Gene Expression Profiles are Altered in Human Papillomavirus-16 E6 D25E-Expressing Cell Lines

Previously, we have reported that the human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 E6 D25E is the most prevalent variant in Korean women at high risk for cervical cancers. Several studies have identified an association between the increased frequency of this variant and the elevated risk of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and invasive cervical carcinoma. To investigate whether the HPV-16 E6 D25E variant might influence cervical cancer progression, we used an oligonucleotide microarray approach to identify transcriptionally altered gene expression patterns in recombinant wild-type E6 or E6 D25E variant-expressing HPV-negative cancer cells. We found that 211 genes were significantly up- or down-regulated (at least 1.5-fold, p < 0.05). We identified 14 genes, nine down-regulated and five up-regulated upon E6 D25E expression, compared with wild-type E6 expression. These results further emphasize the unique biological activity of the HPV-16 E6 D25E variant

Microfluidic-based 3D hepatic cell cultivation as a new in vitro tool for inflammation study

The liver is a vital organ which performs a variety of important functions, including protein synthesis, detoxification, carbohydrate metabolism and innate immunity, mainly by the hepatocytes. In this thesis, a new perfused 3D culture model for human hepatocyte cells lines (HepG2 and HepaRG) using a commercial microfluidic device will be presented that combines different advantages for the in vitro cultivation of hepatocytes to apply for the study of hepatic inflammatory responses. First, matrigel-embedded HepG2 cells cultured in the microfluidic device showed a high survival rate and improved hepatic functions compared to static two- and three-dimensional culture models. Next, we further investigated interplay between Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and melatonin in HepG2 cells-on-a-chip regarding acute phase response, detoxification, glucose metabolism, and mitochondrial functions. Additionally, HepaRG cells, the hepatic stem cell line, were successfully directly differentiated in the microfluidic device and produced C-reactive proteins by IL-6 stimulation. Altogether, this new in vitro model is not only applicable to investigation of hepatic physiology and inflammatory responses, but can also be a tool for the differentiation of different types of stem cells.Die Leber ist ein lebenswichtiges Organ. Sie übt eine Vielzahl von wichtigen Funktionen aus, einschließlich Proteinsynthese, Entgiftungen, Kohlehydrat-Stoffwechsel und angeborene Immunabwehr, vor allem geleistet durch Hepatocyten. In dieser Arbeit wird ein neues perfusionsbasiertes 3D Kulturmodell vorgestellt für humane Hepatocytenlinien (HepG2 und HepaRG), basierend auf einer kommerziellen, mikrofluidischen Plattform, welche die verschiedenen Vorteile verbindet wie die Kultivierbarkeit der Hepatocyten in vitro mit der Untersuchbarkeit von Leberentzündungsreaktionen. Zuerst konnte für Matrigel-eingebettete HepG2-Zellen eine hohe Überlebensrate bei Kultivierung in mikrofluidischen Systemen gezeigt, sowie verbesserte Leberfunktionen nachgewiesen werden, im Vergleich zu den statischen 2D und 3D Kulturmodellen. Als nächsten Schritt wurde das Zusammenspiel von Interleukin-6 (IL-6) mit Melatonin bei HepG2-Zellen-on-a-chip untersucht hinsichtlich Akut-Phasenverlauf, Entgiftung, Glukosemetabolismus und Mitochondrien-Funktionen. Des Weiteren konnten HepaRG-Zellen, eine Leberstammzell-Linie, direkt in der mikrofluidischen Plattform differenziert werden und produzierten nach Stimulation durch IL-6 C-reaktives Protein. Zusammenfassend kann dieses neue in vitro Modell nicht nur zur Untersuchung der Leberphysiologie und Entzündungsantwort verwendet werden, sondern ebenfalls als Werkzeug zur Differenzierung von verschiedenen Typen von Stammzellen

Efficiency Analysis of Major Container Ports in Asia: Using DEA and Shannon’s Entropy

This paper attempts to evaluate performance (i.e. efficiency) of Asias container ports. Measurement of the ports performance is critical to increase the competitiveness of maritime transport, ultimately leading to one nations competitive advantages over other countries. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), which is a non-parametric method widely used for assessing efficiency of units which have similar characteristics, was selected to analyse the data. Due to the limitations of the DEA method producing diverse results according to different models, and to the complexities of choosing a specific model among several DEA models, Shannons Entropy was also employed. By including Shannons Entropy, the efficiency results calculated from each model were integrated in order to rank the ports. The results in this study will provide port managers with valuable information in order to understand the current status of Asias container ports in terms of their efficiency

Broussonetia papyrifera Root Bark Extract Exhibits Anti-inflammatory Effects on Adipose Tissue and Improves Insulin Sensitivity Potentially Via AMPK Activation

The chronic low-grade inflammation in adipose tissue plays a causal role in obesity-induced insulin resistance and its associated pathophysiological consequences. In this study, we investigated the effects of extracts of Broussonetia papyrifera root bark (PRE) and its bioactive components on inflammation and insulin sensitivity. PRE inhibited TNF-alpha-induced NF-kappa B transcriptional activity in the NF-kappa B luciferase assay and pro-inflammatory genes&apos; expression by blocking phosphorylation of I kappa B and NF-kappa B in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, which were mediated by activating AMPK. Ten-week-high fat diet (HFD)-fed C57BL6 male mice treated with PRE had improved glucose intolerance and decreased inflammation in adipose tissue, as indicated by reductions in NF-kappa B phosphorylation and pro-inflammatory genes&apos; expression. Furthermore, PRE activated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and reduced lipogenic genes&apos; expression in both adipose tissue and liver. Finally, we identified broussoflavonol B (BF) and kazinol J (KJ) as bioactive constituents to suppress pro-inflammatory responses via activating AMPK in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Taken together, these results indicate the therapeutic potential of PRE, especially BF or KJ, in metabolic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes

On the super Hilbert scheme of constant Hilbert polynomials

In this thesis we mainly consider supermanifolds and super Hilbert schemes. In the first part of this dissertation, we construct the Hilbert scheme of $0$-dimensional subspaces on dimension $1 | 1$ supermanifolds. By using a flattening stratification, we compute the local defining equation for the super Hilbert scheme. From local defining equations, we conclude that the Hilbert scheme of constant Hilbert polynomials on dimension $1| 1$ supermanifolds is smooth. The second part of this thesis concerns the smoothness and the non smoothness of $0$-dimensional subspaces on some supermanifolds of higher dimensions, which is related with the future study chapter. The last part is devoted to the splitness of the Hilbert scheme. The non-splitness of supermanifolds can be deduced from the non vanishing of some cohomology class, called the obstruction class. We find examples of both split and non-split super Hilbert schemes. For the split case, we find a split model which is isomorphic to $Hilb^{1|1}(\Pi O_{\mathbb{P}^1}(k))$ for any $k$. For the non-split case, we compute the obstruction class of the super Hilbert scheme Hilb^{2|1}( \Pi \oo_{\mathbb{P}^1}(k) ) and show that this class is not vanishing for $k \neq 0$ and vanishing for $k=0$. Moreover, since the odd dimension of this Hilbert scheme is 2, we can see that $Hilb^{2|1}(\Pi V)$ is projected for $k=0$ and not projected for all $k \neq 0$

Editorial : Adult neurogenesis as a regenerative strategy for brain repair

Funding Information: This work was supported by Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) BB/W008068/1 to DB, National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) (2019R1A2C1003958 and 2021R1A4A5028966) to K-OC, and NIH (R01CA242158 and R01AG058560) to M-HJ.Peer reviewedPublisher PD