Skin protects the body by mediating various immune responses against exogenous substances including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, in addition to its predominant role as a physical barrier. Despite the significant protection offered via various mechanisms, bacterial infection of the skin is one of the most common skin diseases in veterinary medicine. This study demonstrated the structural and immunological changes in the skin during infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius using skin explants from four healthy beagles. Skin structure was generally well preserved in uninfected controls, but defects in skin structure, including injury of keratinocytes and dermal–epidermal junctional disruption, were identified when skin explants were exposed to P. aeruginosa and S. pseudintermedius. On exposure to P. aeruginosa, marked linear cleft formation was noted along with acantholysis along the basal layer after 24 hours of culture. In addition to the defects in the skin structure, mRNA expression levels of the AMPs cBD103 and S100A8 were decreased, which was confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. Taken together, these results suggest that our ex vivo canine skin model is a research tool for investigating bacterial skin infections in dogs.

Long-term ultraviolet (UV) exposure accelerates the phenomenon of skin photo-aging by activating collagenase and elastase. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of a combination of grapefruit and rosemary extracts (cG&Re) on UVB-irradiated damage in HaCaT cells and dorsal mouse skin. In HaCaT cells, cG&Re recovered UVB-reduced cell viability and inhibited protein expression of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), such as extracellular signal-regulated kinases (p-Erk), c-Jun N-terminal kinases (p-JNK), and a class of MAPKs (p-P38). Also, cG&Re suppressed UVB-induced collagen and elastin degradation by decreasing matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and nuclear factor kappa light chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) expression, which is a transcription factor. Similar results were observed in dorsal mouse skin. Taken together, our data indicate that cG&Re prevent UVB-induced skin photo-aging due to collagen/elastin degradation via activation of MAPKs, MMPs, and the NF-κB signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo.

비알코올성 지방간 질환은 만성 간질환의 가장 흔한 원인이다. 이 연구의 목적은 비알코올성 지방간 질환 동물모델을 확립하고 생체 내 짧은 양성자 자기공명분광법을 이용하여 비침습적으로 간의 대사물질과 지질의 변화를 정량 분석하고자 하였다. 각 실험은 고지방식 먹이를 먹고 나서 0주를 기준선으로 하고, 2, 4, 6, 8주에 쥐의 간 실질 조직으로부터 측정되었다. 0주를 기준선으로 하고 2주와 비교했을 때 0.9, 1.3, 2.3, 2.8 및 5.3 ppm 에서 유의미하게 증가하였다(p<0.01). 따라서 양성자 자기공명분광법은 고지방식 먹이를 먹고 2주 후부터 다양한 쥐의 간 지질 변화를 검출하고 특성화하는데 유용할 것이다.

Backgound : Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are chronic disorders that are characterized by intestinal epithelial inflammation and injury. Currently, the most employed therapies are antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs; however, the side effects limit long-term effectiveness. Methods and Results : We evaluated the impact of glucose-lysine Maillard reaction products (Glc-Lys MRPs) on colitis, induced in rats by an administration of 5% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in drinking water. Glc-Lys MRPs ameliorate DSS-induced colitis, as determined by a decrease in disease. index activity, colon weight/length ratio, nitric oxide levels in serum, recovery of body weight loss, colon length and serum lysozyme levels. Furthermore, Glc-Lys MRPs increase the glutathione content and the activity of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase, and inhibit lipid peroxidation and myeloperoxidase activity in colon tissues. In particular, Glc-Lys MRPs suppress the mRNA level of the inflammatory cytokines and nuclear factor-κB in colon tissues. Conclusion : This study suggests the potential of Glc-Lys MRPs in preventing or treating IBDs.

본 연구는 교모세포종 (Glioblastoma multiform, GBM)에 대한 방사선 진단학적/치료학적 연구에 필수적으로 필요한 악성뇌종양 동물모델을 개발하기 위해 수행되었다. 악성뇌종양 동물모델 개발을 위해 뇌정위 기구(stereotactic instrument)를 이용하여 C6 세포(Glioblastoma cell line)를 SD rat의 우측 선조체 내에 동종이식하였다. 개발된 동물모델의 검증을 위해 MRI와 해부조직학적 검사방법을 이용하였다. 해부조직학적 검사방법으로는 H&E 염색법을 이용하였다. MRI를 이용한 종양 형성 검사에서 C6 세포 이식 7일 후 종양 형성이 확인되었고, 14일 후에는 이식한 우측 뇌의 대부분이 종양으로 변화한 것을 확인하였다. 해부조직학적 검사에서는 과세포 발현 및 다형성 세포에 의해 형태학적 변화가 발생하는 것을 알 수 있었다. 본 연구에서 개발된 악성뇌종양 동물모델은 in vivo level에서 교모세포종에 대한 방사선 진단학적 기술 개발 및 새로운 치료법 개발을 위한 필수적인 도구로서 활용될 수 있을 것이다.