• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.1-13
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• 2013

Objectives : This study was performed to choose more effective neuro-protective acupuncture point and to verify the effect of acupuncture in promoting neurogenesis and angiogenesis as a result of its neuro-vasculo-regenerative effect in middle cerebral artery occlusion model in rats. Methods : By TTc staining we chose the most effective acupuncture point with neuro-protection. We randomly divided into four groups: Such as (1) sham group(with sham-operation), (2) sham+acupuncture group(with sham-operation), (3) middle cerebral artery occlusion group, (4) MCAO+AT group. Acupuncture procedure was performed for four days. Total RNA was extracted using TRIzol reagent, according to the manufacturer's instructions, and was purified using an RNAeasy mini kit. Immuno-histochemistry was performed using primary antibody mouse anti-BrdU, NeuN, Dcx, and VEGF. Results : We found that $ST_{36}$ had the more neuroprotective effect than $LI_{11}$ and $SP_3$. The microarray analysis revealed that 54 genes were more expressed neurogenesis pathway in MCAO+AT group compared with MCAO group(fold changes greater than or equal to twofold change). 11 genes were more expressed angiogenesis pathway. And 7 genes were more expressed VEGF pathway. Immuno-histochemistry revealed that cell proliferation, cell migration and cell maturation were increased. Conclusions : This study demonstrated that acupuncture on $ST_{36}$ had neuro-protective and neuro-restorative effect in ischemic brain injuries. And its mechanism might be related to promote neurogenesis and angiogenesis. These results suggest that acupuncture have potential benefits for the treatment of ischemic stroke.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.74-84
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate the anti-fibrogenic effect of Injinchunggan-tang on cultured rat hepatic stellate cells. Materials and Methods : Hepatic stellate cells(HSC-T6) were treated with various concentrations of Injinchunggan-tang extract for 24, 48, and 72 hours. The extraction was done with distilled water. After the treatment, cell viability, proliferation, procollagen levels and the mRNA of the TIMP-1, TIMP-2, and ASMA were measured by using MTT assay. BrdU assay, procollagen type I C-peptide EIA kit and RT-PCR. Results : The proliferation, mRNA expression and synthesis of collagen of the hepatic stellate cells were inhibited by Injinchunggan-tang treatment in a dose-dependent manner. This indicates the prescription has inhibitory effect on fibrogenesis of the liver by regulating the fibrogenesis associated genes in transcription. Cell viability was inhibited in time- and dose-dependent manners. It seemed that the drug should be used with sufficient dose to acquire treatment effect. Conclusion : These results suggest that Injinchunggan-tang is beneficial in the treatment of cirrhotic patients as well as for the patients with chronic hepatitis.

• Macromolecular Research
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• 제17권11호
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• pp.850-855
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• 2009

Keratin is an important protein used in wound healing and tissue recovery. In this study, keratin was modified chemically with iodoacetic acid (IAA) to enhance its solubility in organic solvent. Poly(hydroxybutylate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and modified keratin were dissolved in hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) and electrospun to produce nanofibrous mats. The resulting mats were surface-characterized by ATR-FTIR, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA). The pure m-keratin mat was cross-linked with glutaraldehyde vapor to make it insoluble in water. The biodegradation test in vitro showed that the mats could be biodegraded by PHB depolymerase and trypsin aqueous solution. The results of the cell adhesion experiment showed that the NIH 3T3 cells adhered more to the PHBV/m-keratin nanofibrous mats than the PHBV film. The BrdU assay showed that the keratin and PHBV/m-keratin nanofibrous mats could accelerate the proliferation of fibroblast cells compared to the PHBV nanofibrous mats.

• 한방재활의학과학회지
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.91-99
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• 2019

Objectives The loss of maternal care during early postnatal period may increase development of mood-related disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and personality disorders. In this study, the effect of acupuncture on depression in relation with cell proliferation in the hippocampal gyrus dentatus was investigated using maternal-separated rat pups. Methods On the postnatal 14th day, rat pups from six dams were grouped into following groups: maternal care group, maternal separation group, maternal separation and non-acupoint-acupunctured group, maternal separation and Zusanli-acupunctured group, and maternal separation and fluoxetine-treated group. Acupuncture was performed from postnatal 28th day to postnatal 37th day. The rat pups that belong in the maternal separation and fluoxetine-treated group were injected subcutaneously with 5 mg/kg fluoxetine hydrochloride once a day for the same period of time. To evaluate activity of the rat pups, open field test was performed. Immunohistochemistry for serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) in the dorsal raphe and for 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) in the hippocampal gyrus dentatus was conducted. Results The present results reveal that the activity was decreased by maternal separation. In contrast, acupuncture at Zusanli overcame maternal separation-induced hypoactivity. Maternal separation suppressed TPH expression and 5-HT synthesis in the dorsal raphe and decreased cell proliferation in the hippocampal gyrus dentatus of rat pups. In contrast, acupuncture at Zusanli alleviated maternal separation-induced decrease of 5-HT synthesisand TPH expression. Conclusions The present results demonstrate that acupuncture at Zusanli ameliorated depressive state through increasing cell proliferation and enhancing 5-HT synthesis.

• 대한한방부인과학회지
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.1-14
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• 2019

Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the effect of Bombycis corpus on reproductive dysfunction caused by aging. Methods: The experimental group was divided into three groups: a control group consisting of 8-week-old male ICR mice without any treatment, An aging-elicited group (AE group) consisting of 50-week-old ICR male mice without any treatment, and a Bombycis corpus treatment group (BC group) consisting of 50-week-old ICR male mice with treatment Bombycis corpus extract (0.78 g/kg/day) for 6 months. After 6 months, histochemistry and immunohistochemistry of the testis were performed to investigate the effects of Bombycis corpus on the reproductive dysfunction caused by aging. Results: In the first step, Bombycis corpus increased spermatogenesis and distribution of sertoli cells in the seminiferous tubule, increased BrdU positive reaction in the spermatogonium at the basal part of the seminiferous tubule, and decreased the apoptosis of Sertoli cells in the seminiferous tubule. In addition, Bombycis corpus increased AR positive in Sertoli cells and $17{\beta}-HSD$ positive in leydig cells. Finally, Bombycis corpus decreased 8-OHdG positivite reaction in the spermatids of the seminiferous lumen, caspase-3 positivity in leydig cells, and HDAC1 positivite reaction in sertoli cells. Conclusions: These results suggest that Bombycis corpus increases spermatogenesis, decreases apoptosis of leydig cells and Sertoli cells, increases the production and action of testosterone in the testis, and inhibits DNA damages and DNA transcripts decrease in the testis, Thereby improving reproductive dysfunction caused by aging.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제46권1호
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• pp.104-114
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• 2022

Background: Abnormalities of myelin, which increases the efficiency of action potential conduction, are found in neurological disorders. Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) demonstrates therapeutic efficacy against some of these conditions, however effects on oligodendrocyte (OL)s are not well known. Here, we examined the effects of KRG-derived components on development and protection of OL-lineage cells. Methods: Primary OL precursor cell (OPC) cultures were prepared from neonatal mouse cortex. The protective efficacies of the KRG components were examined against inhibitors of mitochondrial respiratory chain activity. For in vivo function of Rb1 on myelination, after 10 days of oral gavage into adult male mice, forebrains were collected. OPC proliferation were assessed by BrdU incorporation, and differentiation and myelination were examined by qPCR, western blot and immunocytochemistry. Results: The non-saponin promoted OPC proliferation, while the saponin promoted differentiation. Both processes were mediated by AKT and extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) signaling. KRG extract, the saponin and non-saponin protected OPCs against oxidative stress, and both KRG extract and the saponin significantly increased the expression of the antioxidant enzyme. Among 11 major ginsenosides tested, Rb1 significantly increased OL membrane size in vitro. Moreover, Rb1 significantly increased myelin formation in adult mouse brain. Conclusion: All KRG components prevented OPC deaths under oxidative stress. While non-saponin promoted proliferation, saponin fraction increased differentiation and OL membrane size. Furthermore, among all the tested ginsenosides, Rb1 showed the biggest increase in the membrane size and significantly enhanced myelination in vivo. These results imply therapeutic potentials of KRG and Rb1 for myelin-related disorders.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제47권1호
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• pp.89-96
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• 2023

Background and aim: Panax ginseng, a key herbal medicine of replenishing Qi and tonifying Spleen, is widely used in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases in East Asia. In this study, we aim to investigate the potential effects and mechanisms of polysaccharides from P. ginseng (PGP) on intestinal mucosal restitution which is one of the crucial repair modalities during the recovery of mucosal injury controlled by the Ca²⁺ signaling. Methods: Rat model of intestinal mucosal injury was induced by indomethacin. The fractional cell migration was carried out by immunohistochemistry staining with BrdU. The morphological observations on intestinal mucosal injury were also performed. Intestinal epithelial cell (IEC-6) migration in vitro was conducted by scratch method. Western-blot was adopted to determine the expressions of PLC-𝛾1, Rac1, TRPC1, RhoA and Cav-1. Immunoprecipitation was used to evaluate the levels of Rac1/PLC-𝛾1, RhoA/TRPC1 and Cav-1/TRPC1. Results: The results showed that PGP effectively reduced the assessment of intestinal mucosal injury, reversed the inhibition of epithelial cell migration induced by Indomethacin, and increased the level of Ca²⁺ in intestinal mucosa in vivo. Moreover, PGP dramatically promoted IEC-6 cell migration, the expression of Ca²⁺ regulators (PLC-𝛾1, Rac1, TRPC1, Cav-1 and RhoA) as well as protein complexes (Rac1/PLC-𝛾1, Cav-1/TRPC1 and RhoA/TRPC1) in vitro. Conclusion: PGP increases the Ca²⁺ content in intestinal mucosa partly through controlling the regulators of Ca²⁺ mobilization, subsequently promotes intestinal epithelial cell migration, and then prevents intestinal mucosal injury induced by indomethacin.

• 운동영양학회지
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• 제15권4호
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• pp.173-182
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• 2011

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a stress-related mental disorder induced by severe external stressors such as assault, disaster or severe accident. We investigated the effects of treadmill exercise on short-term memory in relation to apoptosis and cell proliferation in the hippocampus following PTSD. Stress to the pregnant rats was induced by exposure of maternal rats to the hunting dog in an enclosed room. Exposure time was 10 min, repeated three times per day, with 1 hour interval. Exposure of maternal rats to the hunting dog was continued 7 days after pregnancy until delivery. The pregnant rats in the exercise groups were forced to run on a treadmill for 30 min once a day for the same duration of stress exposure. Step-down avoidance task for short-term memory, western blot for Bcl-2, Bax, and immunohistochemistry for caspase-3, 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU), and Ki-67 were conducted. Maternal rats exposed to stress during pregnancy showed short-term memory impairment. Expressions of Bax, Bcl-2, ratio of Bax to Bcl-2, and caspase-3 in the hippocampus were increased in the PTSD rats. Cell proliferation in the hippocampal dentate gyrus was decreased in the PTSD rats. Treadmill exercise alleviated short-term memory impairment and suppressed expressions of Bax, the ratio of Bax to Bcl-2, and caspase-3. Treadmill exercise also increased cell proliferation. The present results indicate that treadmill exercise alleviated PTSD-induced short-term memory impairment by suppressing apoptotic cell death and enhancing cell proliferation in the hippocampus.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.315-325
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• 2023

Background and Objectives: Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive primary brain tumor characterized by its heterogeneity and high recurrence and lethality rates. Glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) play a crucial role in therapy resistance and tumor recurrence. Therefore, targeting GSCs is a key objective in developing effective treatments for GBM. The role of Parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) in GBM and its impact on GSCs remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of PTHrP on GSCs and its potential as a therapeutic target for GBM. Methods and Results: Using the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, we found higher expression of PTHrP in GBM, which correlated inversely with survival. GSCs were established from three human GBM samples obtained after surgical resection. Exposure to recombinant human PTHrP protein (rPTHrP) at different concentrations significantly enhanced GSCs viability. Knockdown of PTHrP using target-specific siRNA (siPTHrP) inhibited tumorsphere formation and reduced the number of BrdU-positive cells. In an orthotopic xenograft mouse model, suppression of PTHrP expression led to significant inhibition of tumor growth. The addition of rPTHrP in the growth medium counteracted the antiproliferative effect of siPTHrP. Further investigation revealed that PTHrP increased cAMP concentration and activated the PKA signaling pathway. Treatment with forskolin, an adenylyl cyclase activator, nullified the antiproliferative effect of siPTHrP. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that PTHrP promotes the proliferation of patient-derived GSCs by activating the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway. These results uncover a novel role for PTHrP and suggest its potential as a therapeutic target for GBM treatment.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.94-103
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• 2004

본 연구 결과를 통하여 홍삼 성분인 고려홍삼 사포닌을 반복 투여시 흰쥐 해마 SGZ 부위의 신경전구세포 생성이 유의하게 증가되었으며, 이와 같은 경향은 반복 스트레스에 노출되어도 유지되었다. 또한 스트레스를 가하지 않은 흰쥐에서 고려홍삼 사포닌 반복 투여시 해마 CA3와 CA1 부위에서 BDNF mRNA의 발현이 증가되었으나, 반복 스트레스를 가한 흰쥐의 CA3와 CA1부위에서 BDNF mRNA의 감소를 차단하지는 못하였다. 따라서 고려홍삼 사포닌 반복 처치에 의한 해마 신경전구세포의 생성에 BDNF 보다는 다른 요인이 관여할 가능성이 클 것으로 추정된다.