• BMB Reports
• /
• v.52 no.10
• /
• pp.613-618
• /
• 2019

Microglial cells are known as the main immune cells in the central nervous system, both regulating its immune response and maintaining its homeostasis. Furthermore, the antioxidant ${\alpha}-lipoic$ acid (LA) is a recognized therapeutic drug for diabetes because it can easily invade the blood-brain barrier. This study investigated the effect of ${\alpha}-LA$ on the inflammatory response in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated BV-2 microglial cells. Our results revealed that ${\alpha}-LA$ significantly attenuated several inflammatory responses in BV-2 microglial cells, including pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ and interleukin (IL)-6, and other cytotoxic molecules, such as nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species. In addition, ${\alpha}-LA$ inhibited the LPS-induced phosphorylation of ERK and p38 and its pharmacological properties were facilitated via the inhibition of the nuclear factor kappa B signaling pathway. Moreover, ${\alpha}-LA$ suppressed the activation of NOD-like receptor pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasomes, multiprotein complexes consisting of NLRP3 and caspase-1, which are involved in the innate immune response. Finally, ${\alpha}-LA$ decreased the genes accountable for the M1 phenotype, $IL-1{\beta}$ and ICAM1, whereas it increased the genes responsible for the M2 phenotype, MRC1 and ARG1. These findings suggest that ${\alpha}-LA$ alleviates the neuroinflammatory response by regulating microglial polarization.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.25 no.6
• /
• pp.922-927
• /
• 1996

In order to investigate heat-induced gelation properties of $\alpha-lactalbumin(\alpha-La),$ total free SH groups, half-cystine, and disulfide bond contents of $\alpha-La$ gels prepared in 0.1M Tris-HCI buffer(pH 8.0) were measured. The samples were heated at $90^{\circ}C$ for 40 minutes under different PH and concentrations of NaCl, $CaCl_2,$ $\alpha-La,$ N-ethylrnaleirnide(NEM), and dithiothreitol(DTT). Total free SH groups were low at high concentrations of $\alpha-La$ and at pH 6.5~8.5, and were $14.72~18.58\mu\textrm{m}ol/g$ and $14.17~16.11\mu\textrm{m}ol/g,$ respectively. Half-cystine contents of NEM-induced gels decreased with increasing concentration of NEM, and were $1.03~39.17\mu\textrm{m}ol/g.$ Disulfide bonds of DTT-induced gels increased with increasing concentration of DTT, and were $70.04~71.80\mu\textrm{m}ol/g$.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2013

Parkin is known to be a tumor suppressor protein. Previously, we determined that parkin expression restores susceptibility to TNF-${\alpha}$-induced death of HeLa cells, a human cervical cancer cell line resistant to TNF-${\alpha}$-induced cell death. MMP-3 is a zinc-dependent protease recently reported to activate intracellular apoptotic signaling. In this study we examined the regulation of MMP-3 expression by parkin in TNF-${\alpha}$-treated HeLa cells. Furthermore, we investigated the signaling pathway involved in parkin-induced expression of MMP-3. We found that HeLa cells exhibit low levels of MMP-3 but is induced after introduction of the parkin gene into HeLa cells. Furthermore, MMP-3 expression increased further when parkin expressing cells were treated with TNF-${\alpha}$. Using chemical inhibitors of cell signaling pathways, we found that MEK-1 (PD98059), PI3K (LY294002), p38 MAPK (SB203580), and JNK inhibitors alleviated parkin-induced up-regulation of MMP-3. Finally, we show that TNF-${\alpha}$-induced cell death in parkin expressing cells is inhibited by using a MMP-3 inhibitor. These results suggest that parkin expression induces prolonged expression of MMP-3 via MEK-1, PI3K, MAPK, and JNK pathway in HeLa cells allowing the HeLa cells to become sensitive to TNF-${\alpha}$-induced cell death. These results implicate a role of MMP-3 in parkin-induced cell death in TNF-${\alpha}$ treated HeLa cells.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.27 no.6
• /
• pp.909-914
• /
• 1995

In order to investigate gelation properties of Gelation Properties of ${\alpha}-lactalbumin$(${\alpha}-La$), gelling times and protein solubilities of ${\alpha}-La$ gels prepared in 0.1 M Tris-HCI buffer(pH 8.0) followed by heating at $90^{\circ}C$ for 40 minutes under different ${\alpha}-La$ concentration, NaCl, $CaCl_2$, N-ethylmaleimide(NEM), and dithiothreitol(DTT) concentration were measured. Gelling times decreased with increasing concentration of ${\alpha}-La$, NaCl, $CaCl_2$, and DTT, but increased with increasing concentration of NEM. ${\alpha}-La$ solutions made from all treatments were gelled within 40 minutes with the exception of NEM at $20{\sim}50\;mM$. Solubilities decreased with increasing concentration of ${\alpha}-La$, NaCl, $CaCl_2$, and DTT, but the solubility of NEM-modified gels increased with increasing concentration of NEM. As the results, solubilities In standard buffer were $10.4{\sim}51.3%$, $9.2{\sim}35.4%$, $11.1{\sim}35.0%$, $8.0{\sim}9.5%$, and $96.8{\sim}56.2%$, respectively. Solubilities in standard buffer containing 8 M urea and 0.5% SDS were higher than those in standard buffer, and were $41.8{\sim}81.3%$, $41.9{\sim}64.1%$, $43.5{\sim}69.8%$, $29.6{\sim}38.5%$, and $77.4{\sim}98.9%$, respectively. Solubilities in the presence of DTT were almost close to 100% in all conditions. These results indicates that the gelation rate and solubility are influenced by many factors, i.e. protein concentration, kind and concentration of salts, concentration of thiol reagents. The solubility of gel decreased with increasing the gelation rate.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.20 no.9
• /
• pp.1327-1333
• /
• 2007

Lactose synthase catalyses the formation of lactose which is the major osmole of bovine milk and regulates the milk volume. Alpha-lactalbumin (${\alpha}$-LA) is involved in the synthesis of lactose synthase in the mammary gland. Therefore ${\alpha}$-LA is regarded as a plausible candidate gene for the milk yield trait. To determine whether ${\alpha}$-LA is associated with milk performance traits, 1,028 Chinese Holstein cows were used to detect polymorphisms in the ${\alpha}$-LA by means of single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP). Two nucleotide transitions were identified in the 5'flanking region and intron 3 of ${\alpha}$-LA. Associations of such polymorphisms with five milk performance traits were analyzed using a general linear model procedure. No significant associations were observed between these polymorphisms and the five milk performance traits (p>0.05). RH mapping placed ${\alpha}$-LA on BTA5q21, linked most closely to markers U63110, CC537786 and L10347 (LOD>8.3), which is far distant from the region of the quantitative trait locus (QTL) on bovine chromosome 5 for variation in the milk yield trait. In summary, based on our findings, we eliminated these SNPs from having an effect on milk performance traits.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.41 no.6
• /
• pp.414-420
• /
• 1998

We studied the difference effects of dietary ${\alpha}-linolenic\;acid\;({\alpha}-LA,\;18:3\;n-3)$, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5 n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6 n-3) on the lowering of triacylglycerol in the liver and serum on lipid metabolism in rats. Rats were fed semipurified diets containing 10% fat with constant polyunsaturated/monounsaturated/saturated fatty acids (1:1:1) and n-6/n-3 ratio (1:2). EPA (98%) and DHA (98%) were added in diets as the ethyl esters. The concentration of liver triacylglycerol was significantly lower in rats fed both EPA and DHA than in those fed ${\alpha}-LA$. The concentration of liver phospholipid was significantly higher in rats fed DHA than in those fed ${\alpha}-LA$ and EPA. Both EPA and DHA reduced serum triacylglycerol concentration compared with ${\alpha}-LA$, but this effect was more pronounced in the EPA diet. The activity of phophatidate phosphohydrolase in the liver microsome was significantly lower in rats fed both EPA and DHA than in those fed ${\alpha}-LA$. but, there was no significant difference on the activities of diacylglycerol acyltransferase among the three groups. The concentration of liver triacylglycerol were correlated with changes in the microsomal phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity (r=0.84). Hepatic NADPH generating enzyme, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was more effective to reduce the activity in rats fed both EPA and DHA than in those fed ${\alpha}-LA$. In conclusion, EPA or DHA reduced the hepatic triacylglycerol concentration by inhibiting microsomal phosphatidate phosphohydrolase, thereby inhibiting synthesis of triacylglycerol in the liver.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.27 no.6
• /
• pp.907-915
• /
• 2014

Alpha-lipoic acid (${\alpha}$-LA) is not only involved in energy metabolism, but is also a powerful antioxidant that can protect against hepatic oxidative stress induced by some drugs, toxins, or under various physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Here, we investigated the effect of ${\alpha}$-LA against liver oxidative damage in broilers exposed to aflatoxin $B_1$ ($AFB_1$). Birds were randomly divided into four groups and assigned different diets: basal diet, 300 mg/kg ${\alpha}$-LA supplementation in basal diet, diet containing 74 ${\mu}g/kg$ $AFB_1$, and 300 mg/kg ${\alpha}$-LA supplementation in diet containing 74 ${\mu}g/kg$ $AFB_1$, for 3 weeks. The results revealed that the addition of 300 mg/kg ${\alpha}$-LA protected against the liver function damage of broilers induced by chronic low dose of $AFB_1$ as estimated by a significant (p<0.05) change in levels of plasma total protein, albumin, alkaline phosphatase and the activities of liver glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase. The histopathological analysis also showed that liver tissues were injured in the $AFB_1$ diet, but this effect was alleviated by the addition of 300 mg/kg ${\alpha}$-LA. Additionally, $AFB_1$ induced a profound elevation of oxidative stress in birds, as indicated by an increase in malondialdehyde level, a decrease in glutathione peroxidase activity and a depletion of the glutathione content in the liver. All of these negative effects were inhibited by treatment with ${\alpha}$-LA. Our results suggest that the inhibition of $AFB_1$-induced excess production of lipid peroxides and the maintenance of intracellular antioxidant status may play important roles in the protective effects of ${\alpha}$-LA against $AFB_1$-induced oxidative damage in the liver.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.32-39
• /
• 2007

CO oxidation and selective CO oxidation of $La_xCe_{1-x}Co_yCu_{1-y}O_{3-{\alpha}}$ perovskite(x=1, 0.9, 0.7. 0.5; y=1, 0.9, 0.7, 0.5) were investigated. For CO oxidation, catalytic activities were studied according to different preparation conditions such as pH and calcination temperature. The influence of the change of the $O_2$ concentration for selective CO oxidation was studied, too. The substitution of Ce for La improved the catalytic activity for CO oxidation and selective CO oxidation and best activity was observed for $La_{0.7}Ce_{0.3}CoO_3$ prepared at pH 11 and calcined at $600^{\circ}C$. The temperature of 90% CO conversion for CO oxidation using $La_{0.7}Ce_{0.3}CoO_3$ was $230^{\circ}C$. In contrast to the enhancement effect by Ce substitution, the partial substitution of Cu for Co in $LaCo_yCu_{1-y}O_{3-{\alpha}}$ decreased catalytic activities for CO oxidation reaction compared to that using $LaCoO_3$. For selective CO oxidation, the best CO conversion was 66% at $230^{\circ}C$ for $La_{0.7}Ce_{0.3}CoO_3$. The CO conversion of $La_{0.7}Ce_{0.3}CoO_3$ was greatly increased from 66% to 91% as increasing $O_2$ concentration from 1% to 2%.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.436-441
• /
• 1994

To investigate the lowering effects of in vitro enzymatic hydrolysis by the treatment of chymotrypsin, trypsin, pancreatin, or protease from Aspergillus oryzae on the antigenicity of whey protein isolate (WPI) against rabbit anti ${\alpha}-LA$ antiserum, competitive inhibition ELISA (cELISA) and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) test using guinea pig were performed. The results of cELISA showed that the monovalent antigenicity of the whey protein hydrolysates (WPH) to the antiserum was decreased to $10^{-2.5}-10^{-5.5}$ and less by the hydrolysis. The monovalent antigenicity of the WPH hydrolyzed by trypsin, or protease from Asp. nryzae was much lowered by the pretreatment of heat denaturation. The antigenicity of the WPH hydrolyzed by chymotrypsin, trypsin, or pancreatin was much lowered by the pretreatment of pepsin. Especially, the antigenicity of TDP (trypic hydrolysate with pretreatment of heat and pepsin) was found almost to be removed. However, there was not consistency between degree of hydrolysis(DH) and the monovalent antigenicity of the WPH. By the heterologous PCA it was found that all of the PGPH lost the polyvalent antigenicity regardless of the pretreatments although WPI and ${\alpha}-LA$ had the positive high antigenicity. The results suggested that the peptides derived from ${\alpha}-LA$ in WPH could bind specific antibodies but they could not induce allergy. Therefore, it was elucidated that the allergenicity of ${\alpha}-LA$ in whey protein could be destroyed easily by the enzymatic hydrolysis.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.415-422
• /
• 2009

In this study, several factors were analyzed in an effort to determine the effects of transglutaminase (TGase) treatment on sodium caseinate (NaCN), ${\alpha}--lactalbumin$ (${\alpha}-La$), and ${\beta}-lactoglobulin$ (${\beta}-Lg$) polymerization reactions. The results of SDSPAGE showed that NaCN was slightly hydrolyzed to molecular weights of 50-400 kDa according to activation time. ${\alpha}-La$ formed high-molecular polymers of 30-300 kDa, whereas ${\beta}-Lg$ remained almost completely unhydrolyzed. Melting temperatures of NaCN, ${\alpha}-La$ with and without TGase were all in the range of $100{\pm}10^{\circ}C$ under the endothermic curve, and the melting temperature of ${\beta}-Lg$ with TGase was lower than that with TGase. When the proteins were incubated for 3 h with TGase, the micrographic structures showed a small quantity of sediment and broad layers. The final ${\alpha}-La$ residues remained at a level of 21.38%, and the TGase-treated ${\alpha}-La$ was confirmed to have undergone a profound loss of mass, to 18.25%. The DPPH-radical scavenging activity of NaCN and ${\beta}-Lg$ with TGase treatment was higher than that observed in the untreated sample, while those of ${\alpha}-La$ increased with concentration.