• 대한지역사회영양학회지
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.192-205
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• 2023

Objectives: Previous studies have evaluated the association between mercury exposure and obesity but have yielded mixed conclusions. The aim of this study was to systematically review and summarize scientific evidence regarding the association between mercury exposure and obesity in the human population. Methods: We conducted a systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Science Direct for articles related to mercury exposure and obesity. Meta-analyses of the highest and lowest categories of mercury levels were evaluated using a random effects model. Begg's test was used to detect publication bias. Results: A total of 9 articles were included. The pooled random effects odds ratio (OR) for mercury exposure and obesity of all 9 studies was 1.66 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16-2.38). This positive association was evident in adults (OR: 1.61, 95% CI: 1.02-2.54) and among studies with Asian populations (OR: 2.00, 95% CI: 1.53-2.59), but not among those with North America/African populations (OR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.50-1.65). Conclusions: The present meta-analysis identified a positive association between mercury exposure and obesity. These findings suggest that toxic environmental metals such as mercury may be an important risk factor for obesity along with dietary habits and lifestyles.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.159-167
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• 2023

The prevalence of diabetes continues to increase worldwide, and the problem is also important in Korea, and about 14% of Korean adults have diabetes. Alcohol consumptions are increasing rapidly around the world and are recognized as one of the major problems in the country. Alcohol consumption is an environmental factor previously known to be associated with the risk of developing diabetes. Alcohol consumption can cause problems in the endocrine system and gastrointestinal function, and oxidative stress of acetaldehyde, an ethanol metabolite, can damage beta cells in the pancreas. In the present study, we found the effect of alcohol intake on fasting blood sugar and the difference between men and women in the risk of diabetes according to alcohol intake. In men, the high-drinking group had a higher risk of diabetes than the non-drinking group (OR, 1.41; P=0.058). In women, the Moderate-drinking group had a lower risk of diabetes compared to the non-drinking group (OR, 0.42; P=0.039). The high-drinking group had a higher risk of diabetes than the non-drinking group (OR, 2.97; P=0.034). The group that consumed more than the WHO's daily alcohol intake risk standard tended to have a higher risk of diabetes than the group that did not (OR, 5.48; P=0.001). This study suggest that moderate alcohol consumption reduce the risk of developing diabetes, and high alcohol consumption increase the risk of developing diabetes.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제28권5호
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• pp.486-493
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• 2014

Adipocytes are endocrine cells that release bioactive mediators called adipokines. In condition of obesity characterized by low-grade chronic inflammation, adipocytes release inflammatory adipokines, which is related to insulin resistance. Bojungchiseub-tang (BJCST) has been used in symptoms and signs of edema, dampness-phlegm, kidney failure, and so on in Korean medicine. BJCST is also expected to have anti-obesity activities. In the present study, we examined whether BJCST modulate the production of inflammatory adipokines and the activations of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling pathway related to induce adipocyte inflammation to elucidate the effects and its mechanism of BJCST on lowering the content of inflammatory adipokines in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. As a result, BJCST suppressed the production of proinflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) $-{\alpha}$, interleukin (IL) $-1{\beta}$, IL-6, interferon (IFN) -${\gamma}$, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and the production of other inflammatory mediators, prostaglandin $E_2(PGE_2)$ and nitric oxide(NO)viadownregulationofcyclooxygenase-2(COX-2)andinducible NO synthase (iNOS) gene expressions. In addition, BJCST decreased the phosphorylation of MAPK that promotes the production of inflammatory adipokines in 3T3-L1 mature adipocytes. In conclusion, BJCST could regulate the production of inflammatory adipokines and MAPK signaling pathway related to induction of adipose inflammation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제22권5호
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• pp.636-642
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• 2009

The corpus luteum (CL) is a transient endocrine gland that produces progesterone, a product required for the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. In the absence of pregnancy, the production of progesterone in the CL decreases and the structure itself regresses in size. The life span and function of the CL are regulated by complex interactions between stimulatory (luteotrophic) and inhibitory (luteolytic) mediators. When an ovum is released from a mature follicle, angiogenesis and rapid growth of follicular cells form the CL. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether steroidogenesis, proliferation, and hypoxiarelated proteins are expressed in caprine CL. The expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and hypoxia-inducible factor $1{\alpha}$ (HIF-$1{\alpha}$) were determined in caprine CL during the estrous cycle. Cytochrome P450 side chain cleavage protein did not vary significantly during the estrous cycle; however, there was an increased expression of $3{\beta}$ -hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in the early and middle stages, which rapidly decreased in the late stage. The same observations were made with respect to steroidogenic acute regulatory protein. Variations in progesterone content and expression of PCNA, HIF-$1{\alpha}$, and VEGF were consistent with this result. Thus, the steroidogenic proteins, PCNA, HIF-$1{\alpha}$, and VEGF in caprine CL are dependent on the stage of the estrous cycle.

• 한국응용약물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국응용약물학회 2001년도 추계학술대회 및 정기총회
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• pp.99-99
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• 2001

The acid-labile subunit (ALS) associates with insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I or -II and IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) to form a 150-kD complex in the circulation. This complex is thought to regulate the serum IGFs by restricting them in the vascular system and promotes their endocrine actions. Little is known about how ALS binds to IGFBP3, which connects the IGFs to ALS. Xenopus oocyte was utilized to study the function of ALS in assembling IGFs into the ternary complexes. Xenopus oocyte was shown to correctly translate in vitro transcribed mRNAs of ALS and IGFBP3. IGFBP3 and ALS mRNAs were injected in mixture and their products were immunoprecipitated by antisera against ALS and IGFBP3. Contrary to the traditional reports that ALS interacts only with IGF-bound IGFBP3, this study shows that ALS is capable of forming a binary complex with IGFBP3 in the absence of IGF. When cross-linked by disuccinimidyl substrate, band representing ALS-IGFBP3 complex was evident on the PAGE. IGFBP3 movement was monitored according to the distribution between the hemispheres. Following a localized translation in the vegetal hemisphere, IGFBP3 was shown to remain in the vegetal half in the presence of ALS. Different from wild type IGFBP3, however, mutant IGFBP3 freely diffused into the animal half despite the presence of ALS. Taken together, this study suggests that ALS may play an important role in sequestering IGFBP3 polypeptides via the intermolecular aggregation. Studies using this heterologous model will lead to a better understanding of the IGFBP3 and ALS assembling into the ternary structure and circulating IGF system.

• 대한한방부인과학회지
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.84-98
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• 2007

Purpose : Polycystic ovarian syndrome(PCOS) is a endocrine disorder and still remains as one of the common causes of anovulation in women of reproductive age. There are some evidences that nerve growth factor(NGF) is involved in the pathogenesis of PCOS. In this research, the effects of ShingihwanhapChangbudodam- Tang(SCT) on the estradiol valerate(EV)-induced polycystic ovary(PCO) were investigated in rats. Methods : PCO was induced by single intramuscular injection with EV(4mg) in female rats. Rats in PCO control group(n = 8) were EV injected and orally administrated distilled water for sixty days. Rats in SCT-treated group(n = 8) were EV injected and orally administrated SCT for same duration. The weights of body, ovary and adrenal gland were measured. And also, ovarian histopathology and NGF immunohistochemistry were performed. Results : The weights of ovaries in SCT-treated group were significantly increased compared with control group. The numbers of secondly and mature follicles, and corpora lutea in SCT-treated group were significantly increased compared with control group. The numbers of atretic follicles were significantly decreased compared with control group. The expression of NGF positive reaction in the ovarian granulosa cells of SCT-treated group were lesser observed than control group. Conclusion : From the these results, we concluded that ShingihwanhapChangbudodam-Tang(SCT) has inhibitory effect on the development of EV-induced polycystic ovary. And it's effect may be related with decreased NGF activities in the ovary.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.67-73
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• 1999

The insulin-like growth factor (IGF)s are believed to one of several growth factors that play an adjunctive role in ovarian follicular development. These factors circulate bound to a family of IGF-binding protein (IGFBP)s. It is known that circulating IGFBPs are involved in the transport of IGFs to tissues and modulate IGFs actions at local tissue. The purposes of this study were to evaluate changes in serum IGFBPs profiles during normal ovulatory menstrual cylce and to compare serum IGFBPs profiles in periovulatory phase of between normal ovulatory menstrual cylce and controlled hyperstimulated cycle. Fasting blood samples were obtained from 15 normal healthy women throughout normal ovulatory menstural cyle and on the day of aspiration of oocyte from 10 patients undergoing ovarian hyperstimuation for in vito fertilization-embryo transfer. Serum IGFBP-1 - IGFBP-4 were measured by western ligand blot and immunoprecipitation. Serum $17{\beta}$-estradiol was determined by radioimmunoassay. Type and molecular weight of serum IGFBP did not changed during normal ovulatory menstural cycle. No significant variation in the relative proportion and level of each IGFBP was found throughout normal ovulatory menstural cyle. Also, the relative proportion and level of each IGFBP did not correlated with serum $17{\beta}$-estradiol level. There was no significant difference in the relative proportion and level of each serum IGFBP between on the day of ovulation in normal ovulatory menstrual cylce and on the day of aspiration of oocyte in controlled hyperstimulated cycle. Our data indicate that IGFBPs have regulatory functions in ovary through an paracrine and autocrine rather than endocrine mechanism during normal ovulatory menstural cycle.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.149-154
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• 2004

Objective: To assess the association with autoimmune endocrine diseases and detection rate of autoimmune antibodies and its clinical significance in patients with premature ovarian failure. Methods: Twenty eight patients with primary or secondary amenorrhea manifesting hormonal and clinical features of premature ovarian failure (primary POF: 7, secondary POF: 21) were investigated. We tested them TFT, 75 g OGTT, ACTH and S-cortisol for thyroiditis, IDDM, Addison's disease, and antithyoglobulin antibody, antimicrosomal antibody, antinuclear antibody, rheumatic factor, anti-smooth muscle antibody, anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody for non-organ specific autoimmune disorders. Results: Only one patient was diagnosed as IDDM and no patients had abnormal TFT or adrenal function test. More than one kind of autoantibody was detected in 11 patients of all (39.2%): 5 patients (71.4%) of primary POF group and 6 patients (21.4%) of secondary POF group. Eleven patients (39.3%) had antithyroglobulin antibody, 4 (14.3%) had antimicrosomal antibody, 2 (7.1%) had antinuclear antibody, 2 (7.1%) had rheumatic factor, 1 (3.6%) had anti-smooth muscle antibody, 1 (3.6%) had anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody. Conclusions: Premature ovarian failure may occur as a component of an autoimmune polyglandular syndrome, so patients should be measured with free thyroxine, thyroid-stimulating hormone, fasting glucose and electrolytes. Measurement of thyroid autoantibodies in POF patients may be important in identifying patients at risk of developing overt hypothyoidism, but other autoantibodies may not be suitable for screening test.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.199-205
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• 1998

흰쥐 난소에서의 Luteinizing hormonoe (LH) subunit 유전자 발현과 LH polypeptide의 존재를 조사하였다. 이를 위해 LH subunit들에 대한 역전사 중합효소연쇄반응 (RT-PCR)을 시행하고, 난소내 LH 함량을 방사면역측정법으로 정량하였다. 뇌하수체와 정소에서 공통적으로 존재하는 LH-$\beta$ subunit$(LH-\beta})$의 exon에 해당되는 primer를 사용하여 RT-PCR을 시행한 결과 흰쥐 난소에서도 뇌하수체, 정소와 같이 306 bp band가 확인되었고, 정소특이적인 exon에 해당되는 primer를 사용한 결과 정소와 난소에서 예상대로 428 bp band가 검출되었다. 또한 LH, FSH, TSH 그리고 hCG에서 공통적으로 발현되는 common $\alpha$-subunit $(C_\alpha)$의 전사물질도 PCRdml 의해 증폭되었다. 방사면역측정법에서는 LH standard curve와 난소추출물을 사용한 curve가 동일하게 sigmoid 형태를 보임으로서 흰쥐 난소내에 immunoreactive LH가 존재함이 증명되었다. 인위적으로 성적인 성숙을 유도한 PMSG 주사 동물에서 혈중 LH 수준은 주사 후 48시간에 preovulatory LH surge와 유사한 최고 수준을 나타냈으나, 난소내 LH 함량의 경우 주사 24시간 후부터 급격히 감소하여 주사 48, 72시간군까지도 낮은 수준이 유지되었다. 이 결과는 흰쥐 난소의 LH가 생리적으로 조절되고 그 조절방식이 뇌하수체에서와는 다를 가능성을 시사하는 것이다. 본 연구는 흰쥐의 난소에서 LH가 유전자가 발현됨을 최초로 보고한 것이며, LH의 경우 내분비적 경로 (endocrine; 뇌하수체로 부터의 LH)외에도 국부적 경로 (autocrine이나 paracrine; 난소내에서 합성되는 LH)를 통해 난소의 생리와 기능 조절을 담당함을 시사한다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.378-384
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• 2012

In aquatic invertebrates, particularly marine gastropods, organotin compounds induce irreversible sexual abnormality in females, which is termed imposex, at very low concentrations. Organotin compounds are agonists for nuclear receptors such as RXRs and $PPAR{\gamma}$. However, the imposex phenomenon has not been reported to act as an antagonist on estrogen receptors in other species, including vertebrates and invertebrates. In order to gain insights into the antagonistic activity of organotin compounds on estrogen receptors (ERs), we examined the inhibitive effect of these compounds on estradiol-dependent ${\beta}$-galactosidase activity using the yeast two-hybrid detection system consisting of a combination of the human estrogen receptor ($hER{\beta}$) ligand-binding domain and the co-activator steroid receptor co-activator-1 (SRC1). Tributyltin-hydroxide (TBT-OH) and triphenyltin-chlorine (TPT-Cl) exhibited an inhibitive effect on $E_2$-dependent transcriptional activity, similar to antagonistic chemicals such as 4-hydroxytamoxifen (OHT) or ICI 182,780, at a very low concentration of $10^{-14}$ M TBT or $10^{-10}$ M TPT, respectively. The yeast growth and transcriptional activity with transcriptional factor GAL4 did not exhibit any effect at the tested concentration of TBT or TPT. Moreover, the yeast two-hybrid system using the interaction between p53 and the T antigen of SV40 large did not describe any effect at the tested concentration of OHT or ICI 182,780. However, the interaction between p53 and T antigen was inhibited at a TBT or TPT concentration of $10^{-9}$ M, respectively. These results indicate that TBT and TPT act as inhibitors of ER-dependent reporter gene transcriptional activation and of the interaction between $hER{\beta}$ LBD and the co-activator SRC1 in the yeast two-hybrid system. Consequently, our data could partly explain the occurrence of organotin compound-induced imposex on the endocrine system of mammals, including humans.