weakly detected, 1L- 1a , IL-6 pro tein expression of cul tured NHOK were hi gher t han t ha t of NHEK TNF-a protein expression of NHEK was about 1, 2 fo lds than that of NHOK, 1CAM- 1 protein expression of NHOK was about 40 folcls than that of NHOK, whil e NHEK was weakly detectecl , mRNA express ion was associa ted wi th prot ein expression in cul tured NHOK ancl NHEK, It s uggestecl that lL- 1a ‘ 11-6 and ICAM-1 mRNA and protein be highl y expressecl in cultured NHOK, Especially, ICAM- 1 would be a useful ma rker for the pathogenesis of oral mucosal di sease,

Embryonic stem (ES) cells are known to have an infinite proliferation and pluripotency that are associated with complex processes. The objective of this study was to examine expression of genes differentially regulated during differentiation of human ES cells by suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH). Human ES cells were induced to differentiate into neural precursor cells via embryoid body. Neural precursor cells were isolated physically based on morphological criteria. Immunocytochemical analysis showed expression of pax6 in neural precursor cells, confirming that the isolated cells were neural precursor cells. Undifferentiated human ES cells and neural precursor cells were subject to the SSH. TPX2 (Targeting Protein for Xklp2 (Xenopus centrosomal kinesin-like protein 2)) was identified, cloned and analyzed during differentiation of human ES cells into neural lineages. Expression of TPX2 was gradually down-regulated in embryoid bodies and neural precursor cells relative to undifferentiated ES cells. Targeting Protein for Xklp2 has been shown to be involved in cell division by interaction with microtubule development in cancer cells. Taken together, result of this study suggests that TPX2 may be involved in proliferation and differentiation of human ES cells.

Annexin I plays an important role in the process of keratinization as a compont of the cornified envelope of skin epithelium. The effect of annexin I on the terminal ifferentiation of normal human oral keratinocyte(NHOK) have remained to be defined. To understand the role of annexin I on the terminal differentiaiton of NHOK, NHOK and NHEK cells were primarily cultured in KBM bullet kit. When the cells reached confluence, terminal differentiation was induced by switching the medium to KGM bullet kit containing 1.2mM Ca2+. Preconfluency of NHOK under 0.05mM Ca++ conc as control group was used. The cells was examined with inverted microscope. Under 0.05mM Ca++ conc(Precon, Postcon), and 1.2mM Ca++ conc(Postcon), RT-PCR for annexin I mRNA measurement, and immunoblotting for annexin I protein measurements in triplicate, respectively. The purpose of this study were to study differential mRNA & protein expression of annexin I between NHOK & NHEK by using RT-PCR & immunoslot blotting during terminal differentiation, and to apply these results to study a role of annexin I on epithelial differentiation of oral mucosal diseases in the future. Cultured NHEK showed larger area of cellular stratification than cultured NHOK in 1.2mM Ca ++ concentration. Annexin I mRNA and protein expression of cultured NHOK showed higher than that of cultured NHEK in higher calcium concentration. Annexin I mRNA and protein expression of cultured NHOK showed about 2-2.7 fold higher in 1.2mM Ca++ conc. than in 0.05mM Ca++ conc. Although annexin I was involved in the terminal differentiation of cultured NHOK & NHEK in higher calcium concentration, annexin I play an important role in the terminal differentiation of cultured NHOK in higher calcium concentration. From the aboving results, It was suggested that annexin I would play an important role in the terminal differentiation of NHOK in higher calcium, which be helpful to study epithelial differentiation of oral mucosal diseases.

To reveal effects of gamma-irradiation with various doses on the expressions of C4H and F5H genes, the transcription levels of OsC4HL and OsF5HL were investigated in leaves and stems of two rice cultivars, Ilpoombyeo and IR-29, after the irradiation with

Amino acids a re required fo1' protein synthesis and energy sources in all living cell s. System L amino acid trans porters neutral amino aci cls i n a Na +' - independent manner. In ma 1ignan t tumors the L-type amino acid t ranspor te r 1(LA1'1), the first isoform 0 1' system L. is highly expressed to suppor t tumo1' cell growth. ln the present study, the expression 0 1' the system L amino acid transporter and BCH cytotoxicity were examined and compa red in both rat gli a l and C6 g lioma cel ls 1'he rat glia l cells expressed the L-type arnino acid t ra nsporter 2(LA1'2). the second isoform 이 system L, with its subu ni t 4F2hc. whereas the LA1'1 was not expressed. 1'he C6 glioma cells expressed LA1'1 with 4F2hc but not LA1'2 1'he [14C]L-leucine uptakes by the glial and C6 glioma cells were inhibi ted by BCH in a co ncent ration-d e pendant man ner wi th the lC50 values of 270.0 :t 13.7 μ M and 73.1 :t 4.5 μ M, respectively. 1'he cell g rowth was inh ibi ted by BCH in the time, concen tration-dependant manner in the gli al and C6 glioma cell s . 1'he rate of cell growth inhi bit ion induced by BCH in the C6 glioma cells was hi gh er than that in the gli al cells 1'hese results s uggesL that the tra ns ports of neutra l amino acids inc1uding several essenti al amino acids into rat g lial and C6 glioma cel ls a re for the most part mediated by LA1'2 and LA1'1, respectively. Therefore‘ the rat glia1 and C6 gJioma cells are excell ent tools for examing the proper ties of LA1'2 and LA1'1, respectively. Moreover, the spec너 i c inh ibi tion 0 1' LATl in cancel cells might be a new rationa le f'or anti -cancer therapy

Cloned calves derived from somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) have been frequently lost by sudden death at 1 to 3 month following healthy birth. To address whether placental anomalies are responsible for the sudden death of cloned calves, we compared protein patterns of 2 placentae derived from SCNT of Korean Native calves died suddenly at two months after birth and those of 2 normal placentae obtained from AI fetuses. Placental proteins were separated using 2-Dimensional gel electrophoresis. Approximately 800 spots were detected in placental 2-D gel stained with coomassie-blue. Then, image analysis of Malanie III (Swiss Institute for Bioinformatics) was performed to detect variations in protein spots between normal and SCNT placentae. In the comparison of normal and SCNT samples, 8 spots were identified to be up-regulated proteins and 24 spots to be down-regulated proteins in SCNT placentae, among which proteins were high mobility group protein HMG1, apolipoprotein A-1 precursor, bactenecin 1, tropomyosin beta chain, H+-transporting ATPase, carbonic anhydrase II, peroxiredoxin 2, tyrosine-rich acidic matrix protein, serum albumin precursor and cathepsin D. These results suggested that the sudden death of cloned calves might be related to abnormal protein expression in placenta.