• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.15-21
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• 2004

Vitamin $D_3$ up-regulated protein 1 (VDUP1) gene is known to be a novel member of early response genes as an oxidative stress mediator. To elucidate role of VDUP1 expression in neuronal injury, VDUP1 gene expression and histological change were tested in the spinal cords after traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) in young and adult rats. VDUP1 transcript was detected weakly in a few cells in the spinal cords of control young and adult rats. VDUP1 transcript was increased in the contused spinal cords 1 day after SCI in both young and adult rats. VDUP1 transcript was decreased in the spinal cords 7 days after SCI in young rats. However, VDUP1 transcript was not decrease significantly 7 days in the spinal cords after SCI in adult rats. Cell damage in the spinal cords and hind limb dysfunction were more prominent 7 days after SCI in adult rats compared with that in young rats. These data show that VDUP1 may be involved in neurodegeneration after traumatic SCI.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제12권3호
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• pp.89-94
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• 2008

In order to reproduce chronic cerebral hypoperfusion as it occurs in human aging and Alzheimer's disease, we introduced permanent, bilateral occlusion of the common carotid arteries (BCCAO) in rats (Farkas et al, 2007). Here, we induced BCCAO in two different rat strains in order to determine whether there was a strain difference in the pathogenic response to BCCAO. Male Wistar and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (250-270 g) were subjected to BCCAO for three weeks. Kluver-Barrera and cresyl violet staining were used to evaluate white matter and gray matter damage, respectively. Wistar rats had a considerably higher mortality rate (four of 14 rats) as compared to SD rats (one of 15 rats) following BCCAO. Complete loss of pupillary light reflex occurred in all Wistar rats that survived, but loss of pupillary light reflex did not occur at all in SD rats. Moreover, BCCAO induced marked vacuolation in the optic tract of Wistar rats as compared to SD rats. In contrast, SD rats showed fewer CA1 hippocampal neurons than Wistar rats following BCCAO. These results suggest that the neuropathological process induced by BCCAO takes place in a region-specific pattern that varies according to the strain of rat involved.

• BMB Reports
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• 제50권7호
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• pp.345-354
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• 2017

Autophagy, a catabolic process necessary for the maintenance of intracellular homeostasis, has recently been the focus of numerous human diseases and conditions, such as aging, cancer, development, immunity, longevity, and neurodegeneration. However, the continued presence of autophagy is essential for cell survival and dysfunctional autophagy is thought to speed up the progression of neurodegeneration. The actual molecular mechanism behind the progression of dysfunctional autophagy is not yet fully understood. Emerging evidence suggests that basal autophagy is necessary for the removal of misfolded, aggregated proteins and damaged cellular organelles through lysosomal mediated degradation. Physiologically, neurodegenerative disorders are related to the accumulation of amyloid ${\beta}$ peptide and ${\alpha}-synuclein$ protein aggregation, as seen in patients with Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, respectively. Even though autophagy could impact several facets of human biology and disease, it generally functions as a clearance for toxic proteins in the brain, which contributes novel insight into the pathophysiological understanding of neurodegenerative disorders. In particular, several studies demonstrate that natural compounds or small molecule autophagy enhancer stimuli are essential in the clearance of amyloid ${\beta}$ and ${\alpha}-synuclein$ deposits. Therefore, this review briefly deliberates on the recent implications of autophagy in neurodegenerative disorder control, and emphasizes the opportunities and potential therapeutic application of applied autophagy.

• 한국자원식물학회지
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• 제28권6호
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• pp.675-681
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• 2015

β amyloid protein (Aβ) plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and possibly in Aβ-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. Aβ can directly cause reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Overproduction of ROS is considered to be involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration of AD. Here, we investigated 9 kinds of ramie (Boehmeria nivea, (L.) Gaud., BN; hereafter denoted as BN) for their protective action against oxidative stress in a cellular system using C6 glial cells. We observed loss of cell viability and high levels of ROS generation after treatment with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and Aβ_25-35. However, treatments with BN extracts led to an increase in cell viability and decrease in ROS production induced by H2O2 and Aβ25-35. In particular, the extracts of BN-01 (seobang variety from Seocheon) and BN-09 (local variety from Yeonggwang) showed excellent anti-oxidative properties. This indicates that BN extracts could prevent neurodegeneration by reducing oxidative stress in cells.

• 대한예방한의학회지
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.109-114
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• 2004

Oxidative stress is one of the major reasons for brain aging and neurodegeneration. Ethanol and acetaldehyde increase the levle of oxidative stress in brain tissue resulting in aging and neurodegeneration related alcoholic dementia. Ginkgo biloba extracts are used as therapeutic and preventive agent for dementia. Here, it was investigated whether Ginkgo biloba extract show the effectiveness against ethanol- and acetaldehyde-induced oxidative stress in rat brain. Ethanol and acetaldehyde increased the level of oxidative stress by about 35% to 50% in rat brain tissue. However, Ginkgo biloba extracts reduced the level of ethanol- and acetaldehyde-induced oxidative stress. This result might reveal the link between the effectiveness of Ginkgo biloba extracts on oxidative stress and its effectiveness on alcoholic dementia.

• 한국한의학연구원논문집
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• 제4권1호통권4호
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• pp.99-114
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• 1998

The effect of herbal medicine on glutamate mediated neurotoxicity was studied in mouse neurons in primary culture. Immature cerebral cortex neurons (ED14) were maintained for up to 2 weeks in vitro, and we investigated the expression pattern of neuron differentiation and cytotoxicity of cell death, including LDH activity. Neuronal maturation initiated on day 7 and the susceptibility to glutamate-induced cell death was highly sensitive on Day 11 (Fig. 1). Thus, the exposure of the neurons to glutamate caused a dose$(0.1mM{\sim}1mM)$ and time$(4h{\sim}24h)$-dependent neurotoxicity(Fig. 4). Glutamate-induced neurodegeneration was prevented by Shipchondaebotang(SD), Yollyounggobondan(YG), Yugmijihwangwon(YJ) and the death of neurons exposed to glutamate was blocked by the NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 (Fig. 5).

• 생약학회지
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• 제52권3호
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• pp.149-156
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• 2021

Excessive glutamate can cause oxidative stress in neuronal cells and this can be the reason for neurodegenerative disease. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of Spirulina maxima hot ethanol extract on mouse hippocampal HT22 cell of which glutamate receptor has no function. HT22 cells were pre-treated with S. maxima sample at a dose dependent manner (1, 10 and 100 ㎍/ml). After an hour, glutamate was treated. Cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, Ca²⁺ influx, decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential level and glutathione related assays were followed by then. S. maxima ethanol extract improved the cell viability by suppressing the ROS and Ca²⁺ formation, retaining the mitochondrial membrane potential level and protecting the activity of the antioxidant enzymes compared with group of vehicle-treated controls. These suggest that S. maxima may decelerate the neurodegeneration by attenuating neuronal damage and oxidative stress.

• BMB Reports
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• 제54권6호
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• pp.295-304
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• 2021

Olfactory neuropathology is a cause of olfactory loss in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Olfactory dysfunction is also associated with memory and cognitive dysfunction and is an incidental finding of AD dementia. Here we review neuropathological research on the olfactory system in AD, considering both structural and functional evidence. Experimental and clinical findings identify olfactory dysfunction as an early indicator of AD. In keeping with this, amyloid-β production and neuroinflammation are related to underlying causes of impaired olfaction. Notably, physiological features of the spatial map in the olfactory system suggest the evidence of ongoing neurodegeneration. Our aim in this review is to examine olfactory pathology findings essential to identifying mechanisms of olfactory dysfunction in the development of AD in hopes of supporting investigations leading towards revealing potential diagnostic methods and causes of early pathogenesis in the olfactory system.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제30권8호
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• pp.708-712
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• 2020

리트로머(retromer)는 VPS26, VPS29, VPS35 분자로 구성된 복합체로, 세포막에 존재하는 특정 단백질을 엔도솜에서 트렌스골지망으로 리사이클에 관여하는 단백질 복합체이다. 2000년대 초반 콜롬비아대학의 Scott A, Small 팀에 의해서, 알츠하이머 환자에서 리트로머 분자의 발현량이 저하된다는 것을 발견하였으며, 리트로머를 구성하는 VPS35 발현을 저하시킨 마우스를 이용한 Morris Water Maze (MWM) 실험에서 인지능력이 떨어진다는 것을 보고 하였다. 본 연구진은 리트로머를 구성하는 VPS26 분자에 대한 서브타입인 VPS26b를 발견하였고, 낙아웃 마우스를 제작하였다. VPS26b 낙아웃 마우스 뇌조직을 이용한 웨스턴 블롯 결과, 낙아웃 마우스 뇌조직에서 VPS29와 VPS35의 발현량의 50% 정도로 감소되는 것을 확인하였다. 또한, VPS29 낙아웃 마우스를 이용하여 MWM실험은 한 결과 인지능력이 저하되는 것을 확인하였으며 뇌조직의 해마 CA3영역의 세포 분포도가 정상마우스에 비해 감소되는 것을 확인하였다. 결과적으로 이번 연구를 통하여 VPS26b 낙아웃 마우스는 뇌질환 연구에 대한 실험 동물로서 기초 자료를 제공할 수 있을 것임을 보여준다.

• 생물정신의학
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.40-46
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• 2015

Neuroglial cells are fundamental for brain homeostasis and defense to intrinsic or extrinsic changes. Loss of their function and over-reactivity to stimuli contribute to the aging of brain. Alzheimer's disease (AD) could be caused by more dramatic response in neuroglia associated with various chemokines and cytokines. Neuroglia of the AD brain shares some phenotypes with aging neuroglia. In addition, neuroglial activation and neuroinflammation are commonly showed in neurodegeneration. Thus neuroglia would be a promising target for therapeutics of AD.