• BMB Reports
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• v.51 no.11
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• pp.590-595
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• 2018

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common chronic neurodegenerative disease mainly caused by the death of dopaminergic neurons. However, no complete pharmacotherapeutic approaches are currently available for PD therapies. 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium $(MPP^+)$-induced SH-SY5Y neurotoxicity has been broadly utilized to create cellular models and study the mechanisms and critical aspects of PD. In the present study, we examined the role of a novel azetidine derivative, 3-(naphthalen-2-yl(propoxy)methyl)azetidine hydrochloride (KHG26792), against $MPP^+$-induced neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells. Treatment of KHG26792 significantly attenuated $MPP^+$-induced changes in the protein levels of Bcl-2 and Bax together with efficient suppression of $MPP^+$-induced activation of caspase-3 activity. KHG26792 also attenuated mitochondrial potential and levels of ROS, $Ca^{2+}$, and ATP in $MPP^+$-treated SH-SY5Y cells. Additionally, KHG26792 inhibited the induced production of nitric oxide and malondialdehyde. Moreover, the protective effect of KHG26792 is mediated through regulation of glutathione peroxidase and GDNF levels. Our results suggest a possibility that KHG26792 treatment significantly protects against $MPP^+$-induced neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells and KHG26792 may be a valuable therapeutic agent for the treatment of PD induced by an environmental toxin.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.275-281
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• 2014

Autophagy is a series of catabolic process mediating the bulk degradation of intracellular proteins and organelles through formation of a double-membrane vesicle, known as an autophagosome, and fusing with lysosome. Autophagy plays an important role of death-survival decisions in neuronal cells, which may influence to several neurodegenerative disorders including Parkinson's disease. Chebulagic acid, the major constituent of Terminalia chebula and Phyllanthus emblica, is a benzopyran tannin compound with various kinds of beneficial effects. This study was performed to investigate the autophagy enhancing effect of chebulagic acid on human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell lines. We determined the effect of chebulagic acid on expression levels of autophagosome marker proteins such as, DOR/TP53INP2, Golgi-associated ATPase Enhancer of 16 kDa (GATE 16) and Light chain 3 II (LC3 II), as well as those of its upstream pathway proteins, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and Beclin-1. All of those proteins were modulated by chebulagic acid treatment in a way of enhancing the autophagy. Additionally in our study, chebulagic acid also showed a protective effect against 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ($MPP^+$) - induced cytotoxicity which mimics the pathological symptom of Parkinson's disease. This effect seems partially mediated by enhanced autophagy which increased the degradation of aggregated or misfolded proteins from cells. This study suggests that chebulagic acid is an attractive candidate as an autophagy-enhancing agent and therefore, it may provide a promising strategy to prevent or cure the diseases caused by accumulation of abnormal proteins including Parkinson's disease.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.23-36
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• 2015

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate the neuroprotective effects of Hominis-Placenta (HP)on dopaminergic neurons. Methods : We examined the effect of invitro administration of HP against 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium( MPP+)-induced dopaminergic cell loss in primary mesencephalic culture and also used behavioral tests and performed analysis in the striatum and the substantia nigra of mouse brain, to confirm the effect of HP on dopaminergic neurons in an invivo 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine(MPTP)-induced PD mouse model. Animals were assigned to four groups: (1) Group 1(vehicle-treatedgroup), (2) Group 2(MPTPonlytreated group), (3) Group 3(MPTP+ saline-treated/$ST_{36}$ group), and (4) Group 4(MPTP+HP-treated/$ST_{36}$ group). HP at $20{\mu}L$ of 48 mg/kg dose was injected at $ST_{36}$ for 4 weeks at 2-day intervals. MPTP in saline was injected intraperitoneally each day for 5 days from the $8_{th}$ treatment of HP. We performed the pole test and rota-rod test on the first and seventh day after the last MPTP injection. To investigate the effect of HP on dopaminergic neurons, we performed analysis in the striatum and the substantia nigra of mouse brain after treatment with HP and/or MPTP. Results : Treatment with HP had no influence on cell proliferation and caused no cell toxicity in $PC_{12}$ and $HT_{22}$ cells. Our study showed that HP significantly prevented cell loss and protected neurites against MPP+ toxicity. Although the invivo treatment of HP herbal acupuncture at $ST_{36}$ showed a tendency to improve movement ability and protected dopaminergic cells and fibers in the substantia nigra and the striatum, it did not show significant changes compared with the MPTP treated group. Conclusions : These data suggest that HP could be a potential treatment strategy in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.129-143
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• 2012

Objectives : To evaluate the neuroprotective effects of the essential oil from Sohaphwangwon (SH), a Chinese traditional medicinal prescription in a Parkinson's disease mouse model. Methods : 1. The neuroprotective effect of SH on primary neuronal cells was examined by using 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+). 2. The neuroprotective effect of SH was examined in a Parkinson's disease mouse model. C57BL/6 mice treated with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP, 30 mg/kg/day), intraperitoneal (i.p.) for 5 days. SH inhalation was applied before MPTP treatment for 7 days and continued until 12 days after the first MPTP treatment. 3. To find out the intracellular target signal molecule(s) regarding the neuroprotective effect of SH essential oil, brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) and synaptic protein SNAP25 were examined by Western blot analysis. Results : 1. MPP+ induced a concentration-dependent decrease in cell viability. However, in the presence of 3 and 5 ug/ml of SH, MPP+-induced cell death was significantly reduced. 2. SH inhalation in MPTP mice led to the restoration of behavioral impairment and rescued tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive dopaminergic neurodegeneration. 3. In SH / MPTP mice, BDNF and SNAP25 increased. Conclusions : This experiment suggests that the neuroprotective effect of SH essential oil is mediated by the expression of BDNF. Furthermore, SH essential oil may serve as a potential preventive or therapeutic agent regarding Parkinson's disease.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.21-28
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• 2013

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the neuroprotective effects and mechanisms of Cyperi Rhizoma extracts (CRE) using in vitro and in vivo models of Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods : We evaluated the neuroprotective effect of CRE against 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) toxicity using tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry (IHC) in primary rat mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons. In addition, the effect of CRE was evaluated in mice PD model induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). For evaluations, C57bl/6 mice were orally treated with CRE 50 mg/kg for 5 days and were injected intraperitoneally with MPTP (20 mg/kg) at 2 h intervals on the last day. To identify the CRE affects on MPTP-induced neuronal loss of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and striatum of mice, the behavioral tests and IHC analysis were carried out. Also, we conducted nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) assay in dopaminergic neurons and IHC using glial markers in SNpc of mice to assess the anti-inflammation effects. Results : In primary mesencephalic culture system, CRE protected dopaminergic cells against $10{\mu}M$ MPP+-induced toxicity at 0.2 and $1.0{\mu}g/mL$. In the behavior tests, CRE treated group showed improved motor deteriorations than those in the MPTP only treated group. CRE significantly protected striatal dopaminergic damage from MPTP-induced neurotoxicity in mice. Moreover, CRE inhibited productions of NO and TNF-${\alpha}$ in dopaminergic culture system and activation of astrocyte and microglia in SNpc of the mice. Conclusion : We concluded that CRE shows anti-parkinsonian effect by protecting dopaminergic neurons against MPP+/MPTP toxicities through anti-inflammatory actions.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.537-551
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• 2017

Objectives : Jinnoe-san (JNS) is a novel herbal formula consisting of five oriental medicinal herbs including Polygalae Radix, Prunellae Spica, Perillae Herba, Betulae Cortex, and Lonicerae Flos. In this study, we investigated the effects and molecular mechanism of JNS on Parkinson's disease in vitro model. Methods : The effects of JNS on 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ($MPP^+$)-induced cell death in SH-SY5Y cells were evaluated with a cell viability assay, flow cytometry, and western blots analysis. The effects of JNS on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglia were determined with a nitric oxide (NO) assay, enzyme linked immunosorbent assays, and western blots analysis. Result : $MPP^+$-induced cell death in SH-SY5Y cells was significantly reduced by JNS pre-treatment in a dose-dependent manner. JNS inhibited the production of reactive oxygen species, mitochondria dysfunction, and apoptosis induced by $MPP^+$ in SH-SY5Y cells. Furthermore, JNS significantly activated Akt and ERK in SH-SY5Y cells and the ability of JNS to prevent mitochondria dysfunction by $MPP^+$ was antagonized by pre-treatment of LY294002 and PD98059, an Akt and ERK inhibitor, respectively. In addition, JNS inhibited LPS-induced NO and $PGE_2$ production as well as iNOS expression and secretion of TNF-${\alpha}$, pro-inflammatory cytokines without affecting the cell viability. JNS also suppressed LPS-induced ERK activation. Conclusions : These results demonstrate that JNS has a protective effect on the dopaminergic neurons against $MPP^+$-induced neurotoxicity and anti-inflammatory effect on the LPS-stimulated microglia. These findings provide evidences for JNS to be considered as a new prescription for treating Parkinson's disease.

• Journal of Interdisciplinary Genomics
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.35-41
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• 2023

Background: Ca²⁺ signaling plays a vital role in neuronal signaling and altered Ca²⁺ homeostasis in Parkinson's disease (PD). Overexpression of αSYN significantly promote the Ca²⁺-Calmodulin (CaM) activity and subsequent nuclear translocation of nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) transcription factor in dopaminergic neurons of midbrain. However, the exact role of Ca²⁺-CaM and NFAT in PD pathology is yet to be elucidated. Methods: We designed the CaM-NFAT-oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN), a synthetic short DNA containing complementary sequence for NFAT transcription factor and CaM mRNA. Then, the effect of CaM-NFAT-ODN on 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP⁺)-mediated neurotoxicity was investigated in mimic PD model in vitro. Results: First, the expression of αSYN and CaM was strongly increased in substantia nigra (SN) of PD and the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) was strongly increased in control SN. Additionally, the expression of apoptosis marker proteins was strongly increased in SN of PD. Transfection of CaM-NFAT-ODN repressed CaM and pNFAT, the target genes of this ODN in rat embryo primary mesencephalic neurons. It also reduced ERK phosphorylation, a downstream target of these genes. These results demonstrated that CaM-NFAT-ODN operated successfully in rat embryo primary mesencephalic neurons. Transfection of CaM-NFAT-ODN repressed TH reduction, αSYN accumulation, and apoptosis by MPP⁺-induced neurotoxicity response through Ca²⁺ signaling and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling. Conclusion: Synthetic CaM-NFAT-ODN has substantial therapeutic feasibility for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.10
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• pp.569-574
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• 2014

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) degrades heme to carbon dioxide, biliverdin, and $Fe^{2+}$, which play important roles in various biochemical processes. In this study, we examined the protective function of HO-1 against oxidative stress in SH-SY5Y cells and in a Parkinson's disease mouse model. Western blot and fluorescence microscopy analysis demonstrated that PEP-1-HO-1, fused with a PEP-1 peptide can cross the cellular membranes of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. In addition, the transduced PEP-1-HO-1 inhibited generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cell death caused by 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion ($MPP^+$). In contrast, HO-1, which has no ability to transduce into SH-SY5Y cells, failed to reduce $MPP^+$-induced cellular toxicity and ROS production. Furthermore, intraperitoneal injected PEP-1-HO-1 crossed the blood-brain barrier in mouse brains. In a PD mouse model, PEP-1-HO-1 significantly protected against 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced toxicity and dopaminergic neuronal death. Therefore, PEP-1-HO-1 could be a useful agent in treating oxidative stress induced ailments including PD.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.7
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• pp.395-400
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• 2015

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disability caused by a decrease of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN). Although the etiology of PD is not clear, oxidative stress is believed to lead to PD. Catalase is antioxidant enzyme which plays an active role in cells as a reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger. Thus, we investigated whether PEP-1-Catalase protects against 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP⁺) induced SH-SY5Y neuronal cell death and in a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-trtrahydropyridine (MPTP) induced PD animal model. PEP-1-Catalase transduced into SH-SY5Y cells significantly protecting them against MPP⁺-induced death by decreasing ROS and regulating cellular survival signals including Akt, Bax, Bcl-2, and p38. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that transduced PEP-1-Catalase markedly protected against neuronal cell death in the SN in the PD animal model. Our results indicate that PEP-1-Catalase may have potential as a therapeutic agent for PD and other oxidative stress related diseases. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(7): 395-400]

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.27-33
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• 2014

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of extract of Thuja orientalis leaves (TOFE) against 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced neurotoxicity by inhibition of inflammation in in vitro and in vivo models of Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods : We evaluated the effect of TOFE against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ($MPP^+$) toxicity using nitric oxide (NO) assay, inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase 2 western blot, tyrosine hydroxylase and microglia activation immunohistochemistry (IHC) in BV2 cell, primary rat mesencephalic neurons, or C57BL/6 mice. We also evaluated the effect of TOFE in mice PD model induced by MPTP. C57BL/6 mice were treated with TOFE 50 mg/kg for 5 days and were injected intraperitoneally with four administrations of MPTP on the last day. We conducted behavioral tests and IHC analysis to see how TOFE affect MPTP-induced neuronal loss of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and striatum (ST) of mice. To assess the anti-inflammation effects, we carried out glial fibrillary acidic protein and macrophage-1 antigen integrin alpha M in IHC in SNpc and ST of mice. Results : In an in vitro system, TOFE decreasesd NO generations in BV2 cells. TOFE protected dopaminergic cells against LPS or $MPP^+$-induced toxicity in primary mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons. In vivo system, TOFE at 50 mg/kg treated group showed improved motor deteriorations than the MPTP only treated group and TOFE significantly protected striatal dopaminergic damage from MPTP-induced neurotoxicity in mice. Moreover, TOFE inhibited activation of astrocyte and microglia in SNpc and ST of the mice. Conclusions : We concluded that TOFE showed anti-parkinsonian effect by protection of dopaminergic neurons against MPTP toxicity through anti-inflammatory actions.