• Animal cells and systems
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.203-209
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• 2008

Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid found in Coptidis Rhizoma(goldenthread) extract, has multiple pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and anti-ischemic effects. In the present study, we examined the effects of berberine on neuronal survival and differentiation in a hippocampal precursor cell line and in the memory deficient rat model. Berberine increased in a dose dependent manner the survival of hippocampal precursor cells as well as differentiated cells. In addition, berberine promoted neuronal differentiation of hippocampal precursor cells. In the memory deficient rat model induced by stereotaxic injection of ibotenic acid into entorhinal cortex(Ibo model), hippocampal cells were increased about 2.7 fold in the pyramidal layer of CA1 region and about 2 fold in the dentate gyrus by administration of berberine after 2 weeks of ibotenic acid injection. Furthermore, neuronal cells immunoreactive to calbindin were increased in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex area by administration of berberine. Taken together, these results suggest that berberine has neuroprotective effect in the Ibo model rat brain by promoting the neuronal survival and differentiation.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.30-37
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• 2005

Xuesaitong Ruanjiaonang (XR), a soft capsule containing Panax notoginseng saponins as main ingredients, is believed to remove extravasated blood and increase cerebral blood flow by improving blood circulation, and therefore, has been used in China to treat ischemic stroke or hemiplegia caused by cerebral thrombosis. To characterize pharmacological actions of XR, the present study evaluated its effects on neuronal cell damage induced by various oxidative insults or excitotoxic amino acids in primary cultured rat cortical cells. The neuronal cell viability was not affected by XR with the exposure for 2 h at the concentrations tested in this study ($10{\sim}1000\;{\mu}g/ml$). However, significant reduction of the cell viability was observed when the cultured cells were exposed to XR at $1000\;{\mu}g/ml$ for 24 h. XR was found to concentration-dependently inhibit the oxidative neuronal damage induced by $H_{2}O_2$, xanthine/xanthine oxidase or $Fe^{2+}$/ascorbic acid. In addition, it dramatically inhibited the excitotoxic damage induced by glutamate or N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA). We found that the NMDA-induced neurotoxicity was inhibited more effectively and potently than the glutamate-induced toxicity. Moreover, XR was found to exert mild inhibition of lipid peroxidation induced by $Fe^{2+}$/ascorbic acid in rat brain homogenates and some 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity. Taken together, these results demonstrate neuroprotective and antioxidant effects of XR, showing inhibition of oxidative and excitotoxic damage in the cultured cortical neurons, as well as inhibition of lipid peroxidation and its radical scavenging activity. Considering that excitotoxicity and oxidative stress pl ay crucial roles in neuronal cell damage during ischemia and reperfusion, these results may provide pharmacological basis for its clinical usage to treat ischemic stroke.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.41-45
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• 2009

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzhemier's disease. Neuropathologically, PD is characterized by the selective loss of dopaminergic neurons. The neuronal toxicity of cytosolic excess dopamine (DA) has been described in many studies using several cell lines. In dopaminergic neurons, cytosolic excess DA is easily oxidized via monoamine oxidase (MAO)-B, tyrosinase or by auto-oxidation to produce neurotoxic metabolites such as DA quinone. So, in the present study, we induced cell death by treatment of DA ($600{\mu}M$) in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell which was treated samples before 24 hr, and cell viability was measured by fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACs) analysis. Of those tested, the extracts of Poria cocos (赤茯笭)(whole), Gastrodia elata (rhizomes), Eucommia ulmoides (炒)(barks), Syneilesis palmata (whole), Acorus gramineus (rhizomes), Ligustrum japonicum (leaves) showed neuroprotective effects in dose dependent manner.

• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.8
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• pp.437-442
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• 2016

We aimed to study the role of protein L-isoaspartyl methyltransferase (PIMT) in neuronal differentiation using basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-induced neuronal differentiation, characterized by cell-body shrinkage, long neurite outgrowth, and expression of neuronal differentiation markers light and medium neurofilaments (NF). The bFGF-mediated neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells was induced through activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling molecules [MAPK kinase 1/2 (MEK1/2), extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), and p90RSK], and phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling molecules PI3Kp110β, PI3Kp110γ, Akt, and mTOR. Inhibitors (adenosine dialdehyde and S-adenosylhomocysteine) of protein methylation suppressed bFGF-mediated neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells. PIMT-eficiency caused by PIMT-specific siRNA inhibited neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells by suppressing phosphorylation of MEK1/2 and ERK1/2 in the MAPK signaling pathway and Akt and mTOR in the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Therefore, these results suggested that PIMT was critical for bFGF-mediated neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells and regulated the MAPK and Akt signaling pathways.

• Rapid Communication in Photoscience
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.48-49
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• 2014

For in vitro myelination system, Schwann cells and neuronal cells of rat were cocultured. Schwann cells and neuronal cells, respectively, were obtained from dorsal root ganglion of rat embryos (E15). This method includes four steps: first step of suspension of the embryonic dorsal root ganglion cells, second step of addition of anti-mitotic cocktail, third step of purification of dorsal root cells, and fourth step of addition of Schwann cells to dorsal root ganglion cells. We made a highly purified population of myelination in a short period through this procedure and identified myelination basic protein using antibody of myelination basic protein.

• BMB Reports
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• v.51 no.11
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• pp.549-556
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• 2018

Mitochondria are ubiquitous and multi-functional organelles involved in diverse metabolic processes, namely energy production and biomolecule synthesis. The intracellular mitochondrial morphology and distribution change dynamically, which reflect the metabolic state of a given cell type. A dramatic change of the mitochondrial dynamics has been observed in early development that led to further investigations on the relationship between mitochondria and the process of development. A significant developmental process to focus on, in this review, is a differentiation of neural progenitor cells into neurons. Information on how mitochondria-regulated cellular energetics is linked to neuronal development will be discussed, followed by functions of mitochondria and associated diseases in neuronal development. Lastly, the potential use of mitochondrial features in analyzing various neurodevelopmental diseases will be addressed.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.162-166
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• 2009

Oxczaasssaidative stress plays an important role in neuronal cell death, which is associated with neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. This study evaluated the neuroprotective effect of Euryale ferox (EF) extracts against glutamate-induced cytotoxicity in hybridoma N18-RE-105 cells. Specifically, neuroprotective effects of methanol and ethanol extracts were evaluated by the MTT reduction assay. The ethanol extracts of EF displayed dose dependent protection against neuronal cell death induced by 20 mM of glutamate. Furthermore, the ethanol extracts of EF was sequentially fractionated with hexane, diethyl ether, ethyl acetate, and water layer according to degree of polarity. The hexane fractions exhibited neuroprotective effect against glutamate-stressed N18-RE-105 cells. Overall, results suggest that EF extracts can potentially be used as chemotherapeutic agents against neuronal diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.1355-1359
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• 2016

Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs) can differentiate into various cell types including osteoblasts, adipocytes, chondrocytes, and myocytes. Previous studies, including our own, have shown that MSCs can also differentiate into neuron-like cells. However, their rate of neuronal differentiation is not sufficient for application to stem cell therapy, which requires well-defined cell types. For this purpose, we first examined the expression of neuronal lineage markers (GFAP, MAP-2, KCNH1, Nestin, NF-M, and Tuj-1) by real-time PCR, western blot, and immunocytochemical staining. The expressions of the astrocyte marker GFAP and neuronal markers NF-M and Tuj-1 increased in neuronal differentiated MSCs (dMSCs). To improve the neuronal differentiation efficiency, PDE4, an important signaling intermediator in the progression of neuronal differentiation, was modulated using well-known inhibitors such as rolipram or resveratrol and then differentiated into neuronal cells (Roli- or RSV-dMSCs). The expressions of NF-M, Tuj-1 were increased while that of GFAP decreased in Roli- and RSV-dMSCs, which were examined by real-time PCR, western blot, and immunocytochemical staining. From these experiments, we have found that the neuronal differentiation efficiency can be ameliorated by the modulation of PDE4 activity.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.343-353
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• 2012

Objectives: This aim of this study was to effectively isolate mesenchymal stem cells (hSMSCs) from human submandibular skin tissues (termed hSMSCs) and evaluate their characteristics. These hSMSCs were then chemically induced to the neuronal lineage and analyzed for their neurogenic characteristics in vitro. Materials and Methods: Submandibular skin tissues were harvested from four adult patients and cultured in stem cell media. Isolated hSMSCs were evaluated for their multipotency and other stem cell characteristics. These cells were differentiated into neuronal cells with a chemical induction protocol. During the neuronal induction of hSMSCs, morphological changes and the expression of neuron-specific proteins (by fluorescence-activated cell sorting [FACS]) were evaluated. Results: The hSMSCs showed plate-adherence, fibroblast-like growth, expression of the stem-cell transcription factors Oct 4 and Nanog, and positive staining for mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) marker proteins (CD29, CD44, CD90, CD105, and vimentin) and a neural precursor marker (nestin). Moreover, the hSMSCs in this study were successfully differentiated into multiple mesenchymal lineages, including osteocytes, adipocytes, and chondrocytes. Neuron-like cell morphology and various neural markers were highly visible six hours after the neuronal induction of hSMSCs, but their neuron-like characteristics disappeared over time (24-48 hrs). Interestingly, when the chemical induction medium was changed to Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) supplemented with fetal bovine serum (FBS), the differentiated cells returned to their hSMSC morphology, and their cell number increased. These results indicate that chemically induced neuron-like cells should not be considered true nerve cells. Conclusion: Isolated hSMSCs have MSC characteristics and express a neural precursor marker, suggesting that human skin is a source of stem cells. However, the in vitro chemical neuronal induction of hSMSC does not produce long-lasting nerve cells and more studies are required before their use in nerve-tissue transplants.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.11
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• pp.781-788
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• 2022

Proline plays a multifaceted role in protein synthesis, redox balance, cell fate regulation, brain development, and other cellular and physiological processes. Here, we focus our review on proline metabolism in neurons, highlighting the role of dysregulated proline metabolism in neuronal dysfunction and consequently neurological and psychiatric disorders. We will discuss the association between genetic and protein function of enzymes in the proline pathway and the development of neurological and psychiatric disorders. We will conclude with a potential mechanism of proline metabolism in neuronal function and mental health.