• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.653-664
• /
• 1994

This study was carried out to investigate diabetic renal changes in cyclophosphamide(CY) treated nonobese diabetic(NOD) mice and to develop animal model of diabetic human nephropathy. The 8-week-old NOD and ICR mice were injected with cyclophosphamide intraperitoneally at 200mg/kg body weight and compared the chemical effects on these mice with the non-treated NOD and ICR mice respectively. The renal glomeruli in ICR, cyclophosphamide-treated ICR(ICR+CY), NOD and cyclophosphamide-treated NOD(NOD+CY) mice were observed by the light and electron microscopes. The results obtained were summarized as follows ; 1. Spontaneous incidences of diabetes mellitus in NOD mice were significantly promoted by dosing with cyclophosphamide. 2. Glomerulohypertrophy, proliferation of mesangium, partial thickening of glomerular basement membrane, and partial fusion of pedicels of podocyte were observed in NOD mice and NOD+CY mice. These changes were not observed in both ICR mice and ICR+CY mice. 3. The diabetic nephropathy observed in NOD+CY mice was more severe than that of non-treated NOD mice.

• Laboraroty Animal Research
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.295-301
• /
• 2018

Nucleotide-binding domain 1 (Nod1) is a cytosolic receptor that is responsible for the recognition of a bacterial peptidoglycan motif containing meso-diaminophimelic acid. In this study, we sought to identify the role of Nod1 in host defense in vivo against pulmonary infection by multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. Wildtype (WT) and Nod1-deficient mice were intranasally infected with $3{\times}10^7CFU$ of A. baumannii and sacrificed at 1 and 3 days post-infection (dpi). Bacterial CFUs, cytokines production, histopathology, and mouse ${\beta}$-defensins (mBD) in the lungs of infected mice were evaluated. The production of cytokines in response to A. baumannii was also measured in WT and Nod1-deficient macrophages. The bacterial clearance in the lungs was not affected by Nod1 deficiency. Levels of IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and $IL-1{\beta}$ in the lung homogenates were comparable at days 1 and 3 between WT and Nod1-deficient mice, except the $TNF-{\alpha}$ level at day 3, which was higher in Nod1-deficient mice. There was no significant difference in lung pathology and expression of mBDs (mBD1, 2, 3, and 4) between WT and Nod1-deficient mice infected with A. baumannii. The production of IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and NO by macrophages in response to A. baumannii was also comparable in WT and Nod1-deficient mice. Our results indicated that Nod1 does not play an important role in host immune responses against A. baumannii infection.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.22 no.5
• /
• pp.437-447
• /
• 1999

Type I diabetes, also known as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) results from the destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic $\beta$ cells by a progressive $\beta$ cell-specific autoimmune process. The pathogenesis of autoimmune IDDM has been extensively studied for the past two decades using animal models such as the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse and the Bio-Breeding (BB) rat. However, the initial events that trigger the immune responses leading to the selective destruction of the $\beta$ cells are poorly understood. It is thought that $\beta$ cell auto-antigens are involved in the triggering of $\beta$ cell-specific autoimmunity. Among a dozen putative $\beta$ cell autoantigens, glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) has bee proposed as perhaps the strongest candidate in both humans and the NOD mouse. In the NOD mouse, GAD, as compared with other $\beta$ cell autoantigens, provokes the earliest T cell proliferative response. The suppression of GAD expression in the $\beta$ cells results in the prevention of autoimmune diabetes in NOD mice. In addition, the major populations of cells infiltrating the iselts during the early stage of insulitis in BB rats and NOD mice are macrophages and dendritic cells. The inactivation of macrophages in NOD mice results in the prevention of T cell mediated autoimmune diabetes. Macrophages are primary contributors to the creation of the immune environment conducive to the development and activation of $\beta$cell-specific Th1-type CD4+ T cells and CD8+ cytotoxic T cells that cause autoimmune diabetes in NOD mice. CD4+ and CD8+ T cells are both believed to be important for the destruction of $\beta$ cells. These cells, as final effectors, can kill the insulin-producing $\beta$ cells by the induction of apoptosis. In addition, CD8+ cytotoxic T cells release granzyme and cytolysin (perforin), which are also toxic to $\beta$ cells. In this way, macrophages, CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells act synergistically to kill the $\beta$ cells in conjunction with $\beta$ cell autoantigens and MHC class I and II antigens, resulting in the onset of autoimmune type I diabetes.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.52 no.11
• /
• pp.665-670
• /
• 2019

Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain protein 2 (NOD2), an intracellular pattern recognition receptor, plays important roles in inflammation and cell death. Previously, we have shown that NOD2 is expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and that NOD2 deficiency promotes VSMC proliferation, migration, and neointimal formation after vascular injury. However, its role in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced cell death in VSMCs remains unclear. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate ER stress-induced viability of mouse primary VSMCs. NOD2 deficiency increased ER stress-induced cell death and expression levels of apoptosis mediators (cleaved caspase-3, Bax, and Bak) in VSMCs in the presence of tunicamycin (TM), an ER stress inducer. In contrast, ER stress-induced cell death and expression levels of apoptosis mediators (cleaved caspase-3, Bax, and Bak) were decreased in NOD2-overexpressed VSMCs. We found that the $IRE-1{\alpha}-XBP1$ pathway, one of unfolded protein response branches, was decreased in NOD2-deficient VSMCs and reversed in NOD2-overexpressed VSMCs in the presence of TM. Furthermore, NOD2 deficiency reduced the expression of XBP1 target genes such as GRP78, PDI-1, and Herpud1, thus improving cell survival. Taken together, these data suggest that the induction of ER stress through NOD2 expression can protect against TM-induced cell death in VSMCs. These results may contribute to a new paradigm in vascular homeostasis.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.1-6
• /
• 2007

The nonobese diabetic / severe combined immune deficiency (NOD/SCID) has been used for determination of proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells as xenotransplantation animal model. In this study, we transplanted porcine hematopoietic cells from bone marrow into NOD/SCID mice via intravenous injection to confirm the activity of differentiation and proliferation for porcine hematopoietic cells in vivo. Interestingly, we observed the result of high efficiency with pig T lymphocytes in hematopoietic organs, liver, spleen lymph node, and bone marrow in NOD/SCID mice. The porcine $CD3^{+}$ T cells were detected with $5.4{\pm}1.9%$ in bone marrow, $15.4{\pm}7.3%$ in spleen, $21.3{\pm}1.4%$ in liver, and $33.5{\pm}32.8%$ in lymph node of NOD/SCID mice at 6 weeks after trans-plantation Furthermore, immunohistochemical analysis showed the high engraftment of porcine T lymphocytes in spleen of NOD/SCID mice. Our data suggest that NOD/SCID mice are excellent animal model to determinate the generation md function of pig T lymphocytes.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.766-770
• /
• 2008

Bone is a dynamic tissue that is regulated by the balance between bone-resorbing osteoclasts and bone-forming osteoblasts. Curcumin isolated from Kang-hwang (Turmeric) is widely used as a foodstuff, cosmetic, and medicine. However, the effect of curcumin isolated from Kang-hwang in osteoclast differentiation remains unknown. In this study, we sought to examine the role of curcumin in osteoclast differentiation. Here we show that curcumin greatly inhibited RANKL-mediated osteoclast differentiation in osteoclast precursors without cytotoxicity. RANKL induced the phosphorylation of p38 and JNK mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and mediated $I-{\kappa}B$ degradation in bone marrow macrophages (BMMs). However, RANKL-mediated p38 MAPK phosphorylation was inhibited by the addition of curcumin. Curcumin inhibited the mRNA expression of TRAP, c-Fos, and NFATc1 in BMMs treated with RANKL. Furthermore, the protein expression of c-Fos and NFATc1 induced by RANKL was suppressed by curcumin treatment. Taken together, our results suggest that curcumin may have a potential therapeutic role in bone-related diseases such as osteoporosis by inhibiting osteoclast differentiation.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.45 no.4
• /
• pp.89-96
• /
• 2020

Purpose: To investigate the expression of malondialdehyde (MDA), lipid peroxidation marker for oxidative stress (OS), in autoimmune Sjögren's syndrome (SjS) by utilizing the SjS-prone C57BL/6.NOD-Aec1Aec2 (B6DC) mouse and the SjS patient plasma samples. Methods: The MDA concentrations in the lysates of the submandibular gland, liver, and serum samples from the SjS-prone B6DC mouse model were compared with those from the C57BL/6J as a control. A thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) assay kit was used to measure MDA. Plasma samples from five SjS patients and five control subjects were also evaluated. Results: The MDA concentrations in experimental animals and controls were not significantly different. There were no significant differences between the plasma of SjS patients and of controls. Conclusions: The expression of MDA was investigated in the organs from the SjS-prone B6DC mouse for the first time and in the plasma samples of SjS patients. No significant differences were observed between SjS and control samples when MDA was the target molecule with the TBARS assay. MDA may not be a reliable marker to measure OS contrary to the published studies involving OS of SjS.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.79-92
• /
• 2019

Humanized mice, containing engrafted human cells and tissues, are emerging as an important in vivo platform for studying human diseases. Since the development of Nod scid gamma (NSG) mice bearing mutations in the IL-2 receptor gamma chain, many investigators have used NSG mice engrafted with human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) to generate functional human immune systems in vivo, results in high efficacy of human cell engraftment. The development of NSG mice has allowed significant advances to be made in studies on several human diseases, including cancer and graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD), and in regenerative medicine. Based on the human HSC transplantation, organ transplantation including thymus and liver in the renal capsule has been performed. Also, immune reconstruction of cells, of the lymphoid as well as myeloid lineages, has been partly accomplished. However, crosstalk between pluripotent stem cell derived therapeutic cells with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) mis/matched types and immune CD3 T cells have not been fully addressed. To overcome this hurdle, human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, not mouse MHC molecules, are required to generate functional T cells in a humanized mouse model. Here, we briefly summarize characteristics of the humanized mouse model, focusing on development of CD3 T cells with MHC molecules. We also highlight the necessity of the humanized mouse model for the treatment of various human diseases.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.487-493
• /
• 2008

HoxB4 has been shown to enhance hematopoietic engraftment by hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) from differentiating mouse embryonic stem cell (mESC) cultures. Here we examined the effect of ectopic expression of HoxB4 in differentiated human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). Stable HoxB4-expressing hESCs were established by lentiviral transduction, and the forced expression of HoxB4 did not affect stem cell features. HoxB4-expressing hESC-derived CD34+ cells generated higher numbers of erythroid and blast-like colonies than controls. The number of CD34+ cells increased but CD45+ and KDR+ cell numbers were not significantly affected. When the hESC derived CD34+ cells were transplanted into $NOD/SCID{\beta}2m-/-$ mice, the ectopic expression of HoxB4 did not alter their repopulating capacity. Our findings show that overexpression of HoxB4 in differentiating hESCs increases hematopoietic colony formation and hematopoietic cell formation in vitro, but does not affect in vivo repopulation in adult mice hosts.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.44 no.6
• /
• pp.833-842
• /
• 2020

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a commonly encountered large intestine disease in the contemporary world that terminates into colorectal cancer; therefore, the timely treatment of UC is of major concern. Panax ginseng Meyer is an extensively consumed herbal commodity in South East Asian countries, especially Korea. It exhibits a wide range of biologically beneficial qualities for almost head-to-toe ailments in the body. Epimedium koreanum Nakai (EKN) is also a widely used traditional Korean herbal medicine used for treating infertility, rheumatism, and cardiovascular diseases. Materials and methods: Separately the anti-inflammatory activities of both red ginseng extracts (RGEs) and EKNs had been demonstrated in the past in various inflammatory models; however, we sought to unravel the anti-inflammatory activities of the combination of these two extracts in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis in mice model because the allopathic remedies for UC involve more side effects than benefits. Results: Our results have shown that the combination of RGE + EKN synergistically alleviated the macroscopic lesions in DSS-induced colitic mice such as colon shortening, hematochezia, and weight loss. Moreover, it restored the histopathological lesions in mice and decreased the levels of proinflammatory mediators and cytokines through the repression of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and nucleotide-binding domain (NOD)-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP-3) expression. In vitro, this combination also reduced the magnitude of nitric acid (NO), proinflammatory mediators and cytokine through NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways in RAW 264.7 mouse macrophage cells. Conclusion: In the light of these findings, we can endorse this combination extract as a functional food for the prophylactic as well as therapeutic treatment of UC in humans together with allopathic remedies.