• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.194-209
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• 2024

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: High levels of plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol are an important determinant of atherosclerotic lesion formation. The disruption of cholesterol efflux or reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) in peripheral tissues and macrophages may promote atherogenesis. The aim of the current study was to examine whether bioactive ellagic acid, a functional food component, improved RCT functionality and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) function in diet-induced atherogenesis of apolipoproteins E (apoE) knockout (KO) mice. MATERIALS/METHODS: Wild type mice and apoE KO mice were fed a high-cholesterol Paigen diet for 10 weeks to induce hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis, and concomitantly received 10 mg/kg ellagic acid via gavage. RESULTS: Supplying ellagic acid enhanced induction of apoE and ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter G1 in oxidized LDL-exposed macrophages, facilitating cholesterol efflux associated with RCT. Oral administration of ellagic acid to apoE KO mice fed on Paigen diet improved hypercholesterolemia with reduced atherogenic index. This compound enhanced the expression of ABC transporters in peritoneal macrophages isolated from apoE KO mice fed on Paigen diet, indicating increased cholesterol efflux. Plasma levels of cholesterol ester transport protein and phospholipid transport protein involved in RCT were elevated in mice lack of apoE gene, which was substantially reduced by supplementing ellagic acid to Paigen diet-fed mice. In addition, ellagic acid attenuated hepatic lipid accumulation in apoE KO mice, evidenced by staining of hematoxylin and eosin and oil red O. Furthermore, the supplementation of 10 mg/kg ellagic acid favorably influenced the transcriptional levels of hepatic LDL receptor and scavenger receptor-B1 in Paigen diet-fed apoE KO mice. CONCLUSION: Ellagic acid may be an athero-protective dietary compound encumbering diet-induced atherogenesis though improving the RCT functionality.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제18권5호
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• pp.617-632
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• 2024

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Atherosclerosis particularly due to high circulating level of low-density lipoprotein is a major cause of cardiovascular diseases. Ellagic acid is a natural polyphenolic compound rich in pomegranates and berries. Our previous study showed that ellagic acid improved functionality of reverse cholesterol transport in murine model of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study is to investigate whether ellagic acid inhibited inflammation-associated atherosclerotic plaque formation in cholesterol-fed apolipoprotein E (apoE)-knockout (KO) mice. MATERIALS/METHODS: Wild type mice and apoE-KO mice were fed a cholesterol-rich Paigen diet for 10 weeks to induce severe atherosclerosis. Concurrently, 10 mg/kg ellagic acid was orally administered to the apoE-KO mice. Plaque lesion formation and lipid deposition were examined by staining with hematoxylin and eosin, Sudan IV and oil red O. RESULTS: The plasma leukocyte profile of cholesterol-fed mice was not altered by apoE deficiency. Oral administration of ellagic acid attenuated plaque lesion formation and lipid deposition in the aorta tree of apoE-KO mice. Ellagic acid substantially reduced plasma levels of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule and interferon-γ in Paigen diet-fed apoE-KO mice. When 10 mg/kg ellagic acid was administered to cholesterol-fed apoE-KO mice, the levels of CD68 and MCP-1 were strongly reduced in aorta vessels. The protein expression level of nitric oxide synthase-2 (NOS2) in the aorta was highly enhanced by supplementation of ellagic acid to apoE-KO mice, but the expression level of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in the aorta was reduced. Furthermore, ellagic acid diminished the increased aorta expression of the inflammatory adhesion molecules in cholesterol-fed apoE-KO mice. The treatment of ellagic acid inhibited the scavenger receptor-B1 expression in the aorta of apoE-KO mice, while the cholesterol efflux-related transporters were not significantly changed. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that ellagic acid may be an atheroprotective compound by attenuating apoE deficiency-induced vascular inflammation and reducing atherosclerotic plaque lesion formation.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제43권11호
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• pp.1627-1634
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• 2014

본 연구는 전통 음청류인 수정과의 세계화 일환으로 대체당을 사용하여 관능성이 탁월한 기능성 수정과 음료를 개발한 후, 개발된 수정과 음료의 항산화 및 산화적 DNA 손상억제 효능을 살펴보고자 하였다. 고콜레스테롤식이 공급으로 고콜레스테롤혈증이 유발된 10주령의 ApoE KO 마우스를 대조군인 설탕물 섭취군(Control), 설탕 첨가 수정과 음료 섭취군(Sucrose), 스티비아 첨가 수정과 음료 섭취군(Stevia), scFOS 첨가 수정과 음료 섭취군(scSFO), 그리고 양성대조군으로 시판 수정과를 섭취시킨 군(Positive control)으로 나누어 실험 식이를 6주간 공급한 후, 혈장 TRAP, 혈장 및 간의 TBARS, 백혈구, 간세포 및 비장세포의 내재적 또는 산화적 스트레스로 인한 DNA 손상 정도를 측정하였다. 모든 군에서 체중 증가량, 식이 섭취량, 조직 무게는 유의적 차이가 없었다. 간 TBARS 농도는 설탕물을 섭취한 대조군에 비해 설탕의 농도를 달리하여 제조한 수정과 음료군인 sucrose군, stevia 첨가군, 그리고 scFOS 첨가군의 TBARS 농도가 유의적으로 감소하여 수정과의 지질과산화 억제 효과를 확인할 수 있었다. 설탕을 줄이는 대신 stevia를 첨가하여 제조한 기능성 수정과 섭취군에서 설탕물만을 섭취한 대조군에 비해 간, 비장세포의 내재적(endogenous) 또는 $H_2O_2$로 유도된 산화적 DNA 손상에 대한 억제 효과가 있는 것으로 나타났다. 백혈구의 DNA 손상의 경우 stevia군에서 대조군에 비해 감소하는 경향을 보여주었으나 통계적 유의성은 없었다. 시판 수정과의 경우 간세포의 내재적 DNA 손상만을 억제하는 효능이 있는 것으로 나타났으며, 설탕만으로 제조한 수정과나 scFOS가 첨가된 수정과 섭취군의 경우 내재적 또는 $H_2O_2$로 유도된 산화적 DNA 손상이 대조군에 비해 감소하는 경향을 보여주었으나 유의성은 없었다. 이상 본 연구의 결과, 고콜레스테롤혈증이 유발된 ApoE KO 마우스에서 수정과의 보충 섭취는 간 지질과산화를 개선시키고 stevia 첨가 수정과의 경우 간 및 비장에서 DNA 손상 억제효과가 있음을 확인할 수 있었다. 본 연구 결과가 수정과의 세계화에 기여할 수 있기를 기대하며, 향후 본 연구를 기반으로 한 분자생물학적 수준의 기전 연구가 필요하다고 사료된다.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.319-328
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Curcuma zedoaria R. (Zingiberaceae) has been used to treat headache, fever, and hypertension-related symptoms in Asian countries, including Korea, China, and Japan. We investigated whether dietary intake of a C. zedoaria extract (CzE) affected atherosclerosis in vivo. MATERIALS/METHODS: Apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE^-/-) mice (n = 32) were fed a normal diet (ND), a high-cholesterol diet (HCD), an HCD containing CzE (100 mg/kg/day), or an HCD containing simvastatin (10 mg/kg/day) for 12 weeks. The anti-atherosclerotic effects were evaluated by observing changes in fatty streak lesions, immunohistochemical analysis, ex vivo fluorescence imaging, lipid profiles, and western blot analysis. RESULTS: The CzE-fed group showed a 41.6% reduction of atherosclerosis. Furthermore, CzE significantly reduced the levels of serum triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, the chemokine (C-X3-C-motif ) ligand 1, the adhesion molecules vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, intracellular adhesion molecule-1, and E-selectin; down-regulation of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, high mobility group box-1, and cathepsin levels in the aortic sinuses and aortas of ApoE^-/- mice were also observed. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the inclusion of a water extract of C. zedoaria in a HCD is closely correlated with reducing the risk of vascular inflammatory diseases in an ApoE mouse model.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권4호
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• pp.1375-1383
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• 2015

Background: Objective Myocardin-related transcription factor (MRTF)-A is a Rho signaling-responsive co-activator of serum response factor (SRF). The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of MRTF-A and AQP1 (aquaporin 1) in pathological vascular remodeling. Materials and Methods: MRTF-A, AQP1 and neointima expression was detected both in the wire injured femoral arteries of wild-type mice and the atherosclerotic aortic tissues of $ApoE^{-/-}$ mice. Expression of ICAM-1, matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9) and integrin ${\beta}1$ were also assayed. The intercourse relationship between the molecules were investigated by interfering RNA and inhibitor assay. Results: MRTF-A and AQP1 expression were significantly higher in the wire injured femoral arteries of wild-type mice and in the atherosclerotic aortic tissues of $ApoE^{-/-}$ mice than in healthy control tissues. Both in wire-injured femoral arteries in MRTF-A knockout ($Mkl1^{-/-}$) mice and atherosclerotic lesions in $Mkl1^{-/-}$; $ApoE^{-/-}$ mice, neointima formation were significantly attenuated and the expression of AQP1 were significantly decreased. Expression of ICAM-1, matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9) and integrin ${\beta}1$, three SRF targets and key regulators of cell migration, and AQP1 in injured arteries was significantly weaker in $Mkl1^{-/-}$ mice than in wild-type mice. In cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), knocking down MRTF-A reduced expression of these genes and significantly impaired cell migration. Underlying the increased MRTF-A expression in dedifferentiated VSMCs were the down-regulation of microRNA-300. Moreover, the MRTF-A inhibitor CCG1423 significantly reduced neointima formation following wire injury in mice. Conclusions: MRTF-A could be a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of vascular diseases.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제43권11호
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• pp.1648-1657
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• 2014

기능성 수정과의 대량생산을 위하여 전통 수정과로부터 계피, 생강 및 설탕을 사용하는 수정과 레시피를 개발하고, 감미료인 stevia와 scFOS를 첨가하여 기능성 수정과 레시피를 개발하였다. 수정과 레시피 개발은 수정과의 특성에 대해 전문 교육을 받은 관능 평가원 10명(총 50회)이 참여하였다. 수정과와 기능성 수정과의 간지질 축적 억제 효과 및 관련 기전 연구를 위해 유전적으로 변형된 마우스에서 4주간 콜레스테롤 식이로 고콜레스테롤혈증(총 콜레스테롤 >1,000 mg/dL)을 유발한 후 6주간 수정과를 경구로 섭취시켰다. 수정과 섭취량은 한국인의 1일 음료 섭취량을 기준으로 산출하였다. 간의 중성지방 및 콜레스테롤 농도는 설탕물을 섭취한 대조군에서 물을 섭취한 정상대조군에 비해 31.4%, 21.2% 유의적으로 증가하였으며(P<0.05) 동일한 농도의 설탕을 함유한 수정과 섭취에 의해 중성지방 17.9%(P=0.044) 그리고 콜레스테롤 12.6%(P=0.027) 감소하여 수정과의 지질 저하 효과를 확인하였고, 이러한 수정과의 효과는 설탕 함량의 일부를 stevia와 scFOS로 대체한 기능성 수정과군에서 더욱 낮았다. 그러나 시판 수정과의 간지질 농도는 설탕물만 섭취한 대조군과 유사하여 지질 축적 억제 효과가 관찰되지 않았는데, 이는 낮은 생강, 계피 추출물의 양 때문으로 생각되었다. 수정과군들의 FAS, HMGCR 및 SREBP-1, 2의 단백질 발현은 대조군에 비해 유의적으로 낮았으며 특히 기능성 수정과의 효과가 매우 높았다. 이상의 결과를 살펴보면 수정과의 기능성은 계피, 생강 및 당 함량의 모든 요인이 함께 작용한 것으로 확인되었다. 동일 농도의 설탕을 사용하였을 때 계피 및 생강의 효과는 유의적이었으며, 계피와 생강의 농도를 동일하게 하고 설탕 함량의 일부를 stevia와 scFOS로 대체한 기능성 수정과의 효과는 설탕만 사용한 수정과에 비해 유의적인 차이는 없었으나 간지질 축적 및 관련 효소 및 전사인자의 발현을 억제하는 효과가 매우 높았다.

• 한국컴퓨터정보학회논문지
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• 제25권10호
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• pp.115-123
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• 2020

동맥경화증은 동맥 내피세포의 손상으로 인해 내막층에 지질이 축적되어 발생 되는 염증성 질환으로 동맥 내막에 침윤되는 백혈구와 백혈구에서 분비되는 전염증성 싸이토카인에 의해 죽종형성이 시작된다. 꾸지뽕은 뽕나무과의 작은 나무로 그 추출물은 항염증, 항산화, 항암의 효과를 가지고 있다. 그러나, 동맥경화증에서 효능은 명확하게 연구되지 않았다. 본 연구에서는 동맥경화증의 초기 진행에서 꾸지뽕의 항염증 효과를 알아보고자 꾸지뽕 뿌리의 추출물을 수득하였고, 동맥경화증의 동물 모델인 ApoE 결손 생쥐에서 복강대식세포를 분리하였다. 분리된 복강대식세포에 LPS로 염증반응을 유발하고 꾸지뽕 뿌리 추출물을 처리하였을 때 100㎍/ml 이하의 농도에서 세포 생존율의 변화가 관찰되지 않아 이 농도를 추가 실험을 위한 유효 농도로 설정하였다. 또한, LPS에 의해 증가한 염증 싸이토카인(MCP-1, IL-1β, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6)의 발현이 꾸지뽕 뿌리 추출물에 의해 감소하였다. 따라서, 꾸지뽕 뿌리 추출물은 동맥경화의 잠재적 위험성을 가지고 있는 대식세포에서 항염증 효과를 나타내어 동맥경화증의 치료제 개발에 이용 가능할 것이다.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.83-87
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• 2010

The cholesterol-lowering effects of soymilk fermented with Bacillus subtilis KCCM42923 were studied in apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE KO) mice and compared to the cholesterol-lowering effects of soymilk to which cheonggukjang powder had been added. ApoE KO mice were divided into 3 groups (n=7/group). Animals were fed either an atherogenic diet only (AD, control group), an AD supplemented with fermented soymilk containing Corni fructus (FSM group), or an AD supplemented with soymik to which cheonggukjang (CGJ) powder had been added at 5% (w/v) (CPS group) for 8 weeks. The amount of FSM or CPS supplementing the AD was 20.8 mL/kg BW. There were no differences in either body weight gain or organ weights among three groups. In the FSM group, the concentration of plasma total cholesterol (TC) and LDL cholesterol (LDLC) were significantly decreased by 26.2% and 30.3% compared with the values of the control group (p<0.05). However, the triglyceride (TG) and HDL-cholesterol (HDLC) levels were not affected. These beneficial effects of FSM on suppressing the increase in plasma cholesterol level by AD were greater than those of CPS, which revealed 15.4% and 16.4% inhibition for TC and LDLC, respectively. However, these differences between FSM and CPS groups were not significantly different. A preventative effect of FSM or CPS on the accumulation of hepatic TC, but not on TG, was observed. FSM and CPS did not demonstrate any effects on fecal lipid excretion. In conclusion, the cholesterol-lowering effects of the soymilk fermented with Bacillus subtilis KCCM42923 were comparable to CGJ powder-added soymilk. These results suggest that drinking FSM might provide beneficial effects on controlling plasma cholesterol levels.

• 대한방사성의약품학회지
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.26-31
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• 2018

Macrophages play a key role in atherosclerotic plaque formation, but their participation has been discerned largely via ex vivo analyses of atherosclerotic lesions. Therefore, we aimed to identify atherosclerosis on noninvasive in vivo imaging using reporter gene system. This study demonstrated that recruitment of macrophages could be detected in atherosclerotic plaques of Apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE-/-) mice with a sodium iodide symporter (NIS) gene imaging system using $^{99m}Tc-SPECT$. This novel approach to tracking macrophages to atherosclerotic plaques in vivo could have applications in studies of arteriosclerotic vascular disease.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• 제50권3호
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• pp.159-170
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• 2020

Purpose: Immunization with Porphyromonas gingivalis heat shock protein 60 (PgHSP60) may have an immunoregulatory effect on atherogenesis. The aim of this study was to determine whether nasal immunization with a PgHSP60 peptide could reduce atherosclerotic plaque formation in apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE KO) mice. Methods: Seven-week-old male ApoE KO mice were assigned to receive a normal diet, a Western diet, a Western diet and challenge with PgHSP60-derived peptide 14 (Pep14) or peptide 19 (Pep19), or a Western diet and immunization with Pep14 or Pep19 before challenge with Pep14 or Pep19. Results: Atherosclerotic plaques were significantly smaller in mice that received a Western diet with Pep14 nasal immunization than in mice that received a Western diet and no Pep14 immunization with or without Pep14 challenge. An immunoblot profile failed to detect serum reactivity to Pep14 in any of the study groups. Stimulation by either Pep14 or Pep19 strongly promoted the induction of CD4⁺CD25⁺ forkhead box P3 (FoxP3)⁺ human regulatory T cells (Tregs) in vitro. However, the expression of mouse splenic CD4⁺CD25⁺FoxP3⁺ Tregs was lower in the Pep14-immunized mice than in the Pep14-challenged or Pep19-immunized mice. Levels of serum interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and transforming growth factor beta were higher and levels of interleukin (IL) 10 were lower in the Pep14-immunized mice than in the other groups. Induction of CD25^- IL-17⁺ T helper 17 (Th17) cells was attenuated in the Pep14-immunized mice. Conclusions: Nasal immunization with Pep14 may be a mechanism for attenuating atherogenesis by promoting the secretion of IFN-γ and/or suppressing Th17-mediated immunity.