• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.324-336
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• 2004

Objectives : The purpose of this investigation is to evaluate the effects of Scutellaria baicalensis GEORGI on alteration in gene expression in a hypoxia model using cultured rat cortical cells. Methods : E18 rat cortical cells were grown in a Neurobasal medium containing B27 supplement. On 12 DIV, Scutellaria baicalensis GEORGI(20 ug/ml) was added to the culture media and left for 24 hrs. On 11 DIV, cells were given a hypoxic insult $(2%\;O_2/5%\;CO_2,\;37^{\circ}C,\;3\;hrs)$, returned to normoxia and cultured for another 24 hrs. Total RNA was prepared from Scutellaria baicalensis GEORGI-untreated (control) and -treated cultures and alteration in gene expression was analysed by microarray using rat 5K-TwinChips. Results : For most of the genes altered in expression, the Global M values were between -0.5 to +0.5. Among these, 1143 genes increased in their expression by more than Global M +0.1, while 1161 genes decreased by more than Global M -0.1. Effects on some of the genes whose functions are implicated in neural viability are as follows: 1) The expression of apoptosis-related genes such as Bad (Global M = 0.39), programmed cell death-2(Pdcd2) (Global M = 0.20) increased, while Purinergic receptor P2X(P2rxl) Global M = -0.22), Bc12-like1(Bc1211)(Global M = -0.19) decreased. 2) The expression of 'response to stress-related genes such as antioxidation-related AMP-activated protein kinase subunit gamma 1 gene (Prkag1) (Global M = 0.14), catalase gene (Global M = 0.14) and Heme Oxygenase(Hmoxl) increased. 3) The expression of Fos like antigen 2 (Fos12) expressed in neurons that survive ischemic insult increased (Global M = 0.97). Conclusions : these data suggest that Scutellaria baicalensis GEORGI increases the expression of antiapoptosis- and antioxidation- related genes in a way that can not yet be explained.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.299-306
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• 2013

In the present study, we investigated the effect of ethanolic extract of the seed of Zizyphus jujuba var. spinosa (EEZS) on cholinergic blockade-induced memory impairment in mice. Male ICR mice were treated with EEZS. The behavioral tests were conducted using the passive avoidance, the Y-maze, and the Morris water maze tasks. EEZS (100 or 200 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly ameliorated the scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment in our present behavioral tasks without changes of locomotor activity. The ameliorating effect of EEZS on scopolamine-induced memory impairment was significantly reversed by a sub-effective dose of MK-801 (0.0125 mg/kg, s.c.). In addition, single administration of EEZS in normal naive mouse enhanced latency time in the passive avoidance task. Western blot analysis was employed to confirm the mechanism of memory-ameliorating effect of EEZS. Administration of EEZS (200 mg/kg) increased the level of memory-related signaling molecules, including phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase or cAMP response element-binding protein in the hippocampal region. Also, the time-dependent expression level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor by the administration of EEZS was markedly increased from 3 to 9 h. These results suggest that EEZS has memory-ameliorating effect on scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment, which is mediated by the enhancement of the cholinergic neurotransmitter system, in part, via NMDA receptor signaling, and that EEZS would be useful agent against cognitive dysfunction such as Alzheimer's disease.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• 제4권4호
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• pp.348-354
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• 2008

Bisphenol A (BPA), an environmental endocrine disrupter, enters the human body continuously in food and drink. Young children are likely to be more vulnerable than adults to chemical exposure due to the immaturities of their organ systems, rapid physical development, and higher ventilation, metabolic rates, and activity levels. The direct effect of BPA on peripheral tissue might also be of importance to the development of insulin resistance. However, the influence that BPA has on insulin signaling molecules in skeletal muscle has not been previously investigated. In this study, we examined the effect of BPA on fasting blood glucose (FBG) in post-weaned Wistar rats and on insulin signaling proteins in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells. Subsequently, we investigated the effects of BPA on insulin-mediated Akt phosphorylation in C2C12 myotubes. In rats, BPA treatment (0.1-1,000 ng/mL for 24 hours) resulted in the increase of FBG and plasma insulin levels, and reduced insulin-mediated Akt phosphorylation. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of insulin receptor (IR) was decreased after 24 hours of BPA treatment in C2C12 cells in a dose-dependent manner, whereas the mRNA levels of other insulin signaling proteins, including insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and 5'-AMP-dependent protein kinase (AMPK), were unaffected. Treatment with BPA increased GLUT4 expression and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) activity in C2C12 myotubes, but not in protein levels. We conclude that exposure to BPA can induce insulin resistance by decreasing IR gene expression, which is followed by a decrease in insulin- mediated Akt activation and increased PTP1B activity.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.285-292
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• 2015

본 연구에서는 3T3-L1 지방전구세포가 지방세포로 분화되는 과정에서 진피 에탄올 추출물(ethanol extracts of citrus peel, EECP)이 유발하는 항비만 효능에 대해서 조사하였다. 3T3-L1 세포의 생존율 및 증식에 영향을 미치지 않는 농도의 EECP를 처리하였을 경우 지방세포에서 특징적으로 나타나는 lipid droplet의 형성과 triglyceride의 생성도 억제되는 것으로 나타났다. EECP가 유발하는 지방세포로의 분화억제에는 PPARγ, C/EBPα, C/EBPβ 및 SREBP-1c 등과 같은 adipogenic transcription factors의 발현억제가 관여하는 것으로 나타났으며, 그 결과로 aP2 및 Leptin과 같은 adipocyte expressed genes의 발현도 억제되는 것으로 조사되었다. 또한 EECP는 AMPK 및 ACC의 인산화를 유발하였으며, AMPK 억제제인 Compound C를 이용하여 AMPK의 활성을 억제하였을 경우 EECP에 의한 AMPK의 인산화와 adipogenic transcription factors의 억제현상이 회복되었다. 이상의 결과에서 EECP는 AMPK signaling pathway를 통하여 항비만 효능을 가진다는 것을 알 수 있었으며, 향후 비만 예방 및 억제와 관련된 기능성 소재로서의 진피의 활용 가능성을 제시한 것으로서 그 가치가 매우 높을 것으로 생각된다.

• 대한한의학방제학회지
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.189-198
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• 2015

Objectives : Sparganii Rhizoma is frequently used in traditional herbal medicine for treatment of blood stasis, amenorrhea and functional dyspepsia and has been reported to exhibit anti-oxidant, anti-proliferation and anti-angiogenesis peoperties. In this study, we investigated the cytoprotective effect and underlying mechanism of Sparganii Rhizoma water extract (SRE) against oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis in hepatocyte. Methods : To determine the effects of SRE on oxidative stress, we induced synergistic cytotoxicity by co-treatment of arachidonic acid (AA) and iron in the HepG2 cell, a human derived hepatocyte cell line. Results : Treatment of SRE increased relative cell viability and altered the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins such as Bcl-xL, Bcl-2 and procaspase-3. And SRE also inhibited the mitochondrial dysfunction and excessive reactive oxygen species production induced by AA+iron. In addition, SRE activated of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a potential target for cytoprotection, by increasing the phosphorylation of AMPKα at Thr-172. Morever, SRE increased phosphorylation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase, a direct downstream target of AMPK. Conclusion : These results indicated that SRE has the ability to protect against oxidative stress-induced hepatocyte damage, which may be mediated with AMPK pathway.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.107-113
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• 2011

Background: Metabolic disorders, including type II diabetes and obesity, present major health risks in industrialized countries. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) has become the focus of a great deal of attention as a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of metabolic syndromes. In this study, we evaluated whether dietary aloe could reduce obesity-induced inflammation and adipogenesis. Methods: Male C57BL/6 obese mice fed a high-fat diet for 54 days received a supplement of aloe formula (PAG, ALS, Aloe QDM, and Aloe QDM complex) or pioglitazone (PGZ) and were compared with unsupplemented controls (high-fat diet; HFD) or mice fed a regular diet (RD). RT-PCR and western blot analysis were used to quantify the expression of obesity-induced inflammation. Results: Aloe QDM complex downregulated fat size through suppressed expression of scavenger receptors on adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs) compared with HFD. Both white adipose tissue (WATs) and muscle exhibited increased AMPK activation through aloe supplementation, and in particular, the Aloe QDM complex. Obesity-induced inflammatory cytokines (IL-$1{\beta}$ and -6) and $HIF1{\alpha}$ mRNA and protein were decreased markedly, as was macrophage infiltration by the Aloe QDM complex. Further, the Aloe QDM complex decreased the translocation of NF-${\kappa}B$ p65 from the cytosol in the WAT. Conclusion: Dietary aloe formula reduced obesity-induced inflammatory responses by activation of AMPK in muscle and suppression of proinflammatory cytokines in the WAT. Additionally, the expression of scavenger receptors in the ATM and activation of AMPK in WAT led to reduction in the percent of body fat. Thus, we suggest that the effect of the Aloe QDM complex in the WAT and muscle are related to activation of AMPK and its use as a nutritional intervention against T2D and obesity-related inflammation.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제46권4호
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• pp.401-408
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• 2017

본 연구는 배암차즈기 에탄올 추출물(SPE)을 유효성분으로 함유하는 지방 생성 및 축적 저해 효능을 조사하였다. 배암 차즈기 에탄올 추출물은 마우스 배아 섬유아세포(mouse embryo fibroblast) 유래 지방세포인 3T3-L1에서 지방세포 분화를 억제하는 효능을 보유하고 있었으며, 지방세포 내 중성지방의 농도를 감소시키는 효능을 보유하고 있었다. 또한, $PPAR{\gamma}$, $C/EBP{\alpha}$, SREBP-1c, pACC, pAMPK, CPT-1, 지방산 합성효소(FAS, fatty acid synthase) 발현 억제, 호르몬자극지방분해효소(HSL, hormone sensitivity lipase) 활성화 등 지방합성 관련인자들의 발현을 조절하는 효능을 보유하고 있는 것으로 확인되었다. 이상의 결과로 SPE가 지방세포 분화 및 지방대사에 관련된 인자들의 발현을 조절함으로써 지방 생성 및 지방 축적을 저해하는 효능을 보유하기 때문에 배암차즈기를 활용한 비만 개선을 위한 소재로서의 활용이 가능할 것으로 보인다.

• 한국산림과학회지
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• 제104권1호
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• pp.67-75
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• 2015

본 연구는 4년근 산양삼을 4년 숙성된 감식초에 22주간 혼입숙성하여 만든 산양삼감식초(가칭: 산삼초)를 활용하여 식이제한을 하였을 때 나타나는 비만관련 요소들을 분석하였다. 웅성 흰쥐 63마리를 대상으로 고지방식을 공급하면서 식후 2회, 6주간 산삼초를 경구투여하였다. 집단은 대조군, 제한식이군, 웨이트사이클링군으로 구분하였으며, 이를 다시 대조군, 산삼초 2.5배 희석 섭취군, 산삼초 5.0배 희석 섭취군으로 각각 구분하였다. 각 집단은 7마리씩으로 하였다. 6주간의 사육이 종료된 후, 복강내 지방(복막후지방, 장간막지방, 부고환지방)과 대사관련 단백질(AMPK, PPAR-${\alpha}$, CPT-1)의 발현을 분석하였다. 결과를 볼 때, 모든 집단에서 산삼초 섭취에 의한 지방저장량의 유의한 감소 또는 감소 경향이 나타났으며, 지방저장량의 총합계 역시 산삼초 섭취에 의해 증가가 억제되었다. 이와는 반대로 대사관련 단백질 발현은 모든 항목에서 산삼초 섭취에 의해 유의한 증가 혹은 증가 경향이 나타났다. 이 결과는 산삼초 섭취에 의한 에너지 대사의 효과적인 상승이 고지방식이 또는 식이제한을 하였을 경우에도 체내 지방 저장량의 증가를 억제하였다는 것이다. 즉, 비만의 가장 큰 문제점인 웨이트사이클링의 억제를 위한 좋은 기능성을 보유하고 있다고 판단된다. 이를 통하여 임업산물인 산양삼과 감식초의 융합소재인 산삼초를 비만억제 식품으로 활용할 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제38권2호
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• pp.138-144
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• 2015

Raloxifene is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) that binds to the estrogen receptor (ER), and exhibits potent anti-tumor and autophagy-inducing effects in breast cancer cells. However, the mechanism of raloxifene-induced cell death and autophagy is not well-established. So, we analyzed mechanism underlying death and autophagy induced by raloxifene in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Treatment with raloxifene significantly induced death in MCF-7 cells. Raloxifene accumulated GFP-LC3 puncta and increased the level of autophagic marker proteins, such as LC3-II, BECN1, and ATG12-ATG5 conjugates, indicating activated autophagy. Raloxifene also increased autophagic flux indicators, the cleavage of GFP from GFP-LC3 and only red fluorescence-positive puncta in mRFP-GFP-LC3-expressing cells. An autophagy inhibitor, 3-methyladenine (3-MA), suppressed the level of LC3-II and blocked the formation of GFP-LC3 puncta. Moreover, siRNA targeting BECN1 markedly reversed cell death and the level of LC3-II increased by raloxifene. Besides, raloxifene-induced cell death was not related to cleavage of caspases-7, -9, and PARP. These results indicate that raloxifene activates autophagy-dependent cell death but not apoptosis. Interestingly, raloxifene decreased the level of intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and activated the AMPK/ULK1 pathway. However it was not suppressed the AKT/mTOR pathway. Addition of ATP decreased the phosphorylation of AMPK as well as the accumulation of LC3-II, finally attenuating raloxifene-induced cell death. Our current study demonstrates that raloxifene induces autophagy via the activation of AMPK by sensing decreases in ATP, and that the overactivation of autophagy promotes cell death and thereby mediates the anti-cancer effects of raloxifene in breast cancer cells.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.231-239
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• 2020

Many benefits of silk protein fibroin (SPF) have been suggested in biomedical applications; and notably, significant SPF effects have been observed for metabolic syndromes that are directly linked to insulin resistance, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Based on our previous findings, we believe that SPF from spiders exhibits outstanding glucose-lowering effects in diabetic BKS.Cg-m+/+Lepr^db mice. In order to evaluate the dietary effects of SPF in diabetic animals, we generated several lines of transgenic rice (TR) that expresses SPF, and the feeding of TR-SPF to diabetic animals decreased blood glucose levels, but did not change insulin levels. Western blot analyses of hepatic proteins showed that AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) expression and phosphorylation both decreased in TR-SPF-fed groups, compared with controls. This finding suggests that the glucose-lowering effects in this diabetic animal model might be AMPK-independent. In contrast, six-transmembrane protein of prostate 2 (STAMP2) was upregulated after TR-SPF exposure. Together with STAMP2, the Akt protein phosphorylation increased after TR-SPF exposure, which indicates that STAMP2 leads to Akt phosphorylation and thus increases insulin sensitivity in hepatocytes. Importantly, the hepatic steatosis that was seen in the liver of diabetic mice was remarkably alleviated in TR-SPF-fed mice. Hepatocytes that were immunopositive for STAMP2 were overwhelmingly observed in hepatic tissues from TR-SPF-fed mice compared to the control. Taken together, these results suggest that feeding diabetic mice with TR-SPF upregulates STAMP2 expression and increases Akt phosphorylation in hepatic tissues and thus potentially alleviates insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis.