Taxillus yadoriki (Siebold) Dancer is a parasitic plant that grows on camellia trees and is common on Jeju Island. The branches of T. yadoriki have long been used to treat various diseases, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, viral infections, and arthritis. Although recent studies reported that T. yadoriki has anticancer effects in various human cancer cell lines, including lung cancer, the exact molecular mechanisms supporting its anticancer effects are not well understood. This study aims to assess the anticancer effect of the methanol extract of T. yadoriki branches (METY) on mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) cell lines (MC3 cells and YD15 cells) and explore its mechanism of action. Inhibitory activity of MEC cell proliferation was assessed using the CCK-8 assay. The mechanism of the anticancer effect on METY-treated MC3 cells and YD15 cells was evaluated with Hoechst 33342 stain and Western blot. After treating MC3 cells and YD15 cells with METY for 48 hours, the cytotoxicity of MC3 and YD15 cells increased, and nuclear fragmentation increased in both METY-treated MEC cells. Caspase-3 and cleaved PARP activation demonstrated apoptosis of METY-treated MEC cells. Cell proliferation inhibition with METY was alleviated in METY-treated MEC cells pretreated with zVAD-FMK, supporting the cell proliferation inhibition effect by apoptosis. METY-induced apoptosis in MEC cells occurs through MAP kinase pathways such as p38 and pAkt. MEC cell. METY-induced apoptosis of MEC cells occurs via the p38 and pAkt MAPK pathways. Therefore, METY may be a promising anticancer candidate for the MEC therapeutic strategy.

Self-Powered Neutron Detector (SPND) is one of devices for in-core fluxes detecting without external electricity source. SPND consisted with emitter, insulator and collector. When neutrons reacted with emitter material, it generates electrons and these electrons cross insulator area to make electric signal in collector area. For calculating sensitivity of SPND with Monte-Carlo code such as MCNP, many physical components must be considered. Cobalt shows that prompt signal and relatively low signal comparing with other delayed signal SPNDs. Initial sensitivity was calculated as 4.28×10−22 A/nv-cm for one electron. Due to Cobalt’s complex decay chain and maintaining high efficiency of SPND, it is necessary to analysis the effect of activation of emitter. Therefore, the DPA (Displacements Per Atom) assessment and activation analysis of the detector components have been evaluated with MCNP 6.2 and ORIGEN-S. With these activation analysis results, that is expected to be used to determine the shielding thickness of the storage system.

규소(Si)는 지각의 구성 원소 중 두 번째로 흔히 존재하는 원소로, 3개의 안정동위원소, 28 Si (92.23%), 29 Si (4.67%), 30Si (3.10%)를 가진다. 규소 동위원소는 규소의 생지화학적 순환에 대한 지시자로 고환경 및 고기후 복원을 위해 전 세계에서 널리 연구되고 있다. 그러나 국내에서는 아직까지 생물 기원 규소에 대한 규소 동위원소 연구가 전 무한 실정이다. 본 연구에서는 대형 규조류 시료에 대한 규소 동위원소 분석을 위해 기존 보고된 알칼리 용융법을 정리하고 생물 기원 규소 분석에 가장 적합한 규소 분리법을 구축하고자 하였다. 해당 시료를 고온 알칼리 용융을 통해 완전 용해시킨 후 시료 내 규소를 AG® 50W-X8 양이온 교환수지를 이용하여 효과적으로 분리하였다. 분리된 시료에 대한 신뢰성 검증을 위하여 Si 동위원소 표준물질(NBS-28) 및 USGS 암석 표준시료(AGV-2, GSP-2, BHVO-2)에 대한 분석을 함께 실시하였으며, 분석된 시료 모두 기존 연구결과와 오차범위 내에서 일치하는 값을 나타내었다. 본 연구에서 개발한 규소 동위원소 분석법은 향후 국내의 지구과학 및 관련 연구 발전에 많은 도움을 줄 것으로 기대된다.

Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disease that is characterized by low bone mass resulting from an increase in bone resorption relative to bone formation. The most current therapies for osteoporosis have focused on inhibiting bone resorption by osteoclasts. The purpose of this study is to develop new anabolic agents for treatment of osteoporosis that have fewer risks compared to conventional therapies. We searched the natural products that were derived from the traditional Asian medicines which have been used for treatment of bone related diseases. Icaritin is a flavonoid glycoside derived from the herb Epimedium which has beneficial effects on bone formation. To determine the effect of icaritin on bone formation, we examined the effect of icaritin on MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation and differentiation. For determining the effects of icaritin on proliferation, we performed the MTT assay using MC3T3-E1 cells. To evaluate whether icaritin could promote the osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and mRNA expressions of Runx2, osteocalcin (OCN), RANKL, and osteoprotegerin (OPG) were determined. Icaritin increased MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation. Icaritin increased the ALP activity of MC3T3-E1 cells on 72 hour culture in osteogenic media. mRNA expression of Runx2 was increased after 24 hour culture with icaritin. mRNA expression of osteocalcin was increased after 72 hour culture with icaritin. In addition, icaritin increased the mRNA expressions of OPG and RANKL. However, icaritin increased the mRNA expression of OPG much more than that of RANKL, and then, it increased the OPG/RANKL ratio. These results suggest that icaritin promotes osteogenic differentiation of osteoblasts and decreases osteoclast formation regulated by osteoblasts.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of PineXol® on H2O2-induced cell death in SK-N-MC cells, and in early stage focal ischemia rodent model. SK-N-MC cells were pre-treated with 200 μM H2O2 or various concentrations of PineXol® (10, 30, and 50 pg/mL) for 24 h, and then exposed to H2O2 for 3 h. Cell death was assessed by the CCK-8 assay, reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay, and lactate and dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) expressions were also analyzed by western blotting. Focal ischemia rodent model was used as the in vivo model, and different concentrations of PineXol® (1, 10, and 100 mg/kg) were administered. One week after administration, reduction of infarct volume was analyzed by TTC staining. Cell viability of H2O2-treated SK-N-MC cells significantly increased by pre-treatment of PineXol® (p<0.05). PineXol® pre-treatment also induced significant decrease of ROS and LDH expressions. However, PineXol® did not affect the infarct volume. These results suggest that PineXol® has significant neuroprotective effect in vitro, but statistical significance was not confirmed in the in vivo focal ischemia mo

Pleurotus cornucopiae (PC) mushrooms is found in the field and commonly known in Japan as Tamogidake mushrooms. Recently it has been reported that PC also alleviating the toxicity of heavy metals. However little is known about mechanism of the action of PC on osteoblast differentiation, especially in transcription factor. Inhibitor of DNA binding-1 (Id-1) function has been linked to the proliferation, migration, and senescence of cells, and studies about relationship between Id-1 and biological function. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate the effect of PC on osteoblast differentiation and expression of Id-1 and Id-2. PC treatment increased ALP, Col 1 and OCN. PC treatment up-regulated the mRNA levels of Id-1 and Id-2 genes. This PC–induced osteoblast differentiation is more effective in lower doses rather than high doses. This study shows that expression of Id-1 and Id-2 was increased in a dose-dependent manner during PC-induced osteoblast differentiation.

It is known that bones get damaged by accidents and aging. Since the discovery of Bioglass, various kinds of ceramics have been also found to bond to living bone; some of these ceramics are already being clinically used as bone-repairing materials. In the present study, antibacterial calcium silicate gel (Ag-30CaO·70SiO2 gel) was prepared by sol-gel method in order to control the microstructure, which is related to the dissolution rate and induction period of apatite formation in body environment. In addition, biological Ag-30CaO·70SiO2 is tested. This was done to impart antimicrobial activity to the 30CaO·70SiO2. Ag ion was added during sol-gel synthesis to replace the H2O added during the making of the 30CaO·70SiO2 gel, which has silver solutions of various concentration. After the sol-gel process, 1N-HNO3 solution was used to wash the gel when synthesizing the gel, in order to maintain the porous structure and remove PEG, water soluble polymers. Then, the apatite forming ability of the sol-gel derived CaO-SiO2 gels was investigated using simulated body fluid (SBF), which had almost the same ion concentration as that of human blood plasma. The gels were analyzed by FT-IR spectroscopy, SEM observation, XRD, and fluorescent microscopy. The apatite was successfully created even after washing the gel; apatite is present in an amorphous state, and was found to affect the concentration of the Ag ion in cells in MC3T3 live & dead assay results. From these results, it is suggested that a good material that can be used to repair defects of nature bone is Ag-30CaO·70SiO2 gel.

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), a component of propolis, was reported to possess anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-tumor activities. Our aim was to investigate the effect of CAPE on apoptosis in cultured human mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) cell line, MC-3. Apoptotic effects of CAPE were measured by cell viability assays, Western blotting, 4’-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining and Live/Dead assay. The result of cell viability assay showed that CAPE displayed a strong growth-inhibitory effect in a concentration-dependent manner against MC-3 cells. Consumption of CAPE resulted in pronounced increase in the cleavage of caspase-3 and PARP, induced nuclear condensation and fragmentation and clearly increased the number of dead cells in MC-3 cells. CAPE also caused the increase in truncated Bid (t-Bid) and the cleavage of caspase-8 and this phenomenon was regulated by death receptor 5 (DR5). In addition, Phosphorylation of AKT and ERK were downregulated by CAPE. Taken together, these results suggest that CAPE is a potent apoptosis-inducing agent in MC-3 cells.

Background. Vitamin K (VK) is a fat-soluble vitamin and is known to have anticancer activity in various cancer cell lines. However, there is no report on the anticancer effect of VK2 in mucoepidermoid carcinoma cells. Methods. The effects of VK2 on anti-proliferative and apoptotic activity were recognized by the trypan blue exclusion assay, 4'-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining and Western blot analysis. Results. The results showed that VK2 decreased cell viability and induced apoptotic programmed cell death in MC3 cells evidenced by the cleavages of caspase3 and PARP. VK2 treatment clearly increased Bak and truncated Bid (t-Bid) compared with the control treatment whereas it did not alter other Bcl-2 family members. Conclusions. Overall, our results suggest that VK2 can be a good apoptotic inducer accompanied by the increase in Bak and Bid protein. VK2 may be a potent target of anticancer drug candidate for the treatment of oral cancer.

The objective of this study was to determine the breed differences in the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of MC1R mRNA, which may be used to distinguish Korean brindle cattle (Chikso) from other breeds. We investigated the relationship between the variation of 3'-UTR of the MC1R mRNA and coat color among different breeds and the Korean brindle cattle with different coat colors. MC1R mRNA expression levels were determined in accordance with the coat color and hair colors of the tail. Total cellular RNA was extracted from the hair follicles of the tails in Hanwoo, Korean brindle cattle, Holstein and HanwooxHolstein crossbred cattle. After cDNA synthesis, PCR was performed. Sequences of the 3'-UTR of MC1R mRNA were analyzed. The 3'-UTR of the MC1R mRNA from different breeds of cattle did not show any variations. There were no variations in the 3'-UTR of the MC1R mRNA in Korean brindle cattle with different coat colors. The levels of MC1R mRNA expression in hair follicles of the tail varied substantially among the Korean brindle cattle with different coat colors, except yellow coat color. Correlation between the MC1R mRNA expression in the hair follicles of the tail and coat color may be present in the Korean brindle cattle, but not between the variations of 3'-UTR of MC1R mRNA and coat color. Further studies to determine the regulation of MC1R mRNA expression from the hair follicles of different coat colors will be beneficial in clarifying the role of MC1R in the coat colors of the Korean brindle cattle.

During bone remodeling, there is requirement of differentiation of osteoblastic cells. Previously, we identified proteins differentially expressed in soft tissue during bone healing. Of these proteins, we focused the effect of LTF on differentiation of osteoblast. In order to analyze the osteogenic ability of LTF, we treated conditioned media collected from human LTF-stably transfected HEK293T cells into osteoblastic MC3T3-E1. The results showed that the activity and expression of alkaline phosphatase were increased in MC3T3-E1 cells treated with conditioned media containing LTF in dose- and time-dependent manner. At the same time, we observed the significant increase of the expression of osteoblastic genes, such as ALP, BSP, COL1A1, and OCN, and along with matrix mineralization genes, such as DMP1 and DMP2, in LTF conditioned media-treated groups. Moreover, the result of treating recombinant human LTF directly into osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 showed the same pattern of treating conditioned media containing LTF. Our study demonstrated that LTF constitutively enhances osteoblastic differentiation via induction of osteoblastic genes and activation of matrix mineralization in MC3T3-E1 cells.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of the MC1R genotypes of the Chikso (Korean brindle cattle) sires on the coat colors of their offspring. In this study, 15 Chikso sires with known MC1R genotypes were used for breeding in the Gangwon Province Livestock Research Center, the Chungbuk Institute of Livestock and Veterinary Research, and the Livestock Experiment Station, Jeonbuk Institute of Livestock and Veterinary Research from either 2011 or 2012 to 2013. There were 6 sires with E+E+ genotypes and 9 sires with E+e genotypes, and their coat colors were all whole brindle (more than 50 of the body). Among the 90 calves produced in 2011∼2013 or 2012∼2013 from the 15 sires, 50 (55.6%) of them were females and 40 (44.4%) of them were males. Coat colors of the offspring were determined when they reached over 6 months of age. Calves with whole brindle, part brindle, brown and black coat colors were 42 (48.3%), 11 (12.6%), 18 (20.7%) and 16 (18.4%), respectively. Ratio of calves with whole brindle coat color was higher than any other coat colors. Among the offspring with whole brindle color, 20 (41.7%) calves were female and 22 (51.3%) calves were male. By determining the MC1R genotypes of the dams and calves in this study along the family lines, and investigating other genes that may be involved in the coat colors of the Chikso, better breeding system may be established to increase the brindle coat color appearance in the future.

Bovine coat color is decided by the melanocortin receptor 1 (MC1R) genotype mutation and melanogenesis. Specially, in the various cattle breeds, dominant black coat color is expressed by dominant genotype of ED, red or brown is expressed in the frame shift mutation of recessive homozygous e by base pair deletion and wild type of E+ is expressed in various coat colors. However, not very well known about the effected of MC1R genotype mutation on the coat color through family lines in KBC. Therefore, this study were to investigate effect of MC1R genotype mutation on the coat color, and to suggest mating breed system in accordance with of MC1R genotype for increased on brindle coat color appearance. Parents (sire 2 heads and dam 3 heads) and offspring (total : 54 heads) from crossbreeding in KBC family line with the MC1R genotype and phenotype records were selected as experimental animals. The relationship between melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) genotypes expression verified by PCR-RFLP, and brindle coat color appearance to the family line of the cross mating breed from MC1R genotype pattern was determined. As a result, 4MC1R genetic variations, E+/E+ (sire 1), E+/e (sire 2 and dam 3), E+/e with 4 bands of 174, 207 and 328 bp (dam 1) and E+/e with 3 bands of 174, 207, 328 and 535 bp (dam 2) from parents (sire and dam) of KBC. However, 3 genetic variations, e/e (24%), E+/E+ (22%) and E+/e (56%) were identified in offspring. Also, brindle coat color expressrated was the e/e with the 0%, E+/E+ with 67% and E+/e with 77% from MC1R genotype in offspring on the cross mating of KBC. Furthermore, when the sire had E+/e genotype and the dam had E+/E+ with the 3 bands or E+/e genotype, and both had whole body-brindle coat color, 62% of the offspring had whole body-brindle coat color. Therefore, the seresults, the mating system from MC1R genotype patterns of the sires (E+/e) and dams (E+/E+ with the 3 bands or E+/e) with brindle coat color may have the highest whole body-brindle coat color expression in their offspring.

This study was carried out to examine a molecular marker system for parentage test in Jeju Black cattle (JBC). Based on the preliminarily studies, we finally selected for construction of a novel genetic marker system for molecular traceability, identity test, breed certification, and parentage test in JBC and its related industrial populations. The genetic marker system had eight MS markers, five indel markers, and two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; g.G299T and g.del310G) within MC1R gene which is critical to verify the breed specific genotypes for coat color of JBC differing from those of exotic black cattle breeds such as Holstein and Angus. The results showed lower level of a combined non-exclusion probability for second parent (NE-P2) of 4.1202×10-4 than those previously recommended by International Society of Animal Genetics (ISAG) of 5.000×10-4 for parentage, and a combined non-exclusion probability for sib identity (NE-SI) of 2.679×10-5. Parentage analysis has been successfully identified the JBC offspring in the indigenous population and cattle farms used the certified AI semens for production using the JBC-derived offspring for commercial beef. This combined molecular marker system will be helpful to supply genetic information for parentage test and traceability and to develop the molecular breeding system for improvement of animal productivity in JBC population.

The melanocortin receptor type 4 (MC4R) gene is expressed in the hypothalamus and regulates energy intake and body weight. Recently, it has been reported that obesity and energy balance in human were also regulated by the MC4R gene. Therefore the objective of this study was to identify the polymorphism on the MC4R gene SNP C1786T and its association with economic traits in Korean native cattle (brindle and black cattle) by PCR-RFLP. A total of 125 cattle from the two breeds were tested for economic traits (meat quality index, backfat, thickness, carcass weight, longissimus muscle area and marbling score) and data was analyzed using SAS program. In the results, C allele had highest frequency than G allele frequency in the both breeds and the gene was significantly associated with meat quantity index and backfat thickness in brindle cattle breed. However, in black cattle, the gene was significantly associated with longissimus muscle area (p<0.05). These results suggest that C1786T SNP of the MC4R gene may be useful as a genetic marker for economic traits in the brindle and black cattle.

목적: 근시정도에 따라 역기하렌즈(reverse geometry lens), MC렌즈(myopia control lens), 단초점렌즈(single vision lens)를 착용 한 후의 근시진행억제 효과에 대한 굴절교정 값의 변화를 단초점렌즈와 비교해 알아보고자 한다. 방법: 7세에서 15세 사이의 아동에게 역기하렌즈를 57안, MC렌즈를 56안, 단초점렌즈를 78안 착용시킨 후 근시정도에 따라 3그룹으로 나눴다. 그룹 1은 교정굴절력이 S-2.00D 이하 근시안과 그룹 2는 S-2.25D 이상에서 S-4.00D 이하의 근시안, 그룹 3은 S-4.25D 시상의 근시안으로 나눈 뒤 12개월 이하, 13~24개월, 25~36개월의 굴절교정 값의 변화를 통한 근시 진행 억제 효과를 알아보고 이에 대한 추적 결과의 통계적 유의성을 검증하고자 하였다. 결과: 근시정도에 다라 그룹 1에서 36개월 동안 역기하렌즈는 S-0.11±0.32D(P＜0.05). 단초점렌즈는 S-1.50±0.47D로 통계적으로 유의(P＜0.05)하게 증가하였다. 그룹2에서는 36개월 동안 역기하렌즈가 S-0.45±0.78D로 증가했지만통계적으로는 유의(P＞0.05)하지 않았고, MC렌즈가 S-1.06±0.68D(P＜0.05), 단초점렌즈는 S-1.95±1.07D로 통계적으로 유의(P＜0.05)하게 증가하였다. 그룹 3에서는 36개월 동안 역기하렌즈가 S-0.15±0.39D로 통계적으로 유의(P＞0.05)하지 않았고, MC렌즈가 S-1.02±0.42D(P＜0.05), 단초점렌즈가 S-1.77±0.74D로유의(P＜0.05)하게 변화하였다. 결론: 근시정도에 따른 굴절교정 값의 변화는 약도근시에서 고도근시까지 역기하렌즈가 변화의 증가가 낮아 근시진행억제 효과가 있었으며 MC렌즈는 근시진행엑제 효과가 역기하렌즈 보다 낮았고 단초점렌즈보다 높았으며 S-2.00D이하 근시안에서 가장 높은 근시진행 억제 효과가 있는 것으로 나타났다.

일반적으로 돼지는 어떤 종류의 모색을 가지든 피부는 연분홍색을 띄는 것으로 알려져 있으나, 경 남 김해 H 육가공회사로 출하된 개체 중 흑모색에 검은색 피부를 가진 돼지가 발견되었다. 그 원인 을 규명하고자, 모색과 연관되어 있다고 알려진 MC1R, KIT 유전자와 피부색과 연관되어 있다고 알 려진 ASIP 유전자의 특징을 살펴보았다. MC1R의 sequencing 분석 결과, 아미노산 67, 68번째 자 리의 6개 염기 C(CCC CCC)는 Hampshire와 동일한 ED2/ED2 유전자형인 것으로 밝혀졌고, KIT의 경우 qOLA_CNV, Pyro_Splice 및 sequencing 분석한 결과, Duroc의 i/i 유전자형과 같은 유전자형 으로 밝혀졌다. ASIP의 경우 염기서열을 분석한 결과, 모든 종에서 차이가 없는 것으로 확인되었다. 유연관계 분석을 위해 Phase software와 network 분석을 실시한 결과, MC1R은 Hap22와 Hap23 이, KIT는 Hap22, Hap43과 유색종과 유연관계를 형성하는 것으로 확인되었다. 반면에 ASIP는 Hap04, Hap09이 야생멧돼지와 중국재래돼지를 제외한 품종들과의 유연관계를 확인할 수 있었다. 더 나아가 각 품종 간 유사성 분석을 위해 PCA를 실시한 결과, MC1R은 Berkshire, KIT는 Berkshire와 Hampshire가 유사성을 가지는 것으로 밝혀졌고, ASIP는 Berkshire 와 Duroc의 유사 성을 관찰할 수 있었다.