• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.29-32
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• 1999

The Apolipoprotein E type 4 allele (ApoE ${\varepsilon}4$) is genetically associated with the common late onset familial and sporadic forms of Alzheimer's disease. The BchE-k variant, which is the common variant of the BchE gene, has been reported to show allelic association with AD in subjects who are also carriers of the ${\varepsilon}4$ allele of the ApoE, especially in subjects over the age of 75. This study was performed to evaluate the distribution of the ApoE and the BchE genotypes in the healthy and AD groups and to evaluate the synergy between the BchE-k variant and the ApoE ${\varepsilon}4$ in AD. The ApoE and the BchE genotypes were determined in DNA samples from 610 healthy people and 60 LOAD patients by using ARMS by standard agarose gel electrophoresis. The effect of the ApoE ${\varepsilon}4$ was closely related to AD(p<0.05). A comparison between the AD patients and the healthy individuals, both with the ${\varepsilon}4$ allele, indicated an interaction between the BchE-k and the ApoE ${\varepsilon}4$(p<0.05). The association of the BchE-k with AD was limited to carriers of the ApoE ${\varepsilon}4$ allele, among whom the presence of the BchE-k gave an odds ratio of AD 3.48 (95% C.I. 1.3-9.2). Therefore, these results suggested that further evidence of an association between the ApoE ${\varepsilon}4$ and LOAD, and the BchE-k acts in synergy with the ApoE ${\varepsilon}4$ as a susceptibility gene for AD.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.1192-1198
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• 2004

Sasang Constitutional Medicine is a major branch of Korean Traditional Medicine. The differences of disease susceptibility to be shown in Sasang constitution may be due to genetic factors. Therefore, I examined interrelationship among cerebral infarction (CI), apolipoprotein E (apo E) gene polymorphism, and Sasang constitutional classification. Apo E is a key protein modulating the highly atherogenic apoB containing lipoproteins and is a candidate gene for the development of coronary artery disease (CAD). The ε2 and/or ε4 alleles were the first to be implicated in premature CAD, which resulted in this polymorphism being extensively studied. I investigated the association between apo E genotype and CI by case-control study in a Korean population. I also classified CI patients and control group into groups according to Sasang Constitutional Medicine. 218 CI patients and 379 controls without CI were examined. Apo E genotype was determined by 8% polyacrylamide gel separation after DNA amplification. A frequency of apo E ε3/ε3 in the apo E genotype distribution was higher in the CI patients compared with that in controls. Also, it was widely known that Taeumin was easily attacked with CI, but there was no association between apo E polymorphim and Taeumin. However, the Taeumin constitution did not enhance the relative risk for CI in the subjects with apo E ε2 and/or ε4 alleles. No differences in the apo E genotypes frequencies were observed in the Taeumin compared with that in the other constitutions. In addition, I investigated whether the DD(deletion/deletion) or ID(insertion/deletion) genotype of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene, a candidate gene for CI, was associated with CI, Taeumin constitution, and apo E polymorphism. As a result, the frequency of Taeumin constitution was significantly higher in CI patients with both apo E ε3/ε4 and ACE ID/DD genotypes than in the remaining Sasang constitutions. In summary, it was concluded that the apo E polymorphism is a major risk factor for CI in Koreans and the ACE ID/DD genotype enhanced the relative risk for CI in the subjects with apo E ε3/ε4 genotype and Taeumin constitution.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.353-357
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• 2002

We have previously demonstrated that kudzu root extracts have a hypocholesterolemic effect on rats fed diets high in fat and cholesterol. To further elucidate the mechanism involved, in this study we investigated the effect of water extracts of kudzu root, Pueraria radix, on the production of apolipoprotein B$_{100}$ (APo B$_{100}$) in HepG$_2$ liver cells and secretion of apolipoprotein B$_{48}$ (Apo B$_{48}$) in Caco$_2$ cells. Human cell lines, HepG$_2$ liver cells and Caco$_2$ intestinal epithelial cells, were grown with various concentrations (0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0%) of water extracts of kudzu root in the media. The kudzu root extract decreased Apo B$_{100}$ production and secretion. Treatment of HeP G$_2$ cells with the kudzu root extract also significantly decreased the intracellular total and free cholesterol concentration, and also decreased esterified cholesterol but was only significant at the highest dose of 2%. Apo B$_{48}$ production, but not secretion, from enterocytes was lowered by the kudzu root extracts. This research provided evidence that the hypocholesterolemic properties of kudzu root may be a consequence of decreased production and secretion of Apo B$_{100}$ in the liver and Apo B$_{48}$ in the intestine.

• BMB Reports
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.390-396
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• 1997

A sandwich-type enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the quantification of human apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) was developed using monoclonal antibodies. For this assay, we used three monoclonal antibodies to trap and detect apo A-I. HDAI16 and HDA15 monoclonal antibodies were used for trapping apoA-I and HDAI8 monoclonal antibody was for detecting apoA-I. These three monoclonal antibodies were produced by immunizing mice with high density lipoprotein (HDL) isolated from human plasma. By immunoblot analysis, these three monoclonal antibodies were specific to apoA-I and showed no cross-reactivities with other plasma proteins. The results of competition assays for epitope cross-reactivity test also verified that these monoclonal antibodies identified separate and distinct epitopes on HDL and apoA-I. Affinity constants of monoclonal antibodies were measured by ELISA. Their association constants ranged from $10^7$ to $10^8$ $M^{-1}$. For this assay, pure apoA-I was isolated by affinity chromatography using monoclonal antibodies. In this sandwich assay, the amount of HRP-labeled HDAI8 bound to apoA-I trapped by HDAI16 and HDAI5 was proportional to apoA-I concentration in the range of 0 to 500ng/ml. ApoA-I concentration in plasma was calculated from the linear regression equation of standard curve. The precision and reliability of the assays are reflected in the low intra-and interassay coefficients of variation that averaged 3.25% and 4.30%, respectively. This assay is sensitive, simple, reproducible, convenient in incubation interval, and does not use radioisotope: thus it can be widely applied in clinical laboratories.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.1411-1421
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• 1998

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of apo E polymorphisms and dietary counseling on the levels of plasma lipids in hyperlipidemic patients. The changes of serum lipids were assessed f3r 34 hyperlipidemic out-patients who changed their basal diet containing 20.1% fat(236.0mg cholesterol/day), 15.7% protein, and 64.2% carbohydrate to a diet containing 18.3% fat(109.8mg cholesterol/day), 15.7% protein, and 66.0% carbohydrate for 12 weeks. At the beginning of this study, the levels of plasma LDL-cholesterol were high according to apo E genotypes in the following order : E2/3

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.65-72
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• 2007

Full length complementary DNA encoding apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) was isolated and characterized in mud loach (Misgurnus mizolepis). Mud loach apoA-I cDNA encoding 24 bp of 5'-untranslated region (UTR), 762 bp of single open reading frame (ORF) consists of 254 amino acids and 293 bp of 3'-UTR excluding stop codon and poly (A+) tail. Two overlapping polyadenylation signals (AATAAAATAAA) was found 9 bp prior to the poly (A+) tail. Mud loach apoA-I represented considerable homology to those from other teleost species at amino acid level with conserving common features of vertebrate apoA-I. Molecular phylogenetic analysis inferred the phylogenetic hypothesis that was generally in accordance with the previous taxonomic relationship. Apolipoprotein A-I mRNA was detected in various tissues, but the mRNA levels were quite varied depending on tissues based on semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Liver and brain showed the significantly higher levels of apoA-I transcripts than other tissues. mRNA expression of apoA-I was quite low in very early stage of embryonic development, however dramatically enhanced from 8 hours post fertilization. This increased mRNA level was retained consistently up to 14 days post hatching.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.104-111
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• 2004

Sasang Constitutional Medicine is a major branch of Korean Traditional Oriental Medicine. The differences of disease susceptibility to be shown in Sasang constitution may be due to genetic factors. Therefore, we examined interrelationship among cerebral infarction (CI), apolipoprotein E (apoE) gene polymorphism, and Sasang constitutional classification. ApoE is a key protein modulating the highly atherogenic apoB containing lipoproteins and is a candidate gene for the development of coronary artery disease (CAD). The ${\varepsilon}2\;and/or\;{\varepsilon}4$ alleles were the first to be implicated in premature CAD, which resulted in this polymorphism being extensively studied. We investigated the association between apoE genotype and CI by case-control study in a Korean population. We also classified CI patients and control group into groups according to Sasang Constitutional Medicine. 196 CI patients and 379 controls without CI were examined. ApoE genotype was determined by 8% polyacrylamide gel separation after DNA amplification. A significant difference in the apoE genotype distribution was observed in the CI patients compared with that in controls ($X^{2}$=14.920, df=4, P=0.005). Also, the frequency of Taeumin constitution in patients with CI was significantly higher than that in controls (58.0% vs. 36.9%; P<0.001). However, the Taeumin constitution did not enhance the relative risk for CI in the subjects with apoE ${\varepsilon}2\;and/or\;{\varepsilon}4$ alleles. No differences in the apoE genotypes frequencies were observed in the Taeumin compared with that in the other constitutions. In addition, we investigated whether the DD genotype of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene, a candidate gene for CI, was associated with CI, Taeumin constitution, and apoE polymorphism. As a result, the frequency of Taeumin constitution was significantly higher in CI patients with both apoE ${\varepsilon}3/{\varepsilon}4$ and ACE ID/DD genotypes than in the remaining Sasang constitutions (14.5% vs. 8.3% and 0%) ($X^{2}$=13.521, df=6, P=0.035). In summary, we concluded that the apoE polymorphism is a major risk factor for CI in Koreans and the ACE ID/DD genotype enhanced the relative risk for CI in the subjects with apoE ${\varepsilon}3/{\varepsilon}4$ genotype and Taeumin constitution.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.639-646
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• 2000

• Water for future
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• v.52 no.7
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• pp.66-68
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• 2019

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.11
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• pp.767-776
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• 2014

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is clinically characterized with progressive memory loss and cognitive decline. Synaptic dysfunction is an early pathological feature that occurs prior to neurodegeneration and memory dysfunction. Mounting evidence suggests that aggregation of amyloid-${\alpha}$ ($A{\alpha}$) and hyperphosphorylated tau leads to synaptic deficits and neurodegeneration, thereby to memory loss. Among the established genetic risk factors for AD, the ${\varepsilon}4$ allele of apolipoprotein E (APOE) is the strongest genetic risk factor. We and others previously demonstrated that apoE regulates $A{\alpha}$ aggregation and clearance in an isoform-dependent manner. While the effect of apoE on $A{\alpha}$ may explain how apoE isoforms differentially affect AD pathogenesis, there are also other underexplored pathogenic mechanisms. They include differential effects of apoE on cerebral energy metabolism, neuroinflammation, neurovascular function, neurogenesis, and synaptic plasticity. ApoE is a major carrier of cholesterols that are required for neuronal activity and injury repair in the brain. Although there are a few conflicting findings and the underlying mechanism is still unclear, several lines of studies demonstrated that apoE4 leads to synaptic deficits and impairment in long-term potentiation, memory and cognition. In this review, we summarize current understanding of apoE function in the brain, with a particular emphasis on its role in synaptic plasticity and the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms, involving low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1), syndecan, and LRP8/ApoER2.