• 한방재활의학과학회지
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.13-22
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• 2011

Objectives : This Study was performed to evaluate the effects of Scutellariae Radix(SR) water-extract on the tissue and neuronal apoptosis of the spinal cord injury(SCI). Methods: SCI was induced by mechanical contusion following laminectomy of 10th thoracic vertebra in Sprague-Dawley rats. SR was orally given once a day for 7 days after SCI. Neuronal apoptosis was examined with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTPnick-end labeling(TUNEL) assay. Bax (Bcl-2-asociated X protein), Bcl-2(B-cell blastoma 2), c-Fos(FBJ osteosarcoma oncogene) expressions were examined using immuno-histochemistry. Individual TUNEL and immuno-labeled cells expressing Bax, Bcl-2 and c-Fos were counted on the same level in peri-damaged region and in ventral horn. Results: 1. SR significantly reduced number of TUNEL labeled apoptotic cells induced by the spinal cord contusion injury. 2. SR significantly reduced Bax positive cells expression on the motor neuron in the ventral horn induced by the spinal cord contusion injury. 3. SR strengthened Bcl-2 expression on the motor neuron in the ventral horn induced by the spinal cord contusion injury. 4. SR reduced c-Fos expression on the motor neuron in the ventral horn induced by the spinal cord contusion injury. Conclusions : These results suggest that SR plays an inhibitory role against neuronal apoptosis and has significant effects for locomotor disfunction induced by SCI.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.85-92
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• 2006

Objectives : To evaluate the neuroprotective effects of added Bo-Yang-Hwan-Oh-Tang (BHT), we investigated the neuronal death protection effects to oxidative damages in SH-SY5Y neuronal cells. Methods : To study the cytotoxic effects of BHT on SH-SY5Y cells, the cell viability was determined by MTT assay. To investigate the neuronal death protection of BHT, SH-SY5Y cells were induced oxidative damages by $H_2O_2$ and then assayed the cell viability and DNA fragmentation. We also investigated DPPH free radical scavenging effect of BHT by tube test. Results : In MTT assay, $1000{\mu}g/ml$ of BHT was not showed the cytotoxic effect on SH-SY5Y cells. BHT protected SHSY5Y cells from $H_2O_2-induced $ neuronal cell death in a dose-dependent manner. BHT also protected SH-SY5Y cells from $H_2O_2-induced$ DNA fragmentation. BHT effectively scavenged DPPH free radicals in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion : These data suggest that BHT may have strong antioxidant effects through the free radical scavenging and neuroprotective effects in human neuronal cells.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.24-31
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• 2010

Taurine, 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid, is an abundant free amino acid present in brain cells and exerts many important biological functions such as anti-convulsant, modulation of neuronal excitability, regulation of learning and memory, anti-aggressiveness and anti-alcoholic effects. In the present study, we investigated to explore whether taurine has any protective actions against oxidative stress-induced damages in neuronal cells. ERK I/II regulates signaling pathways involved in nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and plays a role in the regulation of cell growth, and apoptosis. We have found that taurine significantly inhibited AMPA induced cortical depolarization in the Grease Gap assays using rat cortical slices. Taurine also inhibited AMPA-induced neuronal cell damage in MTT assays in the differentiated SH-SY5Y cells. When the neuronal cells were treated with $H_2O_2$, levels of NO were increased; however, taurine pretreatment decreased the NO production induced by $H_2O_2$ to approximately normal levels. Interestingly, taurine treatment stimulated ERK I/II activity in the presence of AMPA or $H_2O_2$, suggesting the potential role of ERK I/II in the neuroprotection of taurine. Taken together, taurine has significant neuroprotective actions against AMPA or $H_2O_2$ induced damages in neuronal cells, possibly via activation of ERK I/II.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.57-63
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• 2006

One of the various signaling agents in the animal cells is the simple ion called calcium, $Ca^{2+}$.$Ca^{2+}$ controls almost everything that animals do, including fertilization, secretion, metabolism, muscle contractions, heartbeat, learning, memory stores, and more. To do all of this, $Ca^{2+}$ acts as an intracellular messenger, relaying information within cells to regulate their activity. In contrast, the maintenance of intracellular high $Ca^{2+}$ concentrations caused by various excitatory agents or toxins can lead to the disintegration of cells (necrosis) through the activity of $Ca^{2+}$-sensitive protein-digesting enzymes. High concentrations of calcium have also been implicated in the more orderly programs of cell death known as apoptosis. Because this simple ion, acts as an agent for cell birth, life and death, to coordinate all of these functions, $Ca^{2+}$ signalings should be regulated precisely and tightly. Recent reports have shown that ginsenosides regulate directly and indirectly intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ level with differential manners between neuronal and non-neuronal cells. This brief review will attempt to survey how ginsenosides differentially regulate intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ signaling mediated by various ion channels and receptor activations in neuronal and non-neuronal cells.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• 제45권4호
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• pp.179-189
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• 2020

Green tea polyphenol (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a potent antioxidant with protective effects against neurotoxicity. However, it is currently unclear whether EGCG protects neuronal cells against radiation-induced damage. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of EGCG on ultraviolet (UV)-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in PC12 cells. The effects of UV irradiation included apoptotic cell death, which was associated with DNA fragmentation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, enhanced caspase-3 and caspase-9 activity, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. UV irradiation also increased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and mitochondrial pathway-associated cytochrome c expression. However, pretreatment with EGCG before UV exposure markedly decreased UV-induced DNA fragmentation and ROS production. Furthermore, the UV irradiation-induced increase in Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, cytochrome c upregulation, and caspase-3 and caspase-9 activation were each ameliorated by EGCG pretreatment. Additionally, EGCG suppressed UV-induced phosphorylation of p38 and rescued UV-downregulated phosphorylation of ERK. Taken together, these results suggest that EGCG prevents UV irradiation-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells by scavenging ROS and inhibiting the mitochondrial pathways known to play a crucial role in apoptosis. In addition, EGCG inhibits UV-induced apoptosis via JNK inactivation and ERK activation in PC12 cells. Thus, EGCG represents a potential neuroprotective agent that could be applied to prevent neuronal cell death induced by UV irradiation.

• BMB Reports
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• 제48권2호
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• pp.81-90
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• 2015

p73 is a structural and functional homologue of the p53 tumor suppressor protein. Like p53, p73 induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest and transactivates p53-responsive genes, conferring its tumor suppressive activity. In addition, p73 has unique roles in neuronal development and differentiation. The importance of p73-induced apoptosis lies in its capability to substitute the pro-apoptotic activity of p53 in various human cancer cells in which p53 is mutated or inactive. Despite the great importance of p73-induced apoptosis in cancer therapy, little is known about the molecular basis of p73-induced apoptosis. In this review, we discuss the p73 structures reported to date, detailed structural comparisons between p73 and p53, and current understanding of the transcription-dependent and -independent mechanisms of p73-induced apoptosis.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.470-471
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• 2002

It has been well documented that dermal irradiation by ultraviolet A (UVA) locally decreases the number of Langerhans cells and suppresses contact hypersensitivity of the skin. We found that topical irradiation of UVA to the eye systemically decreased the number of Langerhans cells (LC) in the dorsalskin and lymph nodes and elicited lymphocyte apoptosis in the latter tissues but not in the thymus. Optic nerve resection, but not ciliary ganglionectomy, eliminated the UVA-induced decrease in dermal Langerhans cells by a mechanism that was partially inhibited by hypophysectomy. The immunosuppressive effect of UVA was not observed in knockout mice lacking inducible-type of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). These results suggested that topical irradiation of UVA to the eye induced immunosuppression via NO-dependet neuronal pathways.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제24권4호
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• pp.127-135
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• 2003

Objectives : Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is one of the most devastating types of stroke. The effect of acupuncture on the intrastriatal hemorrhage-induced neuronal cell death and cell proliferation in rats is examined. Methods : Cell death and cell proliferation in rats was investigated via terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay and immunohistochemistry for caspase-3 and 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU). Results : Results showed that apoptotic cell death in the striatum and cell proliferation in the hippocampal dentate gyrus significantly increased following intrastriatal hemorrhage in rats, and that acupunctural treatment at the Zusanli acupoint suppressed the hemorrhage-induced increase in apoptosis in the striatum and cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus. Conclusions : It is suggested that acupunctural treatment, especially at the Zusanli acupoint, may aid recovery following central nervous system sequelae following ICH.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.445-450
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• 2011

Preciously, we demonstrated that a novel NHE-1 inhibitor, KR-33028 attenuated cortical neuronal apoptosis induced by glutamate. In the present study, we investigated the signaling mechanism of neuroprotective effect of KR-33028 against glutamate-induced neuronal apoptosis, especially focusing on mitochondrial death pathway. Our data showed that glutamate induces a biphasic rise in mitochondrial $Ca^{2+}$ and that KR-33028 significantly prevents the second phase increase, but not the first phase increase in mitochondrial $Ca^{2+}$. Furthermore, KR-33028 restored the ${\Delta}{\Psi}_m$ dissipation and cytochrome c release into cytoplasm induced by glutamate in a concentration-dependent manner. The inhibition of mitochondrial $Ca^{2+}$ overload by ruthenium red also inhibited glutamate-induced apoptotic cell death, mitochondrial membrane potential, ${\Delta}{\Psi}_m$ dissipation and cytochrome c release. These data suggest that inhibition of mitochondrial $Ca^{2+}$ overload is likely to be attributable to anti-apoptotic effect of KR-33028. Taken together, our results suggest that anti-apoptotic effects of NHE-1 inhibitor, KR-33028 may be mediated through maintenance of mitochondrial function.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제66권
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• pp.408-415
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• 2023

Alzheimer's disease constitutes a large proportion of all neurodegenerative diseases and is mainly caused by excess aggregation of amyloid beta (Aβ), which results in oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in the neurons. Populus tomentiglandulosa belongs to the Salicaceae family and is widely distributed in Korea; the antioxidant activities of the extract and fractions from P. tomentiglandulosa have been demonstrated in previous studies. Specifically, the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction of P. tomentiglandulosa (EtOAc-PT) shows the most powerful antioxidative activity. Therefore, the present study investigates the protective effects of EtOAc-PT against neuronal damage in Aβ_25-35-stimulated SH-SY5Y cells. EtOAc-PT restored cell viability significantly as well as inhibited the levels of reactive oxygen species and lactate dehydrogenase release compared to the Aβ_25-35-induced control group. Furthermore, the inflammation- and apoptosis-related protein expressions were investigated to demonstrate its neuroprotective mechanism. EtOAc-PT downmodulated the expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, B-cell lymphoma 2 associated X, and B-cell lymphoma 2. Thus, the findings show that EtOAc-PT has protective effects against Aβ_25-35 by suppressing oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis.