• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.126-136
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• 2022

Liver fibrosis is part of the wound healing process to help the liver recover from the injuries caused by various liver-damaging insults. However, liver fibrosis often progresses to life-threatening cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. To overcome the limitations of current in vivo liver fibrosis models for studying the pathophysiology of liver fibrosis and establishing effective treatment strategies, we developed a new mouse model of liver fibrosis using polyhexamethylene guanidine phosphate (PHMG-p), a humidifier sterilizer known to induce lung fibrosis in humans. Male C57/BL6 mice were intraperitoneally injected with PHMG-p (0.03% and 0.1%) twice a week for 5 weeks. Subsequently, liver tissues were examined histologically and RNA-sequencing was performed to evaluate the expression of key genes and pathways affected by PHMG-p. PHMG-p injection resulted in body weight loss of ~15% and worsening of physical condition. Necropsy revealed diffuse fibrotic lesions in the liver with no effect on the lungs. Histology, collagen staining, immunohistochemistry for smooth muscle actin and collagen, and polymerase chain reaction analysis of fibrotic genes revealed that PHMG-p induced liver fibrosis in the peri-central, peri-portal, and capsule regions. RNA-sequencing revealed that PHMG-p affected several pathways associated with human liver fibrosis, especially with upregulation of lumican and IRAK3, and downregulation of GSTp1 and GSTp2, which are closely involved in liver fibrosis pathogenesis. Collectively we demonstrated that the PHMG-p-induced liver fibrosis model can be employed to study human liver fibrosis.

• Medical Lasers
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.50-58
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• 2019

Background and Objectives Low-level light therapy (LLLT) is an application of low-power light for various purposes such as promoting tissue repair, reducing inflammation, causing analgesia, etc. A previous study suggested the effect of light emitting diode (LED) light with the wavelength of 740 nm for promoting wound healing of corneal epithelial cells. This current study aimed to confirm the effect of LLLT for managing inflammation of a dry eye disease (DED) mouse model. Materials and Methods A total of 50C57BL/6 female mice were randomly grouped into 5 groups to compare the effect of LLLT:1) Control group, 2) Only LLLT group, 3) Dry eye group, 4) LLLT in dry eye group, and 5) Early treatment group. DED was induced with 4 daily injections of scopolamine hydrobromide and desiccation stress for 17 days, and LLLT at 740 nm was conducted once every 3 days. To analyze the effect of LLLT on the DED mouse model, tear volume, corneal surface irregularities, and fluorescence in stained cores were measured, and the level of inflammation was assessed with immunohistochemistry. Results The DED mouse model showed significant deterioration in the overall eye condition. After LLLT, the amount of tear volume was increased, and corneal surface irregularities were restored. Also, the number of neutrophils and the level of inflammatory cytokines significantly decreased as well. Conclusion This study showed that LLLT at 740 nm was effective in controlling the corneal conditions and the degree of inflammation in DED. Such findings may suggest therapeutic effects of LLLT at 740 nm on DED.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.621-633
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• 2023

We investigated the probiotic characteristics and anti-obesity effect of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum MGEL20154, a strain that possesses excellent intestinal adhesion and viability. The in vitro properties, e.g., gastrointestinal (GI) resistance, adhesion, and enzyme activity, demonstrated that MGEL20154 is a potential probiotic candidate. Oral administration of MGEL20154 to diet-induced obese C57BL/6J mice for 8 weeks resulted in a feed efficacy decrease by 44.7% compared to that of the high-fat diet (HFD) group. The reduction rate of weight gain was about 48.5% in the HFD+MGEL20154 group compared to that of the HFD group after 8 weeks, and the epididymal fat pad was also reduced in size by 25.2%. In addition, the upregulation of the zo-1, pparα, and erk2, and downregulation of the nf-κb and glut2 genes in Caco-2 cells by MGEL20154 were observed. Therefore, we propose that the anti-obesity effect of the strain is exerted by inhibiting carbohydrate absorption and regulating gene expression in the intestine.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.42-48
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to image metastaic lung melanoma model with optimal pre-conditions for animal handling by using $[^{18}F]FDG$ small animal PET and clinical CT. Materials and Methods: The pre-conditions for lung region tumor imaging were 16-22 h fasting and warming temperature at $30^{\circ}C$. Small animal PET image was obtained at 60 min postinjection of 7.4 MBq $[^{18}F]FDG$ and compared pattern of $[^{18}F]FDG$ uptake and glucose standard uptake value (SUVG) of lung region between Ketamine/Xylazine (Ke/Xy) and Isoflurane (Iso) anesthetized group in normal mice. Metastasis tumor mouse model to lung was established by intravenous injection of B16-F10 cells in C57BL/6 mice. In lung metastasis tumor model, $[^{18}F]FDG$ image was obtained and fused with anatomical clinical CT image. Results: Average blood glucose concentration in normal mice were $128.0{\pm}23.87$ and $86.0{\pm}21.65\;mg/dL$ in Ke/Xy group and Iso group, respectively. Ke/Xy group showed 1.5 fold higher blood glucose concentration than Iso group. Lung to Background ratio (L/B) in SUVG image was $8.6{\pm}0.48$ and $12.1{\pm}0.63$ in Ke/Xy group and Iso group, respectively. In tumor detection in lung region, $[^{18}F]FDG$ image of Iso group was better than that of Ke/Xy group, because of high L/B ratio. Metastatic tumor location in $[^{18}F]FDG$ small animal PET image was confirmed by fusion image using clinical CT. Conclusion: Tumor imaging in small animal lung region with $[^{18}F]FDG$ small animal PET should be considered pre-conditions which fasting, warming and an anesthesia during $[^{18}F]FDG$ uptake. Fused imaging with small animal PET and CT image could be useful for the detection of metastatic tumor in lung region.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.123-139
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• 2014

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate the inhibitory effects of Cheongshimyeonja-tang water extracts(CSYJ) on high fat diet-induced obesity and hyperlipidemia in C57BL/6J mice. Methods : The experimental animals were divided into four groups; normal diet-fed control(ND), high fat diet-fed control(HFD), HFD+CSYJ 150 mg/kg(CSYJ 150), and HFD+CSYJ 300 mg/kg(CSYJ 300). Obesity with hyperlipidemia was induced by feeding high fat diet(40%), and CSYJ was administrated orally into mice every day for 5 weeks. The effect of CSYJ on the serological parameters for Obesity with hyperlipidemia was evaluated. Results : CSYJ-treated groups revealed significantly reduced body weight and feed intake, as well as feed efficiency ratio, compared to HFD-fed group in dose-dependent manner. CSYJ reduced significantly the serum levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol elevated by intake of high fat diet feed, while the increased serum levels of HDL-cholesterol attenuated levels of atherogenic index and cardiac risk factor. It also reduced the blood levels of insulin and leptin in HFD group, and inhibited lipid accumulation in organs such as liver and abdomal adipose tissue. Moreover oral administration of CSYJ decreased significantly the blood level of alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST) and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), and lipid peroxide(LPO), compared to HFD-fed group in dose-dependent manner. Conclusions : These results indicate that CSYJ could reduce high fat diet-induced obesity and hyperlipidemia, suggesting its clinical usefulness for declining body fat and hyperlipidemia.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.9
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• pp.1137-1142
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• 2017

This study examined the effects of apios (Apios americana Medikus) supplementation on visceral obesity in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. C57BL/6N mice were fed a high-fat diet (40% calories from fat) with or without apios powder (10%, w/w) for 12 weeks. At the end of the experiment, apios supplementation reduced visceral fat mass significantly by 14.3% compared to the control group. Apios decreased significantly the atherogenic index, serum leptin level, hepatic lipid (free fatty acid and triglyceride) content, and lipid droplets, whereas it increased the serum high density lipoprotein-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio. Hepatic lipogenic gene expression of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma, fatty acid synthase, and diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 2 was down-regulated by apios supplementation. These results suggest that apios is a healthy food for preventing high-fat diet-induced visceral obesity and fatty liver.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.1636-1640
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• 2011

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, resulting in the loss of cognitive function. Mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2) has been proposed to be a risk factor for the development of AD, but there is still controversy about that. In this study, we demonstrated the role of ALDH2 enzyme activity on amyloid-beta (A${\beta}$) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) expression in mice brain following ethanol exposure for 8 weeks. Five male Aldh2 (+/+) and Aldh2 (-/-) mice, 8 weeks-old of age (C57BL/6J strain), in each group were exposed to ethanol for 8 weeks (2 g/kg wt./day) using gavage. Those in the control groups received 0.9% saline alone. Results showed a difference in expression level of A${\beta}$ in the hippocampus after ethanol exposure according to the ALDH2 enzyme activity (p<0.05), but not in the level of NF-${\kappa}B$). Our results suggest a possibility that ALDH2 enzyme activity may be an important role in the development of AD.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.104-109
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory effect of commercial Makgeolli on tumor growth in human gastric adenocarcinoma cells (AGS) in a xenograft cancer model, transplanted with AGS cells. Commercial Makgeolli was first dealcoholized by evaporation and used as the test sample. We detected a significant increase in the volume and weight of tumor in nude mice (induction) that were transplanted with AGS cells. Administration of $100mg/kg{\cdot}day$ group (ML), and $500mg/kg{\cdot}day$ group (MH) dealcoholized commercial Makgeolli significantly decreased tumor growth. In this study, 5-FU $18mg/kg{\cdot}day$ was used as a positive control for tumor growth inhibition. Additionally, determination of the body weight of both the groups revealed no side effects after the administration of dealcoholized commercial Makgeolli. Using the cell culture system, we also evaluated the effect of dealcoholized commercial Makgeolli on caspase-3/7 activity in the AGS cells. Treatment with dealcoholized commercial Makgeolli increased the activation of caspase-3/7 and the apoptotic markers in AGS cells in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, dealcoholized commercial Makgeolli can be used for cancer prevention.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.446-451
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• 2009

In this study, cathepsin S (CTSS) inhibitory fraction was isolated from Paecilomyces tenuipes and anti-obesitic effects of the fraction were evaluated in mice, fed a high-fat diet. Hot water extract of P. tenuipes (DHW) was divided into 2 fractions, water eluate fraction (DHP1) and methanol eluate fraction (DHP2) using Diaion HP-20. $IC_{50}$ values for DHW, DHP1 and DHP2 against CTSS were 108.7, 890.3 and 2.3 ${\mu}g$/mL, respectively. To evaluate anti-obesitic effects of the fractions, each fraction was administrated orally to C57BL/6 mice for 4 weeks with a high-fat diet. DHP2 had the highest inhibitory effect on CTSS activity, causing serious reduction in weight gain, a reduction in the amount of adipose tissue and in serum lipids levels. These results suggest that the inhibition of CTSS by compounds derived from P. tenuipes may be effective in preventing and in ameliorating obesity.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.313-320
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• 2021

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of whole wheat cookie supplemented with Capsosiphon fulvescens (CF) extract on serum glucose homeostasis in C57BL/6 mice. This study examined whether the same effect was demonstrated for whole wheat cookie in comparison to previous research documenting the glucose-lowering effect of food products combined with CF extract. Mice were divided into three groups depending on the diet administered: normal cookie (NC), whole wheat cookie (WC), and WC blended with CF extract (WCFE). After 4 weeks of administering the experimental diet, the blood glucose level, serum insulin level, and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance index were found to be significantly lower in the WCFE group than in the NC and WC groups. These results suggest that whole wheat cookie containing CF extract is effective in preventing insulin resistance and maintaining blood glucose homeostasis.