• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제50권1호
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• pp.157-163
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• 2022

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD), which encompasses alcoholic steatosis, alcoholic hepatitis, and alcoholic cirrhosis, is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although the economic and health impacts of ALD are clear, few advances have been made in its prevention or treatment. We recently demonstrated that the insect-derived antimicrobial peptide CopA3 exerts anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory activities in various cell systems, including neuronal cells and colonic epithelial cells. Here, we tested whether CopA3 inhibits ethanol-induced liver injury in mice. Mice were intraperitoneally injected with ethanol only or ethanol plus CopA3 for 24 h and then liver injury and inflammatory responses were measured. Ethanol enhanced the production of proinflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, interferon (IFN)-γ, and IL-10. It also induced hepatocyte apoptosis and ballooning degeneration in hepatocytes. Notably, all these effects were eliminated or significantly reduced by CopA3 treatment. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that CopA3 ameliorates ethanol-induced liver cell damage and inflammation, suggesting the therapeutic potential of CopA3 for treating ethanol-induced liver injury.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.334-339
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• 2022

Peroxiredoxin 6 (PRDX6) is a bifunctional protein with both glutathione peroxidase and calcium-independent phospholipase activity. Recently, we reported that PRDX6 plays an important role in dopaminergic neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease. However, the relationship between PRDX6 function and emotional behavior remains elusive. In the present study, we examined depression- and anxiety-like behaviors in PRDX6-overexpressing transgenic (PRDX6-Tg) mice using the forced swim test, tail suspension test, open field paradigm, and elevated plus-maze. PRDX6-Tg mice exhibited depression-like behaviors and low anxiety. In particular, female PRDX6-Tg mice exhibited anxiolytic behavior in the open field test. Furthermore, the serotonin content in the cortex and 5-hydroxytryptophan-induced head twitch response were both reduced in PRDX6-Tg mice. Interestingly, levels of dopa decarboxylase expression in the cortex were decreased in male PRDX6-Tg mice but not in female mice. Our findings provide novel insights into the role of PRDX6 in 5-HT synthesis and suggest that PRDX6 overexpression can induce depression-like behaviors via downregulation of the serotonergic neuronal system.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.7.1-7.27
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• 2023

The mammalian intestines harbor trillions of commensal microorganisms composed of thousands of species that are collectively called gut microbiota. Among the microbiota, bacteria are the predominant microorganism, with viruses, protozoa, and fungi (mycobiota) making up a relatively smaller population. The microbial communities play fundamental roles in the maturation and orchestration of the immune landscape in health and disease. Primarily, the gut microbiota modulates the immune system to maintain homeostasis and plays a crucial role in regulating the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of inflammatory, neuronal, and metabolic disorders. The microbiota modulates the host immune system through direct interactions with immune cells or indirect mechanisms such as producing short-chain acids and diverse metabolites. Numerous researchers have put extensive efforts into investigating the role of microbes in immune regulation, discovering novel immunomodulatory microbial species, identifying key effector molecules, and demonstrating how microbes and their key effector molecules mechanistically impact the host immune system. Consequently, recent studies suggest that several microbial species and their immunomodulatory molecules have therapeutic applicability in preclinical settings of multiple disorders. Nonetheless, it is still unclear why and how a handful of microorganisms and their key molecules affect the host immunity in diverse diseases. This review mainly discusses the role of microbes and their metabolites in T helper cell differentiation, immunomodulatory function, and their modes of action.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제28권2호통권70호
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• pp.213-223
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• 2007

Objective : Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a geriatric dementia that is widespread in old age. With an aging populace, AD is a looming problem in public health service. Alzheimer's disease is characterized by specific neuronal degeneration in certain areas of the brain. Mutations and abnormal expression of several genes are associated with ${\beta}-amyloid$ deposits and Alzheimer's disease; among them APP, PS1, and PS2, SOD, free radical, ROS. Methods:We studied herbal medicines that have a relationship to brain degeneration. From pre-modern times, although a variety of oriental prescriptions of Aster tataricus have been traditionally utilized for the treatment of AD, their pharmacological effects and action mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. Result : Based on morphological observations by phase-contrast microscope, TUNEL assay and MTT in the culture media, $H_20_2-induced$ cell death was significantly inhibited by Aticus. We examined by ROS formation, catalase activity and GSH activity. We studied the protective effect and inhibitory effects of neurotoxicity in $H_20_2-induced$ PC-12 cells by Aticus. Findings from our experiments show that Aticus inhibits apoptosis, which has neurotoxicities and cell damage in PC-12 cells. In addition, treatment with Aticus ($>25{\mu}g/ml$ for 6hrs) partially prevented $H_20_2-induced$ cytotoxicity in PC-12 cells, and induced a protective effect. Conclusion : As the result of this study, in the Aticus group, the apoptosis in the nervous system was inhibited, protected against the degeneration of PC-12 cells by $H_20_2$. Taken together, Aticus exhibited inhibition of $H_20_2-induced$ apoptotic cell death. Aticus was found to induce protective effect on GSH and catalase in PC-12 cells. Based on these findings, Aticus may be beneficial for the treatment of AD.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.27-32
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• 2006

Background: Chronic inflammation in the brain has known to be associated with the development of a various neurological diseases including dementia. In general, the characteristic of neuro-inflammation is the activated microglia over the brain where the pathogenesis occurs. Pro-inflammatory repertoires, interleukin-1${\beta}$ (IL-1${\beta}$) and nitric oxide (NO), are the main causes of neuro-degenerative disease, particularly in Alzheimer's disease (AD) which is caused by neuronal destruction. Those pro-inflammatory repertoires may lead the brain to chronic inflammatory status, and thus we hypothesized that chronic inflammation would be inhibited when pro-inflammatory repertoires are to be well controlled by inactivating the signal transduction associated with inflammation. Methods: In the present study, we examined whether biphenyl dimethyl dicarboxylate (DDB), an active compound from Schizandra chinensis Baillon, inhibits the NO production by a direct method using Griess reagent and by RT-PCR in the gene expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and IL-1${\beta}$. Western blots were also used for the analysis of NF-${\kappa}B$ and I${\kappa}B$. Results: In the study, we found that DDB effectively inhibited IL-1${\beta}$ as well as NO production in BV-2 microglial cell, and the translocation of NF-${\kappa}B$ was comparably inhibited in the presence of DDB comparing those to the positive control, lipopolysaccharide. Conclusion: The data suggested that the DDB from Schizandra chinensis Baillon may play an effective role in inhibiting the pro-inflammatory repertoires which may cause neurodegeneration and the results imply that the compound suppresses a cue signal of the microglial activation which can induce the brain pathogenesis such as Alzheimer's disease.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제33권9호
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• pp.730-735
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• 2023

지난 10년 동안 인공지능의 도움으로 노화를 정량화하기 위한 수많은 연구가 수행되었다. DNA 메틸화 데이터를 사용하여 다양한 모델이 개발되었으며 흔히 후성유전학적 시계라고 불린다. 후성유전학적 나이 가속화는 일반적으로 질병 상태와도 주로 연관이 있어 보인다. 조현병은 가속 노화 가설과 관련있는 정신질병으로 심각한 정신적, 신체적 스트레스를 동반한다. 다른 심리 질환과 비교했을 때 이 질병은 젊은 사람들에서 높은 사망률과 질병률을 유발한다. 과거 연구에서는 이 질병이 가속 노화 가설과 연관있다고 알려져 있었다. 이번 연구에서는 조현병 환자의 후성유전학적 나이 가속도 변화를 통해 질병에 대한 후성유전학적 통찰을 얻고자 하였다. 후성유전학적 나이 가속화를 측정하기 위해 두 가지 다른 DNA 메틸화 시계 모델을 사용했으며 이는 범조직 모델인 Horvath clock과 Epi clock을 사용하였다. 우리는 Horvath clock과 Epi clock이 모두 호환되는 450k 어레이 데이터를 사용하였다. 그 결과, Epi clock을 사용했을 때 환자샘플에서 후성유전학적 나이 가속화가 더 느리다는 것을 발견했다. Epi clock이 질병으로 인한 DNA 메틸화 변화를 잘 감지해낼 수 있음을 알아내었다. 또한 Epi clock에서 대조군과 환자군에서 차등적으로 메틸화된 CpG 부위를 분석하고 경로 농축 분석을 수행한 결과, 대부분의 CpG가 신경 세포 과정에 관여한다는 사실을 발견했다.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제17권5호
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• pp.899-916
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Oxidative stress is a fundamental neurodegenerative disease trigger that damages and decimates nerve cells. Neurodegenerative diseases are chronic central nervous system disorders that progress and result from neuronal degradation and loss. Recent studies have extensively focused on neurodegenerative disease treatment and prevention using dietary compounds. Heseperetin is an aglycone hesperidin form with various physiological activities, such as anti-inflammation, antioxidant, and antitumor. However, few studies have considered hesperetin's neuroprotective effects and mechanisms; thus, our study investigated this in hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-treated SH-SY5Y cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: SH-SY5Y cells were treated with H₂O₂ (400 µM) in hesperetin absence or presence (10-40 µM) for 24 h. Three-(4,5-Dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide assays detected cell viability, and 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining allowed us to observe nuclear morphology changes such as chromatin condensation and apoptotic nuclei. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) detection assays measured intracellular ROS production; Griess reaction assays assessed nitric oxide (NO) production. Western blotting and quantitative polymerase chain reactions quantified corresponding mRNA and proteins. RESULTS: Subsequent experiments utilized various non-toxic hesperetin concentrations, establishing that hesperetin notably decreased intracellular ROS and NO production in H₂O₂-treated SH-SY5Y cells (P < 0.05). Furthermore, hesperetin inhibited H₂O₂-induced inflammation-related gene expression, including interluekin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65 activation. In addition, hesperetin inhibited NF-κB translocation into H₂O₂-treated SH-SY5Y cell nuclei and suppressed mitogen-activated protein kinase protein expression, an essential apoptotic cell death regulator. Various apoptosis hallmarks, including shrinkage and nuclear condensation in H₂O₂-treated cells, were suppressed dose-dependently. Additionally, hesperetin treatment down-regulated Bax/Bcl-2 expression ratios and activated AMP-activated protein kinase-mammalian target of rapamycin autophagy pathways. CONCLUSION: These results substantiate that hesperetin activates autophagy and inhibits apoptosis and inflammation. Hesperetin is a potentially potent dietary agent that reduces neurodegenerative disease onset, progression, and prevention.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제45권7호
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• pp.966-972
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• 2016

본 연구에서는 해조류 추출물 20종의 치매 예방 및 개선 소재로서의 가치를 검토하기 위해 총폴리페놀 함량, ABTS radical 소거능, acetylcholinesterase(AChE) 저해 활성, ${\beta}$-secretase 효소 억제 활성 및 신경세포 보호 효과를 비교하였다. 해조류 추출물의 총폴리페놀 함량과 ABTS radical 소거능을 측정한 결과 감태 추출물의 총폴리페놀 함량이 가장 높았으며, 검둥감태와 감태 추출물이 높은 ABTS radical 소거능을 나타내었다. AChE 저해 활성을 검토한 결과 감태, 검둥감태, 바위수염이 30% 이상의 높은 저해 활성을 보였고 그중 감태가 가장 높은 억제율을 나타내었다. 또한, ${\beta}$-secretase 효소 억제 활성은 검둥감태, 감태, 왜모자반 추출물에서 관찰되었다. $H_2O_2$에 의해 유도된 신경세포 독성에 대한 보호 효과는 감태, 검둥감태, 왜모자반 추출물 $100{\mu}g/mL$ 농도에서 관찰되었다. 이상의 결과로 미루어 보았을 때 감태 추출물이 치매 예방 및 개선제로서의 활용 가능성이 가장 뛰어난 것으로 생각되며, 추가로 생리활성 물질 구명 및 작용기전 입증을 위한 후속 연구가 진행되어야 할 것으로 생각한다.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.353-359
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• 2000

${\alpha}_2$-Adrenoceptor antagonists, which can enhance synaptic norepinephrine levels by blocking feedback inhibition processes, are potentially useful in the treatment of disease states such. as depression, memory impairment, impotence and sexual dysfunction. (10bS)-1,2,3,5,6,10b-Hexahydropyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline oxalate (YSL-3S) was evaluated in several in vitro biological tests to establish its pharmacological profile of activities as an ${\alpha}_2$-adrenoceptor antagonist. Saturation binding assay revealed that$^{3}[H]$rauwolscine bound to the $\alpha$$_2$-adrenoceptors with a Kd value of 6.3$\pm$0.5 nM and a Bmax value of 25l$\pm$39 fmol/mg protein in rat cortical synaptic membranes. Competitive binding assay showed that YSL-3S inhibited the binding of$^3[H]$rauwolscine (1 nM) in a concentration-dependent manner with a Ki value of 98.2$\pm$12.1 nM while it did not inhibit the binding of [$^3$H]cytisine (1.25 nM) to neuronal nicotinic cholinergic receptors. The Ki values of yohimbine, clonidine and norepinephrine for $^3[H]$rauwolscine binding were 15.8$\pm$1.0, 40.1$\pm$5.9 and 40.0$\pm$11.5 nM, respectively. In addition, the binding affinity of YSL-3S for ${\alpha}_2$-adrenoceptors was higher than that of its antipode and the racemic mixture. The functional activity of YSL-3S at the presynaptic ${\alpha}_2$-adrenoceptors was assessed using the prostatic portion of the rat vas deferens. Clonidine inhibited field-stimulated contractions of the vas deference in a dose-dependent manner. The presence of YSL-3S or yohimbine caused a parallel, rightward the dose-response curve of clonidine in a dose-dependent manner, indicating an antagonistic action at the presynaptic ${\alpha}_2$-adrenoceptors. The $pA_2$values of yohimbine and YSL-3S were 7.66$\pm$0.13 and 6.64$\pm$0.18, respectively. The results indicate that YSL-3S acts as a competitive antagonist at presynaptic ${\alpha}_2$ -adrenoceptors with a potency approximately ten times lower than yohimbine, but is devoid of binding affinity for neuronal nicotinic cholinergic receptors.

• KSBB Journal
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.21-25
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• 2005

흔하게 사용되어온 제초제인 paraquat는 파킨슨병의 원인이 될 수 있는 유력한 위험 요소이다. 헴산화효소-1(HO-1)은 산화적 스트레스와 소포체 스트레스의 marker인데, 여러 가지 자극에 의해 heme을 분해하여 biliverdin, 일산화탄소, 철 성분으로 전환시킨다 본 연구에서는 뇌의 흑색질 유래의 도파민 세포주 SN4741에서 paraquat가 시간별, 농도별로 HO-1을 활성화시키는 기작을 조사하였다. HO-1이 Paraquat에 의해 활성화되는 것은 주로 유전자 전사 수준에서 조절되었다. HO-1 유전자의 promoter와 5' enhancer인 El, E2를 결실시킨 실험에서, E2 enhancer가 도파민 세포에서 paraquat에 의한 HO-1 유전자 발현을 유도하는 핵심 부위로 판명되었다 E2 enhancer 부위를 돌연변이 시킨 실험 결과는 전사인자 활성 단백질-1 (AP-1) 결합부위를 통해 HO-1 발현이 유도됨을 밝히게 되었다. 또한, 도파민 세포에서 HO-1 유전자 발현의 조절과 신호전달 과정의 관계를 조사하기 위해 MAP kinase들의 특이적 저해제를 처리하고 paraquat로 자극을 준 결과, JNK 저해제인 SP600125가 가장 현저하게 paraquat에 의한 HO-1 발현을 억제하였다. 결론적으로, 도파민 세포에서 paraquat가 HO-1을 유도하는 데는 E2 enhancer가 중요하게 작용하고, AP-1과 JNK 경로를 통해 HO-1 발현이 조절된다는 사실을 처음으로 밝히게 되었다.