Biomedical subjects
Hong-Ja Kim
Publications and source records attributed to Hong-Ja Kim.
Cyclooxygenase-2 mediates mucin secretion from epithelial cells of lipopolysaccharide-treated canine gallbladder.
Biliary mucin was regarded as a major contributing factor in formation of pigment stones as well as cholesterol ones. The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanism of biliary mucin secretion in canine gallbladder epithelial (CGBE) cells treated by lipopolysaccharides (LPS) with special reference to cyclooxygenase (COX) -2. Confluent CGBE cells were incubated with following compounds for 8, 12, and 24 hr: (1) serum-free medium, (2) serum-free medium containing LPS (100 microm/ml), (3) serum-free medium containing LPS (100 microm/ml) with NS-398 (10 microM), and (4) serum-free medium containing LPS (100 microm/ml) with indomethacin (10 microM). Mucin assay and western blots for COX-1 and COX-2 were performed. Production of PGE2, and cAMP was also measured. Mucin secretion increased with time. At 12 hr, mucin secretion increased to 200% of control (from 100 +/- 5 to 200 +/- 45%, P < 0.05). LPS treatment significantly stimulated the COX-2 expression (P < 0.05). The productions of PGE2 and cAMP were increased from 299 +/- 68 to 524 +/- 163 pg/mg (P < 0.05) and from 0.2 +/- 0.1 to 0.92 +/- 0.4 pmol/ml (P < 0.05), respectively. NS-398, which completely inhibited COX-2 expression, significantly suppressed the level of PGE2 and cAMP as well as mucin secretion (P < 0.05). Indomethacin, which partially inhibited COX-2 expression, suppressed the production of PGE2, but not cAMP and mucin secretion. In conclusion, our results suggested that the PGE2 induced by COX-2 might play a role in mucin secretion from the gallbladder epithelium through the increment of cAMP.
Two juvenile hormone suppressible storage proteins may play different roles in Hyphantria cunea Drury.
We isolated and sequenced cDNA clones corresponding to two storage proteins (HcSP-1 and HcSP-2) from fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea. The cDNAs for HcSP-1 (2,337 bp) and HcSP-2 (2,572 bp) code for 753 and 747 residue proteins with predicted molecular masses of 88.3 and 88.5 kDa, respectively. The calculated isoelectric points are pI = 8.4 (HcSP-1) and 7.6 (HcSP-2). Multiple alignment analysis of the amino acid sequence revealed that HcSP-1 is most similar to SL-1 from S. litura (73.8% identity) and other methionine-rich hexamers, whereas HcSP-2 is most similar to the SL-2 alpha subunit from S. litura (74.8% identity) and other moderately methionine-rich hexamers. The two storage proteins from H. cunea shared only 38.4% identity with one another. According to both phylogenetic analyses and the criteria of amino acid composition, HcSP-1 belongs to the subfamily of Met-rich storage proteins (6% methionine, 10% aromatic amino acid), and HcSP-2 belongs to the subfamily of moderately methionine-rich storage proteins (3.2% methionine, 12.9% aromatic amino acid). Topical application of the JH analog, methoprene, after head ligation of larvae, suppressed transcription of the SP genes, indicating hormonal effects at the transcriptional level. The HcSP-1 transcript was detected by Northern blot analysis in Malpighian tubule, testis, and ovary, in addition to fat body where it was most abundant. The HcSP-2 transcript was detected only in fat body and Malpighian tubule. The accumulation of HcSP-1 in ovary and HcSP-2 in Malpighian tubule might be related to differential functions in both organs.
Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulators (CFTR) in biliary epithelium of patients with hepatolithiasis.
Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) has been considered to be involved in the regulatory pathway of biliary mucin secretion. We investigated expression of CFTR protein and mRNA in 24 livers with hepatolithiasis, in 6 with cholangiocarcinoma, and in 12 histologically normal livers. According to the histologic features of chronic proliferative cholangitis, hepatolithiasis was subdivided into inflammatory cell infiltration predominant (N = 14) and fibrosis predominant (N = 10). The mean signal density of CFTR in overall hepatolithiasis and in histologically normal livers was 1.23 +/- 0.15 and 1.01 +/- 0.13, respectively (P > 0.05). The CFTR protein (1.60 +/- 0.18) and mRNA (1.09 +/- 0.15) in inflammatory cell infiltration predominant patients were significantly higher (CFTR protein, 1.01 +/- 0.13; mRNA, 0.75 +/- 0.11) than in control subjects (P < 0.05), whereas those in fibrosis-predominant patients (CFTR protein, 0.72 +/- 0.15; mRNA, 0.55 +/- 0.13) were less than in control subjects (P < 0.05). CFTR protein (1.27 +/- 0.17) in patients with cholangiocarcinoma was not different from that of control subjects (1.01 +/- 0.13). CFTR expression in hepatolithiasis patients was rather heterogeneous but was closely related to the histology of bile ducts.
Normal structure, variations, and anomalies of the pancreaticobiliary ducts of Koreans: a nationwide cooperative prospective study.
BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the normal pancreaticobiliary ducts of Koreans and assessed the frequency and pattern of variations and anomalies of these structures. METHODS: A prospective, nationwide multicenter study was performed in which 10 university hospitals in Korea participated from March 1997 to June 1999. A total 10,243 patients undergoing ERCP were enrolled. RESULTS: The mean (SD) maximal and midportion diameters in millimeters of the common hepatic duct were, respectively, 6.1 (1.8) and 5.3 (1.6). The mean maximal and midportion diameters (mm) of the common bile duct were, respectively, 6.4 (1.8) and 5.5 (1.7). The mean maximal and midportion diameters (mm) of the main pancreatic duct in the head, body and tail were, respectively, 3.2 (1.1), 2.7 (1.0), and 2.5 (2.3); and, respectively, 2.2 (0.9), 1.6 (0.7) and 1.4 (0.6). Pancreaticobiliary duct diameters for patients above the age of 40 were greater than those of patients less than 40 years of age (p < 0.05). The frequency of choledochal cyst and anomalous union of the pancreaticobiliary ducts were, respectively, 0.32% and 4.1%. Pancreas divisum and annular pancreas were found, respectively, in 0.49% and 0.05%. CONCLUSIONS: A knowledge of normal pancreaticobiliary ductal structures as well as the frequency and pattern of variations including anomalies is essential for the diagnosis and treatment of pancreaticobiliary disorders.