• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.279-288
• /
• 2016

To observe the potential hepatoprotective effects of Gongjin-dan on the acute ethanol (EtOH)-induced liver damages in C57BL/6 mice with its possible action mechanisms. EtOH-mediated acute hepatic damages were induced by oral administration of EtOH total 3 doses. The changes on the body weight, liver weight, albumin, TG, AST, ALP, ALT, hepatic TG contents, hepatic antioxidant defense system, TNF-α, CYP 2E1 activity and mRNA expressions of hepatic lipogenic genes - SREBP-1c, SCD1, ACC1, FAS, PPARγ and DGAT2 or genes involved in fatty acid oxidation - PPARα, ACO and CPT1 were observed with final liver histopathological inspections after 15 days of continuous administration of silymarin 200 mg/kg, Gongjin-dan (GJD) 400, 200 and 100 mg/kg. The results were compared with silymarin 200 mg/kg treated mice. Marked decreases of body and liver weights, increases of serum AST, ALT, Albumin and TG levels, hepatic TG contents, TNF-α level, CYP 2E1 activity and mRNA expressions of hepatic lipogenic genes or decreases mRNA expressions of genes involved in fatty acid oxidation were observed with histopathological changes related hepatosteatosis increases of immunolabelled hepatocytes, as the results of a binge drinking of EtOH in the present study. Also destroys of hepatic antioxidant defense systems were demonstrated in EtOH control mice as compared with intact vehicle control mice, respectively. The results suggest that oral administration of 400, 200 and 100 mg/kg of GJD favorably protected the liver damages from acute mouse EtOH intoxications.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.147-155
• /
• 2013

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of vitamin C or E on the expressions of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, lipid and glucose metabolism associated genes in broiler chickens. A total of 216 one-day-old male broilers was randomly alloted to 4 treatments with 6 replicate pens per treatment and 9 broilers per pen for 35 days. The dietary treatments were control, vitamin C (control diet + ascorbic acid 200 mg/kg diet), vitamin E (control diet + ${\alpha}$-tocopherol 100 mg/kg diet), vitamin C + E (control diet + vitamin C 200 mg/kg + vitamin E 100 mg/kg), respectively. To evaluate gene expressions by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, total RNA was extracted from the liver of the chicken at 35 days of age. Dietary supplementation of vitamins was significantly down-regulated the expression of stress marker genes including HSP70, HSP90, and HMGCR, as compared to the control (p<0.05). The expressions of ER stress associated genes also inhibited by supplementation of vitamins as well (p<0.05). Vitamin C supplementation suppressed the expression of lipid associated genes such as FASN, FATP1 and ACSL1. Vitamin supplementation did not affect the glucose transporters, GLUT2 and GLUT8, in the liver. The results of the present study indicated that dietary supplementation of vitamin C or E could be beneficial for the alleviating physiological stress in broiler chickens.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.33 no.5
• /
• pp.396-401
• /
• 2000

A differential display method is used to identify novel genes whose expression is affected by treatment with ferric ammonium citrate (FAC) or desferrioxamine (DFO), an iron chelating agent in the human hepatoblastoma cell line (HepG2). These chemicals are known to deplete or increase the intracellular concentration of iron, respectively. Initially, we isolated seventeen genes whose expressions are down- or up regulated by the treatment of the chemicals, as well as their four differentially expressed genes that are designated as clone-1, -2, -3, and -4. These are further characterized by cDNA sequencing and Northern blot analysis. Through the cDNA sequencing, as well as comparing them to genes published using the NCBI BLAST program, we identified the sequence of the clone-1 that is up-regulated by the treatment of DFO. It is identical to the human insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1). This suggests that the IGFBP-1 gene in the HepG2 cell is up-regulated by an iron depletion condition. Also, the expression of the clone-3 and -4 is up-regulated by FAC treatment and their eDNA sequences are identical to the human ferritin-fight chain and human NADH-dehydrogenase, respectively. However, the sequence of the clone-2 has no significant homology to any other known gene. Therefore, we suggest that changes of the cellular iron level in the HepG2 cell affects the transcription of cellular genes. This includes human IGFBP-1, ferritin-fight chain, and NADH-dehydrogenase. Regulation of these gene expressions may have an important role in cellular functions that are related to cellular iron metabolism.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.48 no.1
• /
• pp.1-6
• /
• 2005

Analysis of chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence implicated treatment of 40 mM NaCl decreased maximal photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) (Fv/Fm), actual quantum yield of PSII (${\Phi}_{PSII}$), and photochemical quenching (qP) in rice, but increased non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). Decreases in Fv/Fm, ${\Phi}_{PSII}$, and qP were significantly alleviated by $30\;{\mu}M$ jasmonic acid (JA), while NPQ increase was enhanced. Transcription levels of antioxidant isoenzyme genes were differentially modulated by NaCl treatment. Expression of cCuZn-SOD2 gene increased, while those of cAPXb, CATb, and CATc genes decreased. JA prevented salt-induced decrease of pCuZn-SOD gene expression, but caused greater decrease in mRNA levels of cAPXa and Chl_tAPX genes. Investigation of vacuolar $Na^+/H^+$ exchanger (NHX2) and 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS) gene expressions revealed transcription level of NHX2 gene was increased by JA, regardless of NaCl presence, while that of P5CS gene slightly increased only in co-presence of JA and NaCl. Unlike JA, ${\gamma}$-radiation rarely affected expressions of antioxidant isoenzyme, NHX2, and P5CS genes, except for increase in mRNA level of Chl_tAPX and decrease in that of pCuZn-SOD. These results demonstrate enhanced salt-tolerance in JA-treated rice seedlings may be partly due to high transcription levels of pCuZn-SOD, NHX2, and P5CS genes under salt stress.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.41-48
• /
• 2003

This report aimed at investigating the differential gene expressions of the adhesion receptors between ovariectomized (OVX) and estrus stage rat uteri (OVX vs. estrus pair) using the cDNA expression away analysis. In addition, this report aimed at confirming of the differential gene expressions of the adhesion receptors between OVX and progesterone (P$_4$) injected OVX rat uteri (OVX vs. OVX+P$_4$ pair). RNA samples were extracted from the uterus and reverse-transcribed in the presence of [$\alpha$$^{32}$ P]-dATP. Membrane sets of Rat Atlas array 1.2 II (Clontech) were hybridized with CDNA probe sets. RT-PCR was employed to validate the relative gene expression patterns obtained by the cDNA array. The results were well consistent to cDNA array analysis data except the fold changes of gene expression. Among a total of 1176 cDNAs, 5 genes of adhesion receotor including embigin protein, activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule, afadin, neuroligin 2, semaphorin Z showed significant (more than 2-fold) changes in the OVX vs. late estrus pair. All of these genes were up regulated in estrus stage than OVX rat uterus. In the OVX vs. OVX+P$_4$ pair, 4 genes including osteonectin, afadin, neuroligin 2, semaphorin Z showed significant changes. All of these genes were also up regulated in OVX+P$_4$ injected rat uterus than OVX control. Three genes including afadin, neuroligin 2, semaphorin Z which were up regulated in estrus and OVX+P$_4$ injected rat uteri of both experimental pairs than OVX rat uteri. These genes seem to be under the control of P$_4$.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.538-543
• /
• 2004

Objective : This study investigated a neuroprotective effect of Puerariae Radix on cerebral ischemia. Method : The global cerebral ischemia was induced by bilateral common carotid arteries occlusion under hypotension (40mmHg) in Sprague-Dawley rats. After the treatment of Puerariae Radix extract, changes of c-Fos and c-Jun expressions, immediate early genes expressed by cerebral ischemia, in the hippocampus were observed immunohistochemically. Result: The results obtained are as follows; The significant increases of c-Fos and c-Jun expressions were observed in the hippocampus of the ischemic damaged rat brains. Then Puerariae Radix treatment demonstrated significant decreases of c-Fos and c-Jun expressions in CA1 region and dentate gyrus as compared with control group. On the upregulated c-Fos expression induced by cerebral ischemia, Puerariae Radix treatment demonstrated significant decreases of c-Fos expressions in CA1 region (P<0.01) and dentate gyrus (P<0.05) as compared to the control group, but there were not a significant changes in CA2 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus. On the upregulated c-Jun expression induced by cerebral ischemia, Puerariae Radix treatment demonstrated significant decrease of c-Jun expression in CA1 region (P<0.05) as compared to the control group, but there were not a significant changes in CA2, CA3, and dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. Conclusion : These results suggested that Puerariae Radix reveals the neuroprotective effect through the reduction of immediate early genes, c-Fos and c-Jun, induced by cerebral ischemia.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.172-178
• /
• 2009

Fermented ginseng (FG) is an ethanol extract of ginseng radix processed with $\beta$-galactosidase. It was hypothesized that FG may exert anti-hyperlipidemic and anti-diabetic activities through modulating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in HepG2 human hepatoma cells. In this study, we showed that AMPK phosphorylation was stimulated by FG. These effects were abolished by pretreatment with an AMPK inhibitor, compound C. In addition, FG regulated the expression of genes associated with lipogenesis and lipolysis, thus causing suppression of hepatic triglyceride accumulation. In vivo study using db/db mice, FG reduced fasting plasma glucose, HbAlc, and insulin resistance index, when compared to diabetic control. FG also increased the phospho-AMPK and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) expressions in liver and skeletal muscle, respectively. In liver, expressions of lipogenic gene were decreased whereas expressions of lipolytic genes were induced, when compared to diabetic control. Taken together, we may suggest that FG ameliorates hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia through activation of AMPK and could be developed as a health functional food or therapeutic agent for type 2 diabetic patients.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.13-21
• /
• 2022

Neurokinin B (NKB) is a neuropeptide involved in the regulation of reproductive endocrine system of vertebrate animals, including fish. However, the pathway of NKB action in fish has not been clearly elucidated. In order to clarify the effect of NKB and NKF (neurokinin F) on gonadotropic hormone (GTH) gene expression in the pituitary, we studied the changes of LHβ and FSHβ gene expressions by using two different pituitary culture methods (whole pituitary culture or dispersed pituitary cell culture). Pituitaries were removed from mature female and male Nile tilapia. Changes of LHβ and FSHβ gene expressions were measured and compared after the treatment with NKB or NKF peptides at concentrations 0 to 1,000 nM. Expression of GTH genes in the whole pituitary cultures treated with NKB or NKF peptides did not show significant difference except in female at one concentration when treated with NKF. On the contrary, there were significant changes of GTH gene expressions in the dispersed pituitary cell cultures when treated with NKB and NKF peptides. These results suggest that dispersed pituitary cell culture is more relevant than whole pituitary culture in studying the function of pituitary, and that NKB and NKF could act directly on the pituitary to regulate the expression of GTH genes.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.50 no.1
• /
• pp.7-13
• /
• 2012

$Toxoplasma$ $gondii$ can modulate host cell gene expression; however, determining gene expression levels in intermediate hosts after $T.$ $gondii$ infection is not known much. We selected 5 genes ($ALDH1A2$, $BEX2$, $CCL3$, $EGR2$ and $PLAU$) and compared the mRNA expression levels in the spleen, liver, lung and small intestine of genetically different mice infected with $T.$ $gondii$. ALDH1A2 mRNA expressions of both mouse strains were markedly increased at day 1-4 postinfection (PI) and then decreased, and its expressions in the spleen and lung were significantly higher in C57BL/6 mice than those of BALB/c mice. BEX2 and CCR3 mRNA expressions of both mouse strains were significantly increased from day 7 PI and peaked at day 15-30 PI ($P$<0.05), especially high in the spleen liver or small intestine of C57BL/6 mice. EGR2 and PLAU mRNA expressions of both mouse strains were significantly increased after infection, especially high in the spleen and liver. However, their expression patterns were varied depending on the tissue and mouse strain. Taken together, $T.$ $gondii$-susceptible C57BL/6 mice expressed higher levels of these 5 genes than did $T.$ $gondii$-resistant BALB/c mice, particularly in the spleen and liver. And ALDH1A2 and PLAU expressions were increased acutely, whereas BEX2, CCL3 and EGR2 expressions were increased lately. Thus, these demonstrate that host genetic factors exert a strong impact on the expression of these 5 genes and their expression patterns were varied depending on the gene or tissue.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
• /
• v.3 no.4
• /
• pp.267-272
• /
• 2007

Environmental and anthropogenic changes affect the health and stability of marine ecosystem. In this study we aimed to identify molecular biomarkers for ecotoxicological pollutants risk assessment in the rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli). We designed primers based on conserved sequences by multiple alignments of target genes from related species, and cloned the partial cDNAs of cytochrome P450 (CYP1A1), glutathione S-transferase (GST), metallothionein (MT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), ubiquitin (UB), vitellogenin (VTG) and $\beta$-actin by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) from S. schlegeli. Northern blot results indicated that these six genes expressions were significantly induced by benzo[a]pyrene (BaP, 1 ${\mu}M$) and that the level of each of their transcripts increased in BaP-exposed rockfish in a time-dependent manner. This study suggests that transcriptional changes in these six genes may be used for monitoring environmental exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).