• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.248-254
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• 2022

Background: Zinc homeostasis is essential for human health and is regulated by several zinc transporters including ZIP and ZnT. ZIP4 is expressed in the small intestine and is important for zinc absorption from the diet. We investigated in the present study the effects of Panax ginseng (P. ginseng) extract on modulating Zip4 expression and cellular zinc levels in mouse Hepa cells. Methods: Hepa cells were transfected with a luciferase reporter plasmid that contains metal-responsive elements, incubated with P. ginseng extract, and luciferase activity was measured. Using ⁶⁵ZnCl₂, zinc uptake in P. ginseng-treated cells was measured. The expression of Zip4 mRNA and protein in Hepa cells was also investigated. Finally, using a luciferase reporter assay system, the effects of several ginsenosides were monitored. Results: The luciferase activity in cells incubated with P. ginseng extract was significantly higher than that of control cells cultured in normal medium. Hepa cells treated with P. ginseng extract exhibited higher zinc uptake. P. ginseng extract induced Zip4 mRNA expression, which resulted in an enhancement of Zip4 protein expression. Furthermore, some ginsenosides, such as ginsenoside Rc and Re, enhanced luciferase activity driven by intracellular zinc levels. Conclusion: P. ginseng extract induced Zip4 expression at the mRNA and protein level and resulted in higher zinc uptake in Hepa cells. Some ginsenosides facilitated zinc influx. On the basis of these results, we suggest a novel effect of P. ginseng on Zip4-mediated zinc influx, which may provide a new strategy for preventing zinc deficiency.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.268-273
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• 2014

The induction of detoxification enzymes by benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) and its synthetic N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) conjugate (NAC-BITC) was examined in Hepa1c1c7 murine hepatoma cells. BITC and NAC-BITC inhibited Hepa1c1c7 cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. Cell growth was 4.5~57.2% lower in Hepa1c1c7 cells treated with $0.1{\sim}1.0{\mu}M$ BITC than in control-treated Hepa1c1c7 cells. The NAC-BITC treatment had a similar inhibitory pattern on Hepa1c1c7 cell growth; $0.5{\mu}M$ and $10{\mu}M$ NAC-BITC decreased cell growth by 13.6% and 47.4%, respectively. Treatment of Hepa1c1c7 cells with $0.1{\sim}2.0{\mu}M$ BITC also elicited a dose-response effect on the induction of quinone reductase quinone reductase (QR) activity and QR mRNA expression. Treatment with $1{\mu}M$ and $2{\mu}M$ BITC caused 1.8- and 2.8-fold inductions of QR mRNA, respectively. By comparison, treatment with $1{\mu}M$ and $2{\mu}M$ NAC-BITC caused 1.6-and 1.9-fold inductions of QR mRNA, respectively. Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A1 and CYP2E1 induction were lower in $0.1{\sim}2{\mu}M$ BITC-treated cells than in control-treated cells. CYP2E1 activity was 1.2-fold greater in $0.1{\mu}M$ NAC-BITC-treated cells than in control-treated cells. However, the CYP2E1 activity of cells treated with higher concentrations (i.e., $1{\sim}2{\mu}M$) of NAC-BITC was similar to the activity of control-treated cells. Considering the potential of isothiocyanatesto prevent cancer, these results provide support for the use of BITC and NAC-BITC conjugates as chemopreventive agents.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.9
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• pp.1121-1126
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• 2006

In the present study, the potential hepatoprotective effects of poly herbal formulation, Hepa-1000, against oxidative damages induced by t-BHP were evaluated in HepG2 cells in order to relate in vitro antioxidant activity with cytoprotective effects. The t-BHP induced considerable cell damage in HepG2 cells was shown by significant glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage, and increased lipid peroxidation. Hepa-1000-treated cells showed an increased resistance to oxidative challenge, as revealed by higher survival capacity than the one of control cells against t-BHP induced oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity. In addition, the Hepa-1000 had hepatoprotective effects lowering the activity of GOT and LDH, simultaneously. That is, it could inhibit the cell membrane damages resulting in the increased activities of GOT and LDH in the cell culture media. Furthermore, the Hepa-1000 could reduce t-BHP enhanced lipid peroxidation, which was evaluated by measuring the production of malonedialdehyde. Based on the data described above, it could be suggested that the Hepa-1000 has significant hepatoprotective effects and plays a protective role against lipid peroxidation by free radicals.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.404-409
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• 1997

Trout CYP1A-CAT expression construct was generated by cloning -3.5 Kb $5^I$ flanking DNA of trout liver CYP1A gene in front of CAT gene at pCAT-basic vector. Hepa 1 cells, which are known to contain a functional arylhydrbcarbon $receptor^I$ were transfected with trout CYP1A-CAT using lipofectin. 3-Methylcholanthrene (1 nM) was added into hepa 1 cells in culture in order to examine if $5^I$ flanking DNA of trout CYP1A gene could interact with mouse transactivating factors to bring about transcription of the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase(CAT) reporter gene. The level of CAT protein was measured by CAT ELISA and the level of CAT mRNA was determined by RTPCR. The treatment of 1 nM 3-methylcholanthrene resulted in two fold increases in CAT protein as well as CAT mRNA compared to untreated control hepa 1 cells. These data indicate that arylhydrocarbon receptors of mouse hepa 1 cells are functional to activate exogenously transfected trout CYP1A-CAT construct in terms of both transcription and translation of CAT. We also examined the effect of 3-methylcholanthrene on endogenous cyplal activity in hepa 1 cell. 3-Methylcholanthrene (1 nM) treatment to hepa 1 cells trahsfected with trout CYP1A-CAT construct stimulated the level of cyp1a1 mRNA by two folds and the activity of ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase by two fold compared to that of control cells. In this study we reported that trout CYP1A-CAT reporter gene expression construct could be expressed by 3-methylcholanthrene treatment in mouse hepa 1 cells. Thus trout CYP1A-CAT could serve as a good model to study the mechanism of regulation of CYP1A1 gene expression.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.315-321
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• 1999

Since it has been known that hypoxia increases inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene expression through hypoxia responsive element, it was possible to establish the hypothesis that nitric oxide could be a mediator of hypoxia to inhibit Cyplal promoter activity. In order to test this hypothesis, we have undertaken the study to examine the effects of hypoxia and nitric oxide on Cyplal promoter activity in Hepa I cells. Mouse Cyplal 5'flanking DNA, 1.6 Kb was cloned into pGL3 expression vector in order to construct pmCyplal-Luc. Hepa I cells were transfected with pmCyplal-Luc and were treated with $10^{-9}$ M TCDD and nitric oxide producing agents, such as lipopolysaccharide(LPS), sodium nitroprusside (SNP). Luciferase activity of reporter gene was measured from pmCyplal-Luc transfected Hepa I cell lysate which contains 2 g total protein using luciferin as a substrate. Nitric oxide producing agents, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), sodium nitroprusside(SNP) showed inhibition of luciferase activity that was induced by $10^{-9}$M TCDD treatment with dose dependent manner. Concomitant treatment of 1mM $N^G$-nitro-ι-arginine with $10^{-6}$~$10^{-4}$M sodium nitro-prusside recovered luciferase activity from the TCDD induced luciferase activity that was inhibited by nitric oxide producing agents. These demonstrated that nitric oxide could be a mediator of inhibitors on dioxin induced Cyplal expression in Hepa I cells.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.253-258
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• 2005

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and sex hormones affect the proliferation of cells and are believed to play important roles in tumorigenesis. However, little is known regarding how these two factors interact to affect cell proliferation. In this study, hepal-6 cells were treated with ROS and sex hormones (testosterone and steroidal) either separately or in combination. The sex hormones had no significant influence the cell proliferation up to a concentration of $1{\mu}M$. However, cell proliferation was inhibited when the cells were treated simultaneously with $H_2O_2$, which alone was found to promote cell proliferation at the concentrations of $15{\mu}M$. In conclusion, this study indicates that instead of promoting the cell proliferation, ROS interact with sex hormones to inhibit the Hepa 1-6 cell proliferation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1998.11a
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• pp.139-139
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• 1998

Effects of TCDD and flavonoids on ethoxyresorufin deethylase in Hepa I cells and MCF-7 human breast cancer cells were examined. TCDD treatment have resulted in the stimulation of ethoxyresorufin deethylase activity based on fluorometry in Hepa I in dose and time dependent manner. 0.1 nM TCDD showed maximal stimulation of ethoxyresorufin deethylase activity and 24 hour treatment also showed maximal stimulation of ethoxyresorufin deethylase activity. In MCF-7 human breast cancer cells, untreated cells showed high basal level of ethoxyresorufin deethylase activity. TCDD treatment to MCF-7 cells resulted minor stimulation of ethoxyresorufin deethylase activity compared to that in Hepa I cells. Various chemicals were tested for ethoxyresorufin deethylase activity in both cell lines. Flavonoids, such as quercetin showed an inhibition of ethoxyresorufin deethylase activity that is stimulated with TCDD or 3-Methylcholanthrene. Estrogen and estrogen metabolites such as 16a-estriol also affects the ethoxyresorufin deethylase activity in MCF-7 cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.1 s.68
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• pp.38-44
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• 2005

Infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major health problem worldwide. Although a tremendous amount has been known about HBV, there have been obstacles in the study of HBV due to the narrow host range of HBV limited to humans and primates. In the present study, we investigated the susceptibility to HBV infection of mouse hepatoma cell line, Hepa-1c1c7. In addition, based on that human hepatocytes infected by HBV increase the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-a, the inducibility of TNF-a expression by HBV in the cells was determined. HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) secretion was measured by the microparticle enzyme immunoassay and steady state mRNA expression was analyzed by quantitative competitive RT-PCR. Transient transfection of Hepa-1c1c7 cells with HBV expression vector resulted in a dose-dependent induction of TNF-a expression. Infection of Hepa-1c1c7 cells with the serum of HBV carrier also increased TNF-a mRNA expression. Both in the transfected and infected cells, HBV mRNA was expressed and significant HBsAg secretion was detected. There was no significant variation in $\beta-actin$ mRNA expression by HBV. These results demonstrate that HBV is infectious to Hepa-lc1c7 in vitro and the viral infection induces TNF-a expression, which suggests that Hepa-lc1c7, a mouse hepatoma cell line, may be a possible model system for analysis of various molecular aspects of HBV infection.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.799-804
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• 2011

Radioactivity of high concentrations have existed in the handling nuclear materials in hot cell of PIEF(Post Irradiation Examination Facility). The exhaust filtration system was enabled to process cylindrical filters by using a manipulator in the hot cell. By establishing a double filtration system with two filters, backup protection against leakage or failure of the first is provided by the second filter. Additionally, this a arrangement is arrange intended to increase the total filtration efficiency. The result of the pressure drop changing in the air flow of the cylindrical and HEPA filters is observed by a curved line. A filtering efficiency of more than 99.99% to $0.3{\mu}m$ particle appears in the upstream and downstream during the efficiency test on the HEPA filters. The V-pleats type had a lower pressure drop than the separator type. There was no damage during usage and was found to be suitable with high capacity of air volume. Therefore, by carrying out performance tests of the exhaust filtration system, efficiency and safety can be achieved.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1995.04a
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• pp.128-128
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• 1995

To investigate the mechanism of the regulation of cytochrome P450IA1 gene expression, ethoxyresorufin deethylase(EROD) and benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylase in B6 mouse liver, in isolated perfused rat liver system. and in B6 mouse hepatocyte Hepa-I cells were examined. In C57BL/6N mouse, 3-methylcholan- throne( 3MC ) treatment have resulted in the stimulation of EROD activity based on fluorometry by 2.79 fold comparirng with that of control. Measurement of mRNA of cytochrome P450 was carried out by either nothern blot or dot blot analysis. Findings are similar to that of studies with enzymes. Furhtermore, when RTPCR method was applied to detect mRNA in Hepa I cell and liver tissues the results were more clear. Cytochrome P450IA1 upstream DNA containing CAT construct was transfected into Hepa-1 cells. After transfection of CAT construct, 3MC and flavonoids, such as, chrysin, hesperetin, kaempferol, morin, myricetin and aminoyrine were treated. 48 Hours after treatments, cells were harvested and assayed for CAT mRNA by RTPCR. 3MC treatment to hepa I cells transfected with trout P450IA1-CAT construct increased CAT mRNA by 2.81 fold when it was compared with that of control. This increase CAT mRNA was decreased by concomitantly treated flavonoids and aminopyrine. The level of CAT protein was 29.2-58.0% of 3MC stimulated CAT protein. Results of this study suggested that RTPCR seems to be a very good method to study regulation of gene expression in liver tissue or Hepa cells.