• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제42권2호
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• pp.123-132
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• 2018

Ginseng has gained its popularity as an adaptogen since ancient days because of its triterpenoid saponins, known as ginsenosides. These triterpenoid saponins are unique and classified as protopanaxatriol and protopanaxadiol saponins based on their glycosylation patterns. They play many protective roles in humans and are under intense research as various groups continue to study their efficacy at the molecular level in various disorders. Ginsenosides Rb1 and Rg1 are the most abundant ginsenosides present in ginseng roots, and they confer the pharmacological properties of the plant, whereas ginsenoside Rg3 is abundantly present in Korean Red Ginseng preparation, which is highly known for its anticancer effects. These ginsenosides have a unique mode of action in modulating various signaling cascades and networks in different tissues. Their effect depends on the bioavailability and the physiological status of the cell. Mostly they amplify the response by stimulating phosphotidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase/protein kinase B pathway, caspase-3/caspase-9-mediated apoptotic pathway, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells signaling. Furthermore, they trigger receptors such as estrogen receptor, glucocorticoid receptor, and N-methyl-$\text\tiny{D}$-aspartate receptor. This review critically evaluates the signaling pathways attenuated by ginsenosides Rb1, Rg1, and Rg3 in various tissues with emphasis on cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제48권5호
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• pp.682-698
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• 2000

Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) functions as a suppressor of inflammation by inhibiting the expression of many cytokine genes activated by NF-${\kappa}B$. The goal of this study is to investigate the mechanism by which GR repress NF-${\kappa}B$ activation in lung epithelial cells. We used A549 and BEAS-2B lung epithelia! cell lines. Using Ig$G{\kappa}$-NF-${\kappa}B$ luciferase reporter gene construct, we found that dexamethasone significantly suppressed TNF-$\alpha$-induced NF-${\kappa}B$ activation and the overexpression of GR showed dose-dependent reduction of TNF-$\alpha$-induced NF-${\kappa}B$ activity in both cell lines. However, DNA binding of NF-${\kappa}B$ induced by TNF-$\alpha$ in electromobility shift assay was not inhibited by dexamethasone. Super shift assay with anti-p65 antibody demonstrated the existence of p65 in NF-${\kappa}B$ complex induced by $\alpha$ Western blot showed that $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation induced by TNF-$\alpha$ was not affected by dexamethasone and $I{\kappa}B{\kappa}$ was not induced by dexamethasone, neither. To evaluate p65 specific transactivation, we adopted co-transfection study of Gal4-p65TA1 or TA2 fusion protein expression system together with 5xGal4-luciferase vector. Co-transfection of GR with Gal4-p65TA1 or TA2 repressed luciferase activity profoundly to the level of 10-20% of p65TA1- or TA2-induced transcriptional activity. And this transrepressional effect was abolished by co-transfection of CBP of SRC-1 expression vectors. These results suggest that GR-mediated transrepression of NF-${\kappa}B$ in lung epithelial cells is through competing for binding to limiting amounts of transcriptional coactivators, CBP or SRC-1.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.280-320
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• 2023

Purpose: This study was conducted to assess the antidepressant effects of capsaicin in chronic depressive rats and elucidate the mechanism underlying its effects. Methods: Male Wistar rats (280~320 g, 8 weeks of age) were subjected to depression induced by chronic unpredictable mild stresses. The rats were exposed to 8 kinds of stresses for 8 weeks. In the last 2 weeks, fluoxetine or capsaicin was injected subcutaneously. The dose of fluoxetine was 10 mg/kg (body weight), while the doses of capsaicin consisted of low (1 mg/kg), middle (5 mg/kg), and high (10 mg/kg). The forced swim test (FST) was conducted to evaluate the immobility time of rats. The immobility time indicates despair, one of symptoms of depression. The change of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) in the dorsal raphe was investigated using immunohistochemistry. In the hippocampus cornu ammonis (CA) 1 and 3, glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression was measured. Results: The immobility time in the FST was significantly lower (p < .05) in the low-dose (M = 32.40 ± 13.41 seconds) and middle-dose (M = 28.48 ± 19.57 seconds) groups than in the non-treated depressive rats (M = 90.19 ± 45.34 seconds). The amount of TPH in the dorsal raphe was significantly higher (p < .05) in the middle-dose (M = 249.17 ± 35.02) and high-dose (M = 251.0 ± 56.85) groups than in the non-treated depressive rats (M = 159.78 ± 41.16). However, GR expression in the hippocampus CA1 and CA3 did not show significant differences between the non-treated depressive rats and the capsaicin-injected rats. Conclusion: This study suggests that capsaicin produces an antidepressant-like effect on chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced depression in rats via the serotonin biosynthesis pathway.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제29권8호
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• pp.691-698
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• 2006

Although glucocorticoids are known to affect osteoclast differentiation and function, there have been conflicting reports about the effect of glucocorticoids on osteoclast formation, leading to the assumption that microenvironment and cell type influence their action. We explored the effect of the synthetic glucocorticoid analog dexamethasone on the formation of osteoclasts. Dexamethasone inhibited the formation of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive multinucleated osteoclasts without affecting the formation of TRAP-positive mononuclear cells in a coculture of mouse osteoblasts and bone marrow cells. Dexamethasone did not inhibit mRNA expression levels of the receptor activator of nuclear factor-kB ligand and osteoprotegerin, the essential regulators of osteoclastogenesis. Dexamethasone down-regulated the expression of ${\beta}_3$ integrin mRNA and protein but did not alter expression of other osteoclast differentiation marker genes. Both dexamethasone and echistatin, a ${\beta}_3$ integrin function blocker, inhibited TRAP-positive multinucleated osteoclast formation but not TRAP-positive mononuclear cell formation. These results suggest that dexamethasone inhibits the formation of multinucleated osteoclasts, at least in part, through the down-regulation of ${\beta}_3$ integrin, which plays an important role in the formation of multinucleated osteoclasts.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.169-175
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• 1992

Anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid (GC) derivatives have been clinically used in immune-malfunctional diseases for their immunosuppressive activity. However, there is still a lack of knowledge on the relationship between anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive activities. In order to compare immunosuppressive activities with the known anti-inflammatory activities of the GC derivatives, eight clinically used GC derivatives including hydrocortisone, prednislone, 6$\alpha$-methyl prednisolone, triamcinolone, dexamethasone, betamethasone, triamcinolone acetonide and fluocinolone acetonide were selected, and lymphoblastosis inhibition and plaque-forming cell (PFC) response in mice were studied as immunological parameters. In Con A-induced lymphoblatosis inhibition invitro, all derivatives showed potent inhibition $IC_{50}$ values of the derivaties except methyl prednisolone and triamcinolone were less than $10^{-7}$M and good dose dependency was obtained. This result was well correlated with that of their anti-inflammatory potencies obtained. This result was well correlated with that of their anti-inflammatory potencies and their receptor binding affinities. However, in PFC response, consistent result were not obtained. Total numbers of PFCs per spleen were decreased by some derivatives, but numbers of PFCs per $10^6$ cells were not decreased by systemic administration of but numbers of PFCs per $10^6$ cells were not decreased by systemic administration of GC at the dose of 0.05 mg/mouse. Furthermore, at the dose of 0.1 mg/mouse, numbers of PFCs per $10^6$ cells were found to be increased, although total PFCs per spleen were decreased.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• 제41권1호
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• pp.37-43
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• 2011

Urinary steroid levels were investigated in the treatment of CKD-501, a new anti-diabetic drug candidate. CKD-501 was administered orally at the dosage of 1, 2, 4 mg/day for 7 days to normal men (n=18). Urine was collected before, during and after stopping the drug administration and the urinary level of androgen, estrogen, progestin and corticoids were quantified using GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry). Only urinary corticosteroid and an androgen, DHEA levels among all the analyzed steroids, have been found to increase progressively, reaching significant levels on the last day of drug treatment and later declined after the drug treatment is withdrawn. Therefore, it was thought that an increase in the urinary corticoid and DHEA levels could be a characteristic of CKD-501, since it prominently acts on the glucose sensitivity and suppresses the triglyceride levels. In conclusion, it was found that CKD-501, an anti-diabetic drug candidate, affects the glucocorticoid and DHEA levels and it plays a crucial role in glucose homeostasis.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제48권6호
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• pp.580-587
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• 2005

New evidence is emerging that airway smooth muscle(ASM) may act as an immunomodulatory cell by providing pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, polypeptide growth factors, extracellular matrix proteins, cell adhesion receptors and co-stimulatory molecules. ASM can promote the formation of the interstitial extracellular matrix, and potentially contribute to the alterations within the extracellular matrix in asthma. In addition, extracellular matrix components can alter the proliferative, survival, and cytoskeletal synthetic function of ASM cells through integrin-directed signaling. Increased ASM mass is one of the most important features of the airway wall remodeling process in asthma. Three different mechanisms may contribute to the increased ASM mass : cell proliferation, increased migration and decreased rate of apoptosis. The major signaling pathways of cell proliferation activated by ASM mitogens are those dependent on extracellular signal-regulated kinase and phosphoinositide 3'-kinase. The key signaling mechanisms of cell migration have been identified as the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and the p21-activated kinase 1 pathways. ASM cells contain ${\beta}2$-adrenergic receptors and glucocorticoid receptors. They may represent a key target for ${\beta}2$-adrenergic receptor agonist/corticosteroid interactions which have antiproliferative activity against a broad spectrum of mitogens.

• 한국응용약물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국응용약물학회 2007년도 Proceedings of The Convention of The Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• pp.25-44
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• 2007

The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is an intracellular protein that is widely distributed throughout hippocampal and neocortical brain tissue. Mifepristone (RU486) is a potent GR antagonist that has also been shown to exhibit partial agonist-like effects. The precise location of the GR domain involved in the agonist-like activity of RU486 is unknown. Here, we examine this aspect of GR signaling by comparing human GR (hGR) construct with a Guyanese squirrel monkey GR (gsmGR) construct in which nuclear translocation and transactivation are known to be impaired. Using an objective translocation scoring method, we found that both hGR and gsmGR are translocated by RU486, and that nuclear translocation of hGR is significantly increased compared to gsmGR at 10 nM, 100 nM and 1000 nM RU486 in transiently transfected COS1 cells. While addition of RU486 to the cells transfected with hGR results in a 16-fold dose-dependent increase in transactivation compared to non-treated cells, no significant change in transactivation is observed with gsmGR at doses up to 100 nM RU486. Further experiments using six GR chimeras indicate that replacement of the hGR carboxyl-terminus of tau-1 transactivation domain (C-AF1, amino acids 132-428) with that from gsmGR diminishes hGR transactivation by RU486. These results demonstrate that RU486-induced transactivation of GR is determined in part by amino acids in the C-AF1 domain.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제52권11호
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• pp.1260-1266
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• 2009

목 적 : 특발성 신증후군은 소아의 가장 흔한 일차성 사구체 질환 중의 하나이다. 신증후군은 초기 경구 스테로이드 치료에 대한 반응에 따라서 임상적으로 스테로이드 반응성 신증후군과 스테로이드 저항성 신증후군으로 분류될 수 있다. 그러나 현재까지 신증후군에서 스테로이드의 정확한 작용 기전은 알려져 있지 않다. 신증후군 환자를 대상으로 여러 가지 유전자 다형성을 분석함으로써 스테로이드 치료에 대한 반응의 차이를 설명하려는 여러 시도들이 있어왔다. 방 법 : 본 연구에서는 190명의 신증후군 환자를 대상으로 NR3C1 유전자 다형성(ER22/23EK, N363S, BclI)을 확인하여 유전형과 임상-병리 양상의 연관성에 대해서 분석하였다. 결 과 : 신증후군 환자의 평균 연령은 4.95세였고 남아가 134명이었다. 11명의 환자는 신증후군의 가족력이 있었다. 그러나 이 환자들을 대상으로 NPHS2, WT1, ACTN4, TRPC6 유전자 분석을 시행한 결과 이상 소견은 발견되지 않았다. 80명의 환자(42.1%)는 초기 스테로이드 저항성이었고 그 중 31명의 환자는 말기 신질환으로 진행하였다. 신장 조직 검사는 113명의 환자를 대상으로 시행되었고 그 중 36명의 환자(31.9%)는 미세변화 신증후군이었고 77명의 환자(68.1%)는 초점성 분절성 사구체 경화증이었다. BclI 유전형을 비교하였을 때 G allele 빈도는 환자군과 대조군에서 차이가 없었다. ER22/23EK과 N363S 유전형은 각각 ER/ER과 NN으로 환자군과 대조군에서 동일한 양상을 보였다. BclI 유전형은 신증후군의 발병 나이, 초기 스테로이드 반응 여부, 신장의 병리학적 소견, 말기 신질환으로의 진행여부와 연관성을 보이지 않았다. 결 론 : 한국 신증후군 환아를 대상으로 한 이 연구 결과는 NR3C1 유전자의 ER22/23EK, N363S 및 BclI 유전자 다형성이 신증후군의 발병, 초기 스테로이드 치료에 대한 반응, 신장의 조직학적 소견 및 신 기능의 저하에 영향을 미치지 않음을 보여준다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제28권5호
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• pp.517-523
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• 2018

만성적 스트레스가 있는 상황에서, 과잉 생산된 cortisol은 glucocorticoid receptor (GR)를 활성화시킴으로써 해마(hippocampus)에 있는 신경 세포에 손상을 줄 수 있다. Cortisol을 생성하지 못하는 동물들의 경우, corticosterone이 스트레스 호르몬의 역할을 하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 한편, 인간의 경우, corticosterone은 aldosterone의 전구물질 이거나 cortisol과 비슷한 특성을 가지는 하나의 glucocorticoid로만 여겨져 왔다. 최근 인간을 대상으로 cortisol과 dexamethasone과 같은 합성 glucocorticoid의 기능에 관한 연구가 많이 이루어져 왔으나, corticosterone의 정확한 기능에 대하여 많이 알려져 있지 않다. 본 연구에서 corticosterone을 여러 농도로 SH-SY5Y 세포에 처리한 후 24시간과 48시간 때 viability를 조사한 결과, 높은 농도($500{\mu}M$과 $1,000{\mu}M$)에서 SH-SY5Y 세포의 성장 억제가 관찰된 반면, 낮은 농도($100{\mu}M$)에선 그 효과가 나타나지 않았다. 맥문동, 오미자, 복신 열수 추출물에 대한 세포 독성을 실시한 결과, 세 시료 모두 농도가 높아질수록 높은 세포 독성을 보였다. 한편, $500{\mu}g/ml$의 맥문동은 corticosterone에 의해 유도된 세포 성장 억제를 완화시켜 세포 성장을 회복시키는 효과를 보였다. 마지막으로, 맥문동 $500{\mu}g/ml$에 오미자와 복신의 농도를 달리하여 제조한 여러 혼합물의 시너지 효과를 알아본 결과, 대부분 혼합물이 약간의 효과를 보이긴 했으나, 음성 대조군 수준만큼 회복되지는 않았다.