• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2011

To understand the roles of purinergic receptors and cellular molecules below the receptors in the vascular inflammatory response, we determined if extracellular nucleotides up-regulated chemokine expression in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Human aortic smooth muscle cells (AoSMCs) abundantly express $PSY_1$, $PSY_6$, and $PSY_{11}$ receptors, which all respond to extracellular nucleotides. Exposure of human AoSMCs to $NAD^+$, an agonist of the human $PSY_{11}$ receptor, and $NADP^+$ as well as ATP, an agonist for $PSY_1$ and $PSY_{11}$ receptors, caused increase in chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 gene (CCL2) transcript and CCL2 release; however, UPT did not affect CCL2 expression. CCL2 release by $NAD^+$ and $NADP^+$ was inhibited by a concentration dependent manner by suramin, an antagonist of P2-purinergic receptors. $NAD^+$ and $NADP^+$ activated protein kinase C and enhanced phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and Akt. $NAD^+$- and $NADP^+$-mediated CCL2 release was significantly attenuated by SP6001250, U0126, LY294002, Akt inhibitor IV, RO318220, GF109203X, and diphenyleneiodium chloride. These results indicate that extracellular nucleotides can promote the proinflammatory VSMC phenotype by up-regulating CCL2 expression, and that multiple cellular elements, including phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, Akt, protein kinase C, and mitogen-activated protein kinases, are involved in that process.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.512-521
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• 2015

In this research, environmental friendly organic acid containing microetching system to improve adhesion strength between photoresist resin and Copper Clad Laminate(CCL) was developed without using strong oxidant $H_2O_2$. Etching rate and surface contamination on CCL were examined with various etching conditions with different etchants, organic acids and additives. to develope an optimum microetching condition. Etching solution with 0.04 M acetic acid showed the highest etching rate $0.4{\mu}m/min$. Etching solution with the higher concentration of APS showed the higher etching rate but surface contamination on CCL is very serious. In addition, stabilizer solution also played an important role to control the surface contamination. As a result of research, the etching solution containing 0.04 M of acetic acid, 0.1 M of APS with 4 g/L of stabilizer solution(ST-1) was best to improve adhesion between CCL and photoresist resin as well as showed the most clean and rough surface with the etching rate of $0.37{\mu}m/min$.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.549-555
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• 2015

We attempted to investigate molecular mechanisms underlying phenotypic change of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) by determining signaling molecules involved in chemokine production. Treatment of human aortic smooth muscle cells (HAoSMCs) with thrombin resulted not only in elevated transcription of the (C-C motif) ligand 11 (CCL11) gene but also in enhanced secretion of CCL11 protein. Co-treatment of HAoSMCs with GF109230X, an inhibitor of protein kinase C, or GW5074, an inhibitor of Raf-1 kinase, caused inhibition of ERK1/2 phosphorylation and significantly attenuated expression of CCL11 at transcriptional and protein levels induced by thrombin. Both Akt phosphorylation and CCL11 expression induced by thrombin were attenuated in the presence of pertussis toxin (PTX), an inhibitor of Gi protein-coupled receptor, or LY294002, a PI3K inhibitor. In addition, thrombin-induced production of CCL11 was significantly attenuated by pharmacological inhibition of Akt or MEK which phosphorylates ERK1/2. These results indicate that thrombin is likely to promote expression of CCL11 via PKC/Raf-1/ERK1/2 and PTX-sensitive protease-activated receptors /PI3K/Akt pathways in HAoSMCs. We propose that multiple signaling pathways are involved in change of VSMCs to a secretory phenotype.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.99-107
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• 2012

The protective effect of AI-1367 (Alnus japonica extract) on liver injury was investigated. Primary rat hepatocyte intoxication was induced by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBH), carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$), or D-glactosamine (D-GalN). Liver injury was induced by $CCl_4$, D-GalN or MCD (methionine choline deficient)-diet in mouse. The cellular leakage of lactate dehyrogenase and cell viability followed by the treatment of hepatotoxicants were significantly improved by AI-1367 treatment at a concentration range of 5~50 ${\mu}g/ml$ for tBH, 5~50 ${\mu}g/ml$ for D-GalN, and 5~100 ${\mu}g/ml$ for $CCl_4$, respectively. Treatment with AI-1367 (20, 10, 5 mg/kg, p.o.) on liver injury induced by subcutaneous injection of $CCl_4$ or D-GalN reduced significantly the levels of aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase in serum. Histological observations revealed that fatty acid changes, hepatocyte necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration in $CCl_4$ (D-GalN)-induced liver injury was improved by administration of AI-1367. AI-1367 treatment (10, 5, 2.5 mg/kg, p.o.) also significantly recovered the body weight change and serum levels of aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase and triglyceride in liver injury induced by MCD diet. From these results, AI-1367 shows protective effects against tBH, $CCl_4$, D-GalN, or MCD diet-induced hepatotoxicity in vitro or in vivo.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.45-53
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• 2013

Korean red ginseng, the processed root of Panax ginseng Meyer, has been frequently used for various therapeutic purposes in oriental medicine. The present study investigated the possible effect of Korean red ginseng extract (RGE) for the treatment of liver fibrosis in mice injected with carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$) for 4 wk. Liver injuries were assessed by blood biochemistry and histopathology in mice treated with $CCl_4$ alone or $CCl_4$+ RGE (30, 100, and 300 mg/kg). Concomitant treatment with RGE and $CCl_4$ (three times/wk for 4 wk) effectively inhibited liver fibrosis as evidenced by decreases in plasma alanine and aspartate aminotransferases, as well as by the percentages of degenerative regions, numbers of degenerative hepatocytes, and collagen accumulation in hepatic parenchyma. Treatment with $CCl_4$ for 4 wk increased mRNA levels of transforming growth factor ${\beta}1$ and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 in fibrogenic liver, whereas RGE (30, 100, and 300 mg/kg) significantly blocked the induction of fibrogenic genes by $CCl_4$. Similarly, RGE also prevented transforming growth factor ${\beta}1$-mediated induction of fibrogenic genes in human hepatic stellate cell lines. More importantly, RGE markedly reduced the number of ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin-positive cells in liver tissue. This study implies that RGE efficaciously protects against the liver fibrosis induced by chronic $CCl_4$ treatment, and may therefore have potential to treat liver disease.

• Carbon letters
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.109-114
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• 2012

A nuclear, biological, chemical (NBC) canister was indigenously developed using active carbon impregnated with ammoniacal salts of copper (II), chromium (VI) and silver (I), and high efficiency particulate aerosol filter media. The NBC canister was evaluated against carbon tetra chloride ($CCl_4$) vapours, which were used as a simulant for persistent chemical warfare agents under dynamic conditions for testing breakthrough times of canisters of gas masks in the National Approval Test of Respirators. The effects of $CCl_4$ concentration, test flow rate, temperature, and relative humidity (RH) on the breakthrough time of the NBC canister against $CCl_4$ vapour were also studied. The impregnated carbon that filled the NBC canister was characterized for surface area and pore volume by $N_2$ adsorption-desorption isotherm at liquid nitrogen temperature. The study clearly indicated that the NBC canister provides adequate protection against $CCl_4$ vapours. The breakthrough time decreased with the increase of the $CCl_4$ concentration and flow rate. The variation in temperature and RH did not significantly affect the breakthrough behaviour of the NBC canister at high vapour concentration of $CCl_4$, whereas the breakthrough time of the NBC canister was reduced by an increase of RH at low $CCl_4$ vapour concentration.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.145-149
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• 2010

This study was carried out to find whether phenidone (1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidinone), a cyclooxygenase as well as a lipoxygenase inhibitor, exhibits the preventive effect on carbon tetrachloride $(CCl_{4})-induced$ acute liver injury in rats. Rats were pretreated with phenidone at a dose of 50 or 200 mg/kg (p.o.) once daily for 3 consecutive days before $CCl_{4}$ administration. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were measured. Malondialdehyde (MDA) production was determined as an index of lipid peroxidation in the liver and serum. The histopathological changes in the liver were also examined in each group. The reduction in body weights was significantly inhibited in the phenidone-treated group than in the $CCl_{4}$ control group. Significant increase in the relative liver weights of the phenidone-treated groups was observed compared with either the vehicle or $CCl_{4}$ groups. Elevation of serum AST and ALT activities occurred after $CCl_{4}$ treatment was significantly attenuated by the pretreatment with phenidone. The elevation of MDA levels in liver and serum were completely inhibited in phenidone-treated groups. The protective effects on phenidone-treated groups were confirmed histopathologically. These results suggest that phenidone may be a useful protector through modulation of hepatic inflammation in $(CCl_{4})-induced$ acute liver injury.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.344-347
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• 2013

The S100A8 and S100A9 proteins play important roles in inflammatory diseases. The house dust mite acts as a major allergen that induces allergic diseases. We investigated the effect of the house dust mite on S100A8 and S100A9 protein expression in monocytes. We also examined the effect of CCL2, a powerful monocyte chemoattractant, on the expression of both proteins. Extract of Dermatophagoides pteronissinus (DP), recombinant Der p 1 and Der p 2, or CCL2 had no effect on S100A8 and S100A9 expression in human monocytic THP-1 cells. Monocytes were isolated from healthy donors and treated with DP, Der p 1, and Der p 2. S100A8 expression in monocytes increased after a 24 h stimulation with DP, Der p 1, and Der p 2, and CCL2 also increased S100A8 production. However, S100A9 expression in monocytes was not altered by DP, Der p 1, Der p 2, or CCL2. These results indicate that house dust mite and CCL2 may trigger an inflammatory response by altering S100A8 expression.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.333-338
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• 2006

This study was to investigate the preventive effects in anti-oxidation of Ulva lactuca extract fractions (ULEF) against $CCl_4$ toxification in liver total homogenate and mitochondrial fraction of ULEF-pretreated and carbon tetrachloride $(CCl_4)-posttreated$ rats. ULEF was intraperitoneally administered into rats at dose of 1 ml/kg for14 days. On the day 15, 3.3 ml/kg of $CCl_4$ dissolved in olive oil (1:1) was injected 12 hr before anesthetization. Activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD) in mitochondrial fraction were measured and catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver total homogenate. SOD, CAI and GPx were higher in the ULEF-pretreated and $CCl_4-posttreated$ group than those in the $CCl_4-posttreated$ group, and the pretreatment of ULEF decreased MDA. These results showed that the pretreatment of ULEF had the preventive role in the activities of anti-oxidative enzymes, SOD, CAT and GPx

• Toxicological Research
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.265-272
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• 1992

Effects of repeated physical exercise on the carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$) hepatotoxicity were examined in adult female rats. Rats were introduced into a cylindrical rotating cage and forced to exercise for 1 hr each day, 6days/week, for 5 consecutive weeks at a speed starting from 10m/min, increased by 1m/min per day until the speed reached 27m/min. Significantly less body weight gain was observed in the exercise group suggesting that physical fitness had been induced in these animals. Eighteen hours following termination of the last exercise bout rats were treated with $CCl_4$(2 mmol/kg.ip). The $CCl_4$-induced heptotoxicity was significantly potentiated in the repeated exercise group compared to the resting sedentary animals as determined by changes in serum sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase(GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), and glucose-6-phosphatase(G-6-Pase) activities when measured 24hrs following the $CCl_4$ treatment. Hepatic drug metabolizing activity was determined in order to elucidate the underlying mechanism of potentiating action of the $CCl_4$ hepatotoxicity induced by repeated physical exercise. Repeated exercise increased the hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 contents and aminopyrine N-demethylase activity. The results suggest that the potentiation of $CCl_4$ hepatotoxicity by repeated exercise is associated with induction of the mixed function oxidase (MFO) enzyme system mediating the metabolism of $CCl_4$ to its active metabolite(s).