• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.8
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• pp.742-752
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• 2018

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive degeneration of dopaminergic (DAergic) neurons, particularly in the substantia nigra (SN). Although circadian dysfunction has been suggested as one of the pathophysiological risk factors for PD, the exact molecular link between the circadian clock and PD remains largely unclear. We have recently demonstrated that $REV-ERB{\alpha}$, a circadian nuclear receptor, serves as a key molecular link between the circadian and DAergic systems. It competitively cooperates with NURR1, another nuclear receptor required for the optimal development and function of DA neurons, to control DAergic gene transcription. Considering our previous findings, we hypothesize that $REV-ERB{\alpha}$ may have a role in the onset and/or progression of PD. In the present study, we therefore aimed to elucidate whether genetic abrogation of $REV-ERB{\alpha}$ affects PD-related phenotypes in a mouse model of PD produced by a unilateral injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into the dorsal striatum. $REV-ERB{\alpha}$ deficiency significantly exacerbated 6-OHDA-induced motor deficits as well as DAergic neuronal loss in the vertebral midbrain including the SN and the ventral tegmental area. The exacerbated DAergic degeneration likely involves neuroinflammation-mediated neurotoxicity. The $REV-erb{\alpha}$ knockout mice showed prolonged microglial activation in the SN along with the over-production of interleukin $1{\beta}$, a pro-inflammatory cytokine, in response to 6-OHDA. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates for the first time that genetic abrogation of $REV-ERB{\alpha}$ can increase vulnerability of DAergic neurons to neurotoxic insults, such as 6-OHDA, thereby implying that its normal function may be beneficial for maintaining DAergic neuron populations during PD progression.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Embryo Transfer Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.62-62
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• 2006

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 2003.08a
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• pp.165.4-165
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• 2003

No Abstract, See Full Text

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.5-9
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• 2009

Relatively little is known about the neurobiology of insomnia, despite its wide prevalence and broad medical impact. Although much is still to be learned about the pathophysiology of the disorder, identification, systematic assessment, and appropriate treatment are clearly beneficial to patients. Recent research, using quantitative EEG, polysomnography (PSG), multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) and neuroimaging techniques, suggests that some broad areas can be identified as possible pathophysiological models. Sleep-wake homeostat model hypothesizes a failure in homeostatic regulation of sleep, an attenuated increase in sleep drive with time awake, and/or defective sensing of sleep need. Circadian clock model hypothesizes a dysfunctional circadian clock, resulting in changes in the timing of sleep-wake propensity that are incompatible with normal sleep. Intrinsic sleep-wake state mechanism model suggests that abnormal function of insomnia comprises the systems responsible for expression of the sleep states themselves. Extrinsic over-ride mechanism (stress-response) model suggests that insomnia reflects the consequences of overactivity of one of the systems considered "extrinsic" to normal sleep-wake control. Many current therapies for insomnia are based on these physiological models. Several attempts have been made to create a physiological model that would explain this disorder and could be used as a foundation for treatment. However, it appeared that no model can fully explain and clarify all aspects of insomnia. Future research should be necessary to expand our knowledge on the biological dimensions of insomnia.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.1-6
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• 1996

Carcadian rhythm dependence of vancomycin pharmacokinetics was evaluated in 5 normal volunteers receiving a single intravenous 1.0 g dose of vancomycin at 8 o'clock in the morning and another occasion at 8 o'clock in the evening in a crossover manner. The serum data were subjected to simultaneous computer nonlinear least squares regression analysis using a two-compartment pbarmacokinetic model. The mean half-life of vancomycin was $4.78\pm0.81$ hr in the morning and $4.25\pm0.51$ hr in the evening. The mean total body clearance of vancomycin was $1.29\pm0.58$ hr in the morning and $5.58\pm0.48$ hr in the evening. No circadian rhythm was found to be apparent in normal volunteers. The mean in intrasubject difference in the half-life between 8 A.M. and 8 P.M. was $15.4\%$ with fluctuations ranging from $10.4\sim33.8\%$, It is reasonable to consider individual circadian rhythm for effective dosage regimen of vancomycin in clinical chronotherapeutics.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.308-314
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• 2011

It has been shown that circadian genes not only play an important role on circadian rhythms, but also participate in other physiological and pathological activities, such as drug dependence, cancer development and radiation injury. The Per2, an indispensable component of the circadian clock, not only modulates circadian oscillations, but also regulates organic function. In the present study, we applied mPER2-upregulated NIH3T3 cells to reveal the relationship of mPer2 and the cells damaged by ultraviolet C (UVC). NIH3T3 cells at the peak of the expression of mPer2 induced by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) demonstrated little damage by UVC evaluated by MTT assay, cell growth curves and cell colony-forming assay, compared with that at the nadir of the expression of mPer2. Overexpression of mPER2, accompanied p53 upregulated, also demonstrated protective effect on NIH3T3 cells damaged by UVC. These results suggest that mPer2 plays a protective effect on cells damaged by UVC, whose mechanism may be involved in upregulated p53.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.205-211
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• 1997

The possibility of circadian production of plant hormone gibberellin (GA0 was examined in phytochrome B mutant (plyB-1) and wild-type sorghum. GA$_{12}$, GA$_{20}$ and GA$_{1}$ levels were found to cycle circadianly in both phyB-1 and wild-type. The periods (33 h) of GA$_{20}$ and GA$_{1}$ cycling in constant light were longer than normal photoperiods in both genotypes and typical average free running periods in plants of 22 to 28 h. The biological clock was thus shown to function properly in phyB-1. However, circadian regulation of GAs productions were not clear as compared to circadian ethylene regulation reported by Lee (1996). Although, in sorghum, EOD FR treatment hasten floral inititation, the differences in GA concentrations between treatments and untreated control were generally less dramatic than expected. Thus, it can be concluded that FR does not act primarily by changing absolute levels of GAs but rather by increasing flowering responsiveness to GAs.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.417-422
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• 2009

Mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) are known to get activated during various stress signals and transduce the message from the cell membrane to the nucleus for appropriate cellular reorganization. Though, a certain basal activity of MAPK is often observed in the control plants. Prolonged exposure of rice plants to lowered or elevated temperature exhibited a rhythm in the activation of MAPKs. We analyzed existence of a possible endogenous rhythm in the activity of MAPKs in rice plants. The plants growing at constant temperature entrained in 16/8 h day-night cycle showed diurnal rhythm in activity. When the activation of MAPK was tested under continuous conditions by shifting plants to continuous darkness for a period of 72 h, the periodic rhythm persisted and followed a circadian pattern. Analysis of the transcripts of group A, B and C members of MAPKs under above conditions by quantitative real time PCR revealed that the members of group C exhibit periodic rhythm. Our data indicates that the MAP kinase activity in rice follows rhythmic expression in a circadian manner.

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 2000.10a
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• pp.192.1-192
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• 2000

No Abstract, See Full Text

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Potoscience Conference
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.55-55
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• 2005