• 한국약용작물학회지
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• 제28권4호
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• pp.276-286
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• 2020

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease associated with multiple metabolic disorders. The medicinal plant Curcuma longa L. is widely distributed in Asia and has been used to treat a spectrum diseases in clinical practice. To date, there are inadequate reports of the effects of C. longa 50% EtOH extract (CE) on NAFLD. Therefore, in this study, we evaluate the CE on an NAFLD animal and elucidate the mechanism of action. Methods and Results: C57BL/6J mice fed a methionine-choline deficient diet (MCD) were treated with CE or milk thistle, and changes in inflammation and stetosis were assessed. Experimental animals were divided into six group (n = 10); Normal, MCD, MCD + CE 50 mg/kg/day (CE 50), MCD + CE 100 mg/kg/day (CE 100), MCD + CE 150 mg/kg/day (CE 150), and the Control, MCD + Milk thistle 150 mg/kg/day (MT 150). Body weight, liver weight, liver function, and histological changes were assessed in experimental animals. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses were performed on samples collected after 4 weeks of treatment. We observed that CE administration improved MCD-diet-induced lipid accumulation, and triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels in serum. Treatment with CE also decreased hepatic lipogenesis through modulation of the sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP-1), CCAAT-enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) expresion. In addition, the use of CE increased adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation and inhibited the up-regulation of toll-like receptor (TLR)-2 and TLR-4 signaling and the production of inflammatory mediators. Conclusions: In this report, we observed that CE regulated lipid accumulation in an MCD dietinduced NAFLD model by decreasing lipogenesis. These data suggeste that CE could effectively protect mice against MCD-induced NAFLD, by inhibiting the TLR-2 and TLR-4 signaling cascades.

• BMB Reports
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• 제47권10호
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• pp.552-557
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• 2014

The main purpose of this study was to investigate whether type 3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (M3R) dysfunction induced vascular hyperpermeability. Transwell system analysis showed that M3R inhibition by selective antagonist 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine methiodide (4-DAMP) and small interfering RNA both increased endothelial permeability. Using coimmunoprecipitation and Western blot assay, we found that M3R inhibition increased VE-cadherin and ${\beta}$-catenin tyrosine phosphorylation without affecting their expression. Using PTP1B siRNA, we found that PTP1B was required for maintaining VE-cadherin and ${\beta}$-catenin protein dephosphorylation. In addition, 4-DAMP suppressed PTP1B activity by reducing cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), but not protein kinase $C{\alpha}$ ($PKC{\alpha}$). These data indicate that M3R preserves the endothelial barrier function through a mechanism potentially maintaining PTP1B activity, keeping the adherens junction proteins (AJPs) dephosphorylation.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제28권4호
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• pp.328-336
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• 2020

Diabetes mellitus affects the colonic motility developing gastrointestinal symptoms, such as constipation. The aim of the study was to examine the role of intracellular signaling pathways contributing to colonic dysmotility in diabetes mellitus. To generate diabetes mellitus, the rats were injected by a single high dose of streptozotocin (65 mg/kg) intraperitoneally. The proximal colons from both normal and diabetic rats were contracted by applying an electrical field stimulation with pulse voltage of 40 V in amplitude and pulse duration of 1 ms at frequencies of 1, 2, 4, and 6 Hz. The muscle strips from both normal rats and rats with diabetes mellitus were pretreated with different antagonists and inhibitors. Rats with diabetes mellitus had lower motility than the control group. There were significant differences in the percentage of inhibition of contraction between normal rats and rats with diabetes mellitus after the incubation of tetrodotoxin (neuronal blocker), atropine (muscarinic receptor antagonist), prazosin (α₁ adrenergic receptor antagonist), DPCPX (adenosine A1 receptor antagonist), verapamil (L-type Ca²⁺ channel blocker), U73122 (PLC inhibitor), ML-9 (MLCK inhibitor), udenafil (PDE₅ inhibitor), and methylene blue (guanylate cyclase inhibitor). The protein expression of p-MLC and PDE₅ were decreased in the diabetic group compared to the normal group. These results showed that the reduced colonic contractility resulted from the impaired neuronal conduction and decreased muscarinic receptor sensitivity, which resulted in decreased phosphorylation of MLC via MLCK, and cGMP activity through PDE₅.

• 생약학회지
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• 제52권1호
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• pp.26-33
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• 2021

During blood vessel damage, an essential step in the hemostatic process is platelet activation. However, it is important to properly control platelet activation, as various cardiovascular diseases, such as stroke, atherosclerosis, and myocardial infarction, are also caused by excessive platelet activation. Found primarily in the roots of plants of the genus Artemisia or Scopolia, isoscopoletin has been studied to demonstrate its potential pharmacological effects against Alzheimer's disease and anticancer, but the mechanisms and roles involved in thrombus formation and platelet aggregation are insufficient. This study investigated the effect of isoscopoletin on U46619-induced human platelet activation. As a result, isoscopoletin significantly increased the levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) dose-dependently. In addition, isoscopoletin significantly phosphorylated inositol 1, 4, 5-triphosphate receptor (IP3R) and vasodilator-stimulated phosphprotein (VASP), which are known substrates for cAMP-dependent kinases and cGMP-dependent kinases. Phosphorylated IP3R by isoscopoletin inhibited Ca2+ mobilization from the dense tubular system Ca2+ channels to cytosol, and phosphorylated VASP was involved in the inhibition of fibrinogen binding through αIIb/β3 inactivation in the platelet membrane. Isoscopoletin finally reduced thrombin-induced fibrin clotting production. Therefore, this study suggests that isoscopoletin has a potent antiplatelet effect and may be helpful for platelet-related thrombotic diseases.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제63권3호
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• pp.235-241
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• 2020

An essential component of the hemostatic process during vascular damage is platelet activation. However, many cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis, thrombosis, and myocardial infarction, can develop due to excessive platelet activation. Isoscopoletin, found primarily in plant roots of the genus Artemisia or Scopolia, has been studied to demonstrate potential pharmacological effects on Alzheimer's disease and anticancer, but its mechanisms and role in relation to thrombus formation and platelet aggregation have not yet been discovered. This research investigated the effect of isoscopoletin on collagen-induced human platelet activation. As a result, isoscopoletin strongly increased cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, isoscopoletin greatly phosphorylated inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor (IP₃R) and vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP), known substrates of cAMP-dependent kinase and cGMP dependent kinase. Phosphorylation of IP₃R by isoscopoletin induced Ca²⁺ inhibition from the dense tubular system Ca²⁺ channels, and VASP phosphorylation was involved in fibrinogen binding inhibition by inactivating αIIb/β₃ in the platelet membrane. Isoscopoletin finally reduced thrombin-induced fibrin clot production and finally reduced thrombus formation. Therefore, this research suggests that isoscopoletin has strong antiplatelet effects and is likely to be helpful for thrombotic diseases involving platelets by acting as a prophylactic and therapeutic agent.

• 한방비만학회지
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.109-121
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• 2020

Objectives: Tanshinone I is a bioactive constituent in Salvia miltiorrhiza. At present, the anti-obesity effect and mechanism of tanshinone I are not fully understood. Here we investigated the effect of tanshinone I on lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and zebrafish. Methods: Lipid accumulation and triglyceride (TG) content in 3T3-L1 cells were determined by Oil Red O staining and AdipoRed assay, respectively. The expression and phosphorylation levels of adipogenic/lipogenic proteins in 3T3-L1 cells were evaluated by Western blotting. The messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of adipogenic/lipogenic markers and leptin in 3T3-L1 cells were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Lipid accumulation in zebrafish was assessed by LipidGreen2 staining. Results: Tanshinone I at 5 μM largely blocked lipid accumulation and reduced TG content in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells. Furthermore, tanshinone I decreased the expression of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-α (C/EBP-α), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ), fatty acid synthase (FAS), acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC), and perilipin A but also the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT-3) in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells. In addition, tanshinone I increased the phosphorylation of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) while decreased the intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content with no change in the phosphorylation and expression of liver kinase-B1 in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells. Importantly, tanshinone I also reduced the extent of lipid deposit formation in developing zebrafish. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that tanshinone I has strong anti-adipogenic effects on 3T3-L1 cells and reduces adiposity in zebrafish, and these anti-adipogenic effect in 3T3-L1 cells are mediated through control of C/EBP-α, PPAR-γ, STAT-3, FAS, ACC, perilipin A, and AMPK.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.101-106
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• 2019

Most diabetic patients experience diabetic mellitus (DM) urinary bladder dysfunction. A number of studies evaluate bladder smooth muscle contraction in DM. In this study, we evaluated the change of bladder smooth muscle contraction between normal rats and DM rats. Furthermore, we used pharmacological inhibitors to determine the differences in the signaling pathways between normal and DM rats. Rats in the DM group received an intraperitoneal injection of 65 mg/kg streptozotocin and measured blood glucose level after 14 days to confirm DM. Bladder smooth muscle contraction was induced using acetylcholine (ACh, $10^{-4}M$). The materials such as, atropine (a muscarinic receptor antagonist), U73122 (a phospholipase C inhibitor), DPCPX (an adenosine $A_1$ receptor antagonist), udenafil (a PDE5 inhibitor), prazosin (an ${\alpha}_1$-receptor antagonist), papaverine (a smooth muscle relaxant), verapamil (a calcium channel blocker), and chelerythrine (a protein kinase C inhibitor) were pre-treated in bladder smooth muscle. We found that the DM rats had lower bladder smooth muscle contractility than normal rats. When prazosin, udenafil, verapamil, and U73122 were pre-treated, there were significant differences between normal and DM rats. Taken together, it was concluded that the change of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release mediated by PLC/IP3 and PDE5 activity were responsible for decreased bladder smooth muscle contractility in DM rats.

• Journal of Korean Dental Science
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.57-61
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• 2018

Purpose: Polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN), consisting of a mixture of deoxyribonucleotide polymers, has been suggested to have anti-inflammatory effects and enhance angiogenesis as an adenosine $A_{2A}$ receptor agonist. The aim of this study was to report the effectiveness of PDRN as an adjuvant therapy after surgical debridement in MRONJ (medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw) patients. Materials and Methods: Five patients (1 male, 4 females, age 65~79 years) who were diagnosed with MRONJ stage 2 or 3 underwent surgical debridement and PDRN mucosal injection. After surgical debridement, patients were subject to daily injection with 1 ml of PDRN around the surgical wound for 14 days. Result: The patients' symptoms gradually disappeared. The surgical wound uneventfully healed, and no recurrence was observed during the follow-up period. Conclusion: Although further studies are required, the present study first describes the possibility of PDRN as a useful option for MRONJ treatment.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제22권5호
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• pp.577-584
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• 2018

Bladder dysfunction is a common complication of diabetes mellitus (DM). However, there have been a few studies evaluating bladder smooth muscle contraction in DM in the presence of pharmacological inhibitors. In the present study, we compared the contractility of bladder smooth muscle from normal rats and DM rats. Furthermore, we utilized pharmacological inhibitors to delineate the mechanisms underlying bladder muscle differences between normal and DM rats. DM was established in 14 days after using a single injection of streptozotocin (65 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) in Sprague-Dawley rats. Bladder smooth muscle contraction was induced electrically using electrical field stimulation consisting of pulse trains at an amplitude of 40 V and pulse duration of 1 ms at frequencies of 2-10 Hz. In this study, the pharmacological inhibitors atropine (muscarinic receptor antagonist), U73122 (phospholipase C inhibitor), DPCPX (adenosine $A_1$ receptor antagonist), udenafil (PDE5 inhibitor), prazosin (${\alpha}_1$-receptor antagonist), verapamil (calcium channel blocker), and chelerythrine (protein kinase C inhibitor) were used to pretreat bladder smooth muscles. It was found that the contractility of bladder smooth muscles from DM rats was lower than that of normal rats. In addition, there were significant differences in percent change of contractility between normal and DM rats following pretreatment with prazosin, udenafil, verapamil, and U73122. In conclusion, we suggest that the decreased bladder muscle contractility in DM rats was a result of perturbations in $PLC/IP_3$-mediated intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release and PDE5 activity.

• 대한한방소아과학회지
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.1-14
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• 2015

Objectives This experimental study was designed to investigate the effects of Dai-saiko-to (DSH) on differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and body weight, serum lipid levels in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. Materials and Methods Cells were incubated with DSH at an indicated concentration (0.01-1 mg/ml) for 24h, then the growth rate was assessed by MTS assay. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were incubated in DMEM for 2 days with the indicated concentrations of DSH. On Day 6, the cells were fixed and the cellular lipid contents were assessed by Oil-Red-O staining. The expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$) and cytidine-cytidine-adenosine-adenosine-thymine (CCAAT)/enhancer-binding proteins ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$) as adipocyte-specific proteins were determined by real time RT-PCR and western blotting. Four-weeks old mice (wild-type C57BL/6) were used for all experiments. Body weight gain and serum lipid levels were measured in the obesity-induced mice. Results DSH did not show toxicity even at the concentration of 1 mg/ml and DSH significantly inhibited the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner. Also, DSH significantly reduced the expressions of $PPAR{\gamma}$ and $C/EBP{\alpha}$ in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, DSH significantly reduced body weight gain, serum glucose, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol contents in obesity-induced mice. Conclusions These results demonstrated that DSH inhibited 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiations and high-fat diet-induced obesity in mice.