• Diabetes and Metabolism Journal
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• 제42권6호
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• pp.465-471
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• 2018

My professional journey to understand the glucose homeostasis began in the 1990s, starting from cloning of the promoter region of glucose transporter type 2 (GLUT2) gene that led us to establish research foundation of my group. When I was a graduate student, I simply thought that hyperglycemia, a typical clinical manifestation of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), could be caused by a defect in the glucose transport system in the body. Thus, if a molecular mechanism controlling glucose transport system could be understood, treatment of T2DM could be possible. In the early 70s, hyperglycemia was thought to develop primarily due to a defect in the muscle and adipose tissue; thus, muscle/adipose tissue type glucose transporter (GLUT4) became a major research interest in the diabetology. However, glucose utilization occurs not only in muscle/adipose tissue but also in liver and brain. Thus, I was interested in the hepatic glucose transport system, where glucose storage and release are the most actively occurring.

• 한방재활의학과학회지
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.1-12
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• 2014

Objectives This study was performed to evaluate the effects of fermented lotus extracts on prediabetes and hyperlipidemia in high fructose diet rats. Methods Extracts of lotus leaf and lotus root were fermented using 4 different probiotics separately, including Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium breve, and Bifidobacterium longum. Expressions of adipogenic transcription factors including Adiponectin, GLUT-4, Leptin, PPAR gamma, Resistin and Visfatin were analyzed by Real time PCR and Western blotting analysis. Results Fermented lotus extracts reduced blood glucose. Fermented lotus extracts inhibited adipogenic transcription factors by inhibiting preadipocytes differentiation. The level of gene expression of Adiponectin, GLUT-4, Leptin, PPAR gamma, Resistin and Visfatin in relation to that of GAPDH were increase or decrease significantly with the Fermented lotus formulation group. Conclusions Fermented lotus extracts showed hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects by inhibiting preadipocyte differentiation and controlling insulin sensitivity in high fructose diet rats.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.333-339
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• 2014

Exendin-4 (Ex-4), a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist, has been known to reverse hepatic steatosis in ob/ob mice. Although many studies have evaluated molecular targets of Ex-4, its mechanism of action on hepatic steatosis and fibrosis has not fully been determined. In the liver, glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) is mainly expressed in hepatocytes, endothelial cells and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). In the present study, the effects of Ex-4 on GLUT4 expression were determined in the liver of ob/ob mice. Ob/ob mice were treated with Ex-4 for 10 weeks. Serum metabolic parameters, hepatic triglyceride levels, and liver tissues were evaluated for hepatic steatosis. The weights of the whole body and liver in ob/ob mice were reduced by long-term Ex-4 treatment. Serum metabolic parameters, hepatic steatosis, and hepatic fibrosis in ob/ob mice were reduced by Ex-4. Particularly, Ex-4 improved hepatic steatosis by enhancing GLUT4 via GLP-1R activation in ob/ob mice. Ex-4 treatment also inhibited hepatic fibrosis by decreasing expression of connective tissue growth factor in HSCs of ob/ob mice. Our data suggest that GLP-1 agonists exert a protective effect on hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in obesity and type 2 diabetes.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.93-99
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• 2009

This study investigated the effect of Corni Fructus (Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc.) extract on blood glucose and insulin resistance in db/db mice. Seven weeks old male mice were divided into normal control group (NC), diabetic control group (DC) and Corni Fructus treated diabetic group (DCF). Over an 8-week experimental period, Corni Fructus extract was administered orally at 500 mg/kg BW/day. Corni Fructus inhibited increase in blood glucose level during the OGTT (oral glucose tolerance test). At 8 weeks after beginning of the experiment, blood glucose level in the DCF group was significantly lower (p<0.01) than the DC group. Final fasting serum glucose and triglyceride in the DCF group were significantly lower (p<0.05) than the DC group by 32% and 41% respectively. Serum insulin did not differ among the NC, DC and DCF groups. The mRNA expression of adiponectin, GLUT 4 and PPAR-$\gamma$ in adipose tissue in the DC group were significantly lower than the NC group and they were higher in the DCF group than the DC group by 76%, 130% (p<0.05) and 43%, respectively. In conclusion, these results indicated that Corni Fructus would have antidiabetic effects via improving insulin resistance in favor of higher glucose utilization and reducing blood glucose level in db/db mice.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제22권5호
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• pp.634-641
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• 2012

LP9M80-H는 맥문동($Liriope$ $platyphylla$)으로부터 메탄올과 헥산을 이용하여 추출한 새로운 추출물로서 ICR 마우스에서 인슐린분비를 촉진하며, 간과 뇌 조직에서 인슐린 신호경로를 활성화시키는 것으로 알려져 있다. 본 연구에서는 LP9M80-H가 당뇨와 비만의 치료에 미치는 효과를 조사하기 위하여, OLETF 모델동물에 LP9M80-H를 2주간 투여한 후 당뇨와 비만과 관련된 주요인자의 변화를 관찰하였다. 비록 체중은 두 집단간에 차이가 없었으나 복부 지방량은 vehicle 투여군보다 LP9M80-H 투여군에서 적었다. 또한, 혈중 포도당농도는 LP9M80-H를 투여한 OLETF 랫드가 대조군에 비하여 약간 낮았으나 인슐린의 농도는 유의적으로 크게 증가하였다. 혈청 내 3가지 주요 지질의 농도는 LP9M80-H를 투여한 OLETF 랫드에서 유의적으로 감소하였고, 지방의 산화를 촉진하는 아디포넥틴의 농도도 LP9M80-H를 투여한 OLETF 랫드에서 감소하였다. 더불어, 체내에 분비된 인슐린이 표적장기에 미치는 영향을 관찰하기 위하여 간조직에서 인슐린 수용체와 인슐린 수용체기질(iRS)의 발현을 관찰하였으며, 이러한 2가지 단백질은 LP9M80-H를 투여한 OLETF 랫드에서 vehicle 투여군에 비해 유의미하게 감소하였다. 또한, 인슐린 신호 경로의 다운스트림에 위치하는 포도당 수송체 중에서 Glut-2와 Glut-3 발현은 LP9M80-H를 투여한 OLETF 랫드에서 유의미하게 감소하는 반면에, Glut-4 발현은 일정하게 유지되었다. 따라서 이러한 결과는 LP9M80-H는 포도당 항상성과 지질농도의 조절을 통하여 당뇨와 비만의 증상을 완화시키는데 기여할 것으로 사료된다.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제24권4호
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• pp.363-370
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• 2016

Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in diabetic patients. Hyperglycemia is the primary characteristic of diabetes and is associated with many complications. The role of hyperglycemia in the dysfunction of human cardiac progenitor cells that can regenerate damaged cardiac tissue has been investigated, but the exact mechanism underlying this association is not clear. Thus, we examined whether hyperglycemia could regulate mitochondrial dynamics and lead to cardiac progenitor cell dysfunction, and whether blocking glucose uptake could rescue this dysfunction. High glucose in cardiac progenitor cells results in reduced cell viability and decreased expression of cell cycle-related molecules, including CDK2 and cyclin E. A tube formation assay revealed that hyperglycemia led to a significant decrease in the tube-forming ability of cardiac progenitor cells. Fluorescent labeling of cardiac progenitor cell mitochondria revealed that hyperglycemia alters mitochondrial dynamics and increases expression of fission-related proteins, including Fis1 and Drp1. Moreover, we showed that specific blockage of GLUT1 improved cell viability, tube formation, and regulation of mitochondrial dynamics in cardiac progenitor cells. To our knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate that high glucose leads to cardiac progenitor cell dysfunction through an increase in mitochondrial fission, and that a GLUT1 blocker can rescue cardiac progenitor cell dysfunction and downregulation of mitochondrial fission. Combined therapy with cardiac progenitor cells and a GLUT1 blocker may provide a novel strategy for cardiac progenitor cell therapy in cardiovascular disease patients with diabetes.

• 한국식품영양과학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국식품영양과학회 2004년도 Annual Meeting and International Symposium
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• pp.185-197
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• 2004

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia, features of insulin resistance. In vivo treatment of ob/ob mice with hydrolyzed fibroin reverses these pathological attributes (6). To explore the mechanism underlying this effect, we have used the 3T3-Ll adipocytes as a cell type which would represent the periphery, in vivo. Exposure of 3T3-Ll adipocytes to chronic insulin leads to the a 50% loss of insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. Chronic exposure to fibroin blocked, in part, the response to chronic insulin but also increased the sensitivity of control cells to the acute action of insulin. The later effect was most robust at physiological concentrations of insulin. Fibroin did not prevent the insulin-induced down-regulation of the insulin receptor or the tyrosine kinase activity associated with the receptor. Further, fibroin had no affect on the loss in activity of the insulin-sensitive down-stream kinase, Akt. Interestingly, fibroin accelerated glucose metabolism and glycogen turnover independent of insulin action. In addition, fibroin up-regulated GLUT1 which increased its expression at the cell surface and caused the redistribution of GLUT4 to the plasma membrane. Together, these later effects would lead to an improvement in hyperglycemia in vivo which would in turn reduce the need for insulin.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.220-225
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• 2012

To develop a ginseng product possessing an efficacy for diabetes, ginseng radix ethanol extract was treated with pectinase and obtained the GINST. In the present study, we evaluate the beneficial effect of GINST on high fat diet (HFD)-induced hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia and action mechanism(s) in ICR mice. The mice were randomly divided into five groups: regular diet group (RD), high fat diet group (HFD), HFD plus GINST at 75 mg/kg (GINST75), 150 mg/kg (GINST150), and 300 mg/kg (GINST300). Oral glucose tolerance test reveals that GINST improves the glucose tolerance after glucose challenge. Fasting plasma glucose and insulin levels were decreased by 4.3% and 4.2% in GINST75, 10.9% and 20.0% in GINST150, and 19.6% and 20.9% in GINST300 compared to those in HFD control group. Insulin resistance indices were also markedly decreased by 8.2% in GINST75, 28.7% in GINST150, and 36.4% in GINST300, compared to the HFD control group. Plasma triglyceride, total cholesterol and non-esterified fatty acid levels in the GINST300 group were decreased by 13.5%, 22.7% and 24.1%, respectively, compared to those in HFD control group. Enlarged adipocytes of HFD control group were markedly decreased in GINST-treated groups, and shrunken islets of HFD control mice were brought back to near normal shape in GINST300 group. Furthermore, GINST enhanced phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4). In summary, GINST prevents HFD-induced hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia through reducing insulin resistance via activating AMPK-GLUT4 pathways, and could be a potential therapeutic agent for type 2 diabetes.

• 한국식생활문화학회지
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.219-223
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• 2009

We investigated the effect of Takju lees extract on blood glucose levels in the db/db mice (a murine model of type 2 diabetes mellitus). We fed 40 male db/db mice a control diet (G0, AIN93G) and experimental diets containing 1% (G1), 2% (G2), or 4% (G4) Takju lees extract for 4 weeks. We found no difference in food intake and body weight gain among the animal groups. In the G1 and G2 groups, plasma glucose levels decreased significantly between Days 10 and 21 compared with the G0 group. However, we found no difference in plasma glucose levels between groups G4 and G0. The change in insulin concentrations was not significant among these animal groups, and we found no significant difference in glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) expression in the soleus muscle. These results suggest that the Takju lees extract has a beneficial effect in animals with type 2 diabetes.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.325-330
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• 2016

본 연구에서는 선행 연구에서 항당뇨 효능이 확인된 Ceriporia lacerata 균사체 배양물 건조물(CL01)을 3T3-L1 세포에 인슐린과 병용 혹은 단독 처리하여 CL01이 세포 단계에서 인슐린 신호 전달에 미치는 영향을 분석하였다. 분화된 3T3-L1 세포에서 포도당 흡수 정도를 측정한 결과, 인슐린과 CL01을 병용 처리한 군에서 농도 의존적으로 유의적으로 포도당 흡수 정도가 증가하였고, 인슐린 부재 상태에서 CL01을 처리하였을 때는 포도당 흡수 작용이 거의 일어나지 않았음을 확인하였다. 또한 분화된 세포에서 인슐린 신호 전달 관련 단백질 및 mRNA 발현을 측정한 결과, IRβ, Akt, PI3K, AMPK 단백질의 인산화가 진행되었고, GLUT4 mRNA 발현이 증가하였음을 알 수 있었다. 이들 결과를 통해 CL01이 당 대사 및 인슐린 신호 전달에 관여하는 유관 단백질 및 유전자 발현에 영향을 미치며 이에 따라 세포 내로 포도당 흡수를 증가시키는 것을 확인하였다.