• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.135-140
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• 2014

The mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which are derived from the mesoderm, are considered as a readily available source for tissue engineering. They have multipotent differentiation capacity and can be differentiated into various cell types. Many studies have demonstrated that the MSCs identified from amniotic membrane (AM-MSCs) and amniotic fluid (AF-MSCs) are shows advantages for many reasons, including the possibility of noninvasive isolation, multipotency, self-renewal, low immunogenicity, anti-inflammatory and nontumorigenicity properties, and minimal ethical problem. The AF-MSCs and AM-MSCs may be appropriate sources of mesenchymal stem cells for regenerative medicine, as an alternative to embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Recently, regenerative treatments such as tissue engineering and cell transplantation have shown potential in clinical applications for degenerative diseases. Therefore, amnion and MSCs derived from amnion can be applied to cell therapy in neuro-degeneration diseases. In this review, we will describe the potential of AM-MSCs and AF-MSCs, with particular focus on cures for neuronal degenerative diseases.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.1073-1078
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• 2005

A presenilin 2 mutation is believed to be involved in the development of Alzheimer's disease. In addition, transgenic mice with a presenilin 2 mutation have been reported to have learning and memory impairments. In this study, exposing PC12 cells expressing mutant presenilin 2 to $50{\mu}M\;A{\beta}_{25-35},\;30mM$ L-glutamate and $50{\mu}M\;H_2O_2$ caused a significant increase in acetylcholine esterase activity. An in vivo study revealed high levels of this enzyme activity in the mutant presenilin 2 transgenic brains compared with the wild type presenilin 2 transgenic and non-transgenic samples. These results suggest that a mutant presenilin 2-induced neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease might be involved in the increase in acetylcholinesterase activity. These findings might help in the development of an appropriate therapeutic intervention targeting mutant presenilin 2-induced Alzheimer's disease.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.299-310
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• 2020

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multi-faceted neurodegenerative disease. Thus, current therapeutic strategies require multitarget-drug combinations to treat or prevent the disease. At the present time, single drugs have proven to be inadequate in terms of addressing the multifactorial pathology of AD, and multitarget-directed drug design has not been successful. Based on these points of views, it is judged that combinatorial drug therapies that target several pathogenic factors may offer more attractive therapeutic options. Thus, we explored that the combination therapy with lower doses of cilostazol and aripiprazole with add-on donepezil (CAD) might have potential in the pathogenesis of AD. In the present study, we found the superior efficacies of donepezil add-on with combinatorial mixture of cilostazol plus aripiprazole in modulation of expression of AD-relevant genes: Aβ accumulation, GSK-3β, P300, acetylated tau, phosphorylated-tau levels, and activation of α-secretase/ADAM 10 through SIRT1 activation in the N2a Swe cells expressing human APP Swedish mutation (N2a Swe cells). We also assessed that CAD synergistically raised acetylcholine release and choline acetyltransferase (CHAT) expression that were declined by increased β-amyloid level in the activated N2a Swe cells. Consequently, CAD treatment synergistically increased neurite elongation and improved cell viability through activations of PI3K, BDNF, β-catenin and α7-nicotinic cholinergic receptors in neuronal cells in the presence of Aβ_1-42. This work endorses the possibility for efficient treatment of AD by supporting the synergistic therapeutic potential of donepezil add-on therapy in combination with lower doses of cilostazol and aripiprazole.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.572-584
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• 2022

Background: Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by the expansion of trinucleotide CAG repeat in the Huntingtin (Htt) gene. The major pathogenic pathways underlying HD involve the impairment of cellular energy homeostasis and DNA damage in the brain. The protein kinase ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) is an important regulator of the DNA damage response. ATM is involved in the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), suggesting that AMPK plays a critical role in response to DNA damage. Herein, we demonstrated that expression of polyQ-expanded mutant Htt (mHtt) enhanced the phosphorylation of ATM. Ginsenoside is the main and most effective component of Panax ginseng. However, the protective effect of a ginsenoside (compound K, CK) in HD remains unclear and warrants further investigation. Methods: This study used the R6/2 transgenic mouse model of HD and performed behavioral tests, survival rate, histological analyses, and immunoblot assays. Results: The systematic administration of CK into R6/2 mice suppressed the activation of ATM/AMPK and reduced neuronal toxicity and mHTT aggregation. Most importantly, CK increased neuronal density and lifespan and improved motor dysfunction in R6/2 mice. Conversely, CK enhanced the expression of Bcl2 protected striatal cells from the toxicity induced by the overactivation of mHtt and AMPK. Conclusions: Thus, the oral administration of CK reduced the disease progression and markedly enhanced lifespan in the transgenic mouse model (R6/2) of HD.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.227-244
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• 2011

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNA molecules that negatively regulate gene expression via degradation or translational repression of their target messenger RNAs (mRNAs). Recent studies have clearly demonstrated that miRNAs play critical roles in several biologic processes, including cell cycle, differentiation, cell development, cell growth, and apoptosis and that miRNAs are highly expressed in regulatory T (Treg) cells and a wide range of miRNAs are involved in the regulation of immunity and in the prevention of autoimmunity. It has been increasingly reported that miRNAs are associated with various human diseases like autoimmune disease, skin disease, neurological disease and psychiatric disease. Recently, the identification of miRNAs in skin has added a new dimension in the regulatory network and attracted significant interest in this novel layer of gene regulation. Although miRNA research in the field of dermatology is still relatively new, miRNAs have been the subject of much dermatological interest in skin morphogenesis and in regulating angiogenesis. In addition, miRNAs are moving rapidly center stage as key regulators of neuronal development and function in addition to important contributions to neurodegenerative disorder. Moreover, there is now compelling evidence that dysregulation of miRNA networks is implicated in the development and onset of human neruodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, Tourette's syndrome, Down syndrome, depression and schizophrenia. In this review, I briefly summarize the current studies about the roles of miRNAs in various autoimmune diseases, skin diseases, psychoneurological disorders and mental stress.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.132-140
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• 2007

Parkinson's disease is a common neurodegenerative disorder that is mainly caused by dopaminergic neuron loss in the substantia nigra. Several radiopharmaceutics have been developed to evaluate the integrity of dopaminergic neuronal system. In vivo PET and SPECT imaging of presynaptic dopamine imaing are already applied to Parkinson's disease and other parkinsonism, and can demonstrate the dopaminergic dysfunction. This review summarized the use of the presynaptic dopaminergic imaging in PD as biomarkers in evaluation of disease progression as well as in diagnosis of PD.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2004.06a
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• pp.272-272
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• 2004

The objective of this study is to test whether human embryonic stem cells expressing Nurr1 (Nurr1-transfected hES cells) could be expressed TH according to neuronal differentiation. As an effort to direct differentiation of hES (MB03 registered in NIH) cells to dopamine-producing neuronal cells, Nurr1 was transfected using conventional transfection protocol into MB03 cell and examined the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) after differentiation induced by retinoic acid (RA) and ascorbic acid (AA). (omitted)

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.197.2-198
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• 2003

Activation of the apoptosis program by an increased production of beta-amyloid peptides (A${\beta}$) has been implicated in the neuronal cell death of Alzheimer's disease. Bcl-2 is a well demonstrated anti-apoptotic protein, however, the mechanism of anti-apoptotic action of Bcl-2 in A${\beta}$-induced apoptosis of neuronal cells is not fully understood. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.145-145
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• 2003

Familial form of Alzheimer's disease (FAD) is caused by mutations in presenilin-1 (PS-1) and presenilin-2 (PS-2). PS1 and PS2 mutation are known to similar effects on the production of amyloid ${\beta}$ peptide (A${\beta}$) and cause of neuronal cell death in the brain of patient of AD. The importance of the alternation of cellular calcium homeostasis in the neuronal cell death by PS1 mutation in a variety of experimental systems has been demonstrated.(omitted)

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.503-507
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• 2001

trans-Metanicotine, a subtype (${\alpha}_4{\beta}_2$)-selective ligand for neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, is under clinical phase for Alzheimer's disease. An efficient synthetic route for ($\pm$)-methyl-(1-aryl-4-pyridin-3-yl-but-3-enyl)-am ices, derivatives of tracts-metanicotine, was explored. Allylation reaction of aryl aldimines with allylmagnesium bromide in THF gave ($\pm$)-methyl-(1-aryl-but-3-enyl)-amines. Protection of the amines with the Boc group and following Heck reaction of the N-Boc amines with 3-bromopyridine gave ($\pm$)-methyl-(1-aryl-4-pyridin-3-yl-but-3-enyl)-carbamic acid tert-butyl esters. Deprotection of the N-Boc group in aqueous 1 N-HCI solution gave the titled amines in good yields. Thus, trans-metanicotine analogues modified at the ${\alpha}-position$ of the methylamino group with amyl groups were obtained in 5 steps.