• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.95-110
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• 1992

Much progress has been made in understanding the subcellular events of the human lung injuries after acute exposure to environmental air pollutants. Host of those events represent oxidative damages mediated by reactive oxygen species such as superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and the hydroxy, free radical. Recently, nitric oxide (NO) was found to be endogenously produced by endothelial cells and cells of the reticulo-endothelial system as endothelialderived relaxation factor (EDRF) which is a vasoactive and neurotransmitter substance. Together with superoxide, NO can form another strong oxidant, peroxonitrite. The relative importance of exogenous sources of $N0/N0_2$ and endogenous production of NO by the EDRF producing enzymes in the oxidative stresses to the heman lung has to be elucidated. The exact events leading to chronic irreversible damage are still yet to be known. From chronic exposure to oxidant gases, progressive epithelial and interstitial damages develop. Type I epithelial cells become thicker and cover a smaller average alveolar surface area while thee II cells proliferate instead. Under acute damages, the extent of loss of the alveolar epithelial cell lining, especially type II cells appears to be a good predictor of the ensuing irreversible damage to alveolar compartment. Interstitial matrix undergo remodeling during chronic exposure with increased collagen fibers and interstitial fibroblasts. However, Inany of these changes can be reversed after cessation of exposure. Among chronic lung injuries, genetic damages and repair responses received particular attention in view of the known increased lung cancer risks from exposure to several air pollutants. Heavy metals from foundry emission, automobile traffics, and total suspended particulate, especially polycystic aromatic hydrocarbons have been positively linked with the development of lung cancer. Asbestos in another air pollutant with known risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma, but asbestos fibers are nonauthentic in most bioassays. Studies using the electron spin resonance spin trapping method show that the presence of iron in asbestos accelerates the production of the hydroxy, radical in vitro. Interactions of these reactive oxygen species with particular cellular components and disruption of cell defense mechanisms still await further studies to elucidate the carcinogenic potential of asbestos fibers of different size and chemical composition. The distribution of inhaled pollutants and the magnitude of their eventual effects on the respiratory tract are determined by pollutant-independent physical factors such as anatomy of the respiratory tract and level and pattern of breathing, as well as by pollutant-specific phyco-chemical factors such as the reactivity, solubility, and diffusivity of the foreign gas in mucus, blood and tissue. Many of these individual factors determining dose can be quantified in vitro. However, mathematical models based on these factors should be validated for its integrity by using data from intact human lungs.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.195-202
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• 1993

Oxidative modification of cellular proteins and lipids may play a role in the development of diabetic complications. Diabetic cardiomyopathy has been suggested to be caused by the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ overload in the myocardium, which is partly due to the defect of calcium transport of the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). In the present study, the possible mechanism of the functional defect of cardiac SR in diabetic rats was studied. Both of the maximal $Ca^{2+}$ uptake and the affinity for $Ca^{2+}$ were decreased in the diabetic rat SR in comparison with the control. To investigate whether the functional defect of the cardiac SR in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat is associated with the oxidative changes of cardiac SR proteins, the carbonyl group content and glycohemoglobin levels were determined. The increase in carbonyl group content of cardiac SR (2.30 nmols/mg protein, DM; 1.78, control) and in glycohemoglobin level $(13{\sim}17%,\;DM;\;3{\sim}5%,\;control)$ were observed in the diabetics. The extent of increase in calcium transport by phospholamban phosphorylation was greater in the diabetic cardiac SR membranes than that in the control. The phosphorylation levels of phospholamban, as determined by SDS-PAGE and autoradiography with $[{\gamma}^{32}P]ATP$, were increased in diabetic cardiac SR. These results suggest that the impaired cardiac SR function in diabetic rat could be a consequence of the less-phosphorylation of phospholamban in the basal state, which is partly due to the depleted norepinephrine stores in the heart. Furthermore, the oxidative damages in cardiac SR membranes might be one of the additional factors leading to the diabetic cardiomyopathy.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.515-523
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• 1998

Oxidative stress by reactive oxygen species (ROS) damages cellular DNA, RNA, proteins, lipids and others causing various diseases such as cancer, arthritis, and heart diseases. 8-Hydroxyguanine (8-OHG) is one of the products formed from DNA or RNA damaged by ROS. Since high amounts of 8-OHG can be excreted in urine, it may serve as a potential biomarker indicating the level of oxidative damage to nucleic acids. Residents in industrial area with severe air pollution are expected to be affected by higher level of oxidative stress from pollutants like polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), etc. Smokers are also expected to be damaged by higher level of oxidative stress from cigarette smoke components like PAHs than non-smokers. To examine if the determination of the urinary concentration of 8-OHG could be used as exposure biomarker for the oxidative stress caused by air-pollutants, this study was performed to determine and compare the urinary concentrations of 8-OHG in smokers and non-smokers, or non-polluted area residents and polluted area residents. Urine samples were collected and purified by a strong cation exchange and cellulose partition column, then analyzed by HPLC with electrochemical detector at 600 ㎷ potential. Concentrations of urinary 8-OHG in non-smokers and smokers of Seoul area college male students were determined as 15.12$\pm$9.68 (ng/mg creatinine) and 34.72$\pm$11.72 (ng/mg creatinine), respectively, showing significantly higher level of 8-OHG in smokers than in non-smokers. Urine samples of elementary school students were collected from Sokcho area, which is known to be non-polluted, and 3 representative polluted areas; Yocheon industrial area, Ulsan urban and Ulsan industrial area. The concentrations of 8-OHG in these samples were 12.42$\pm$8.27 (ng/ mg creatinine, Sokcho), 22.55$\pm$9.12 (ng/mg creatinine, Yocheon), 17.41$\pm$2.30 (ng/mg creatinine, Ulsan urban), 55.04$\pm$39.73 (ng/mg creatinine, Ulsan industrial). Thus, samples from polluted area tend to have higher level of 8-OHG and the levels of Yocheon and Ulsan industrial area were significantly higher than that of Sokcho area. The results indicate that the residents of polluted industrial area or smokers are more severely exposed to oxidative stress probably caused by air pollutants like PAHs. Thus, the determination of urinary 8-OHG concentration could be used as biomarker for the extent of body exposure to oxidative stress caused by various pollutants.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.586-599
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• 2010

Objective : The water extract of Yukgunja-tang(YGJT) has been traditionally used in treatment of qi deficiency and phlegm in Oriental medicine. However, little is known about the mechanism by which YGJT protects neuronal cells from injury damages. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the protective effects of YGJT on C6 glial cells by glutamate-induced cell death. Methods : The present study describes glutamate, which is known as an excitatory neurotransmitter, related with oxidative damages, and YGJT, which shows protective effects against glutamate-induced C6 glial cell death. One of the main mediators of glutamate-induced cytotoxicity was known on the generation of reactive oxygen species(ROS) via activation of NADPH oxidase (NOX). The protective effects of antioxidant(NAC) and NOX inhibitor(apocynin) on the glutamate-induced C6 glial cells were determined by a MTT reduction assay. Result : YGJT inhibited glutamate-induced ROS generation via inhibition of NOX expression on glutamate-stimulated C6 glial cells. Furthermore, YGJT attenuated glutamate-induced caspase activation. These results suggest that YGJT could be a new potential candidate against glutamate-induced oxidative stress and cell death. Conclusion : These findings indicate that in C6 glial cells, ROS plays an important role of glutamate-induced cell death and that YGJT may prevent cell death from glutamate-induced cell death by inhibiting the ROS generation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.147-155
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• 1999

Antioxidant effects of serotonin and L-DOPA on neuronal tissues were examined by studying the oxidative damages of brain synaptosomal components. The study further explored the mechanism by which they exert protective actions. Serotonin and L-DOPA (1 ${\mu}M$ to 1 mM) significantly inhibited lipid peroxidation of brain tissues by either $Fe^{2+}$ and ascorbate or t-butyl hydroperoxide in a dose dependent fashion. Protective effect of serotonin on the peroxidative actions of both systems was greater than that of L-DOPA. Protein oxidation of synaptosomes caused by $Fe^{2+}$ and ascorbate was attenuated by serotonin and L-DOPA. Protein oxidation more sensitively responded to L-DOPA rather than serotonin. Serotonin and L-DOPA (100 ${\mu}M$) decreased effectively the oxidation of synaptosomal sulfhydryl groups caused by $Fe^{2+}$ and ascorbate. The production of hydroxyl radical caused by either $Fe^{3+},$ EDTA, H_2O_2$ and ascorbate or xanthine and xanthine oxidase was significantly decreased by serotonin and L-DOPA (1 mM). Equal concentrations of serotonin and L-DOPA restored synaptosomal $Ca^{2+}$ uptake decreased by $Fe^{2+}$ and ascorbate, which is responsible for SOD and catalase. Protective effects of serotonin and L-DOPA on brain synaptosomes may be attributed to their removing action on reactive oxidants, hydroxyl radicals and probably iron-oxygen complex, without chelating action on iron.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.809-819
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• 1996

This study was conducted to identify the effects of caffeine or combinations of caffeine and iron or vitamin E on the lipid and protein components in the MDBK(Mardin-Darby Bovine Kidney) cells. For the In vitro test, MDBK cells in ${\alpha}$-MEM(Minimum Essential Medium) were divided into 4 treatment groups according to drug types and dosages as follows; the control(group A), group B was treated with 0.3mM caffeine, group C was treated with 0.3mM caffeine and 0.3mM ferric chloride, group D was treated with 0.3mM caffeine and 0.3mM vitamin E. Those groups were further divided into 5 subgroups according to the time lapsed(control, 4hrs, 8hrs, 24hrs and 48hrs lapsed group). The concentrations of the carbonyl group and malondialdehyde(MDA) and the patterns of the SDS-PAGE(Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis) and fatty acid compositions were analyzed to determine the oxidative damages and metabolic changes on the lipid and protein components in the MDBK cells. The results obtained from this study were summarized as follows; 1. The concentrations of carbonyl group and malondialdehyde in MDBK cells of group C were significantly higher(p<0.01) in comparison to the control, and increased according to the time lapsed. But the results of groups B and D were little different in comparison to the group C. 2. As the analytical results of fatty acid compositions in MDBK cells, the proportions of palmitoleic acid and linoleic acid in groups B, C and D were lower in comparison to the control, while the proportion of arachidonic acid in groups B, C and D were significantly higher(p<0.01) in comparison to the control. 3. In order to determine the oxidative damages to the protein in MDBK cells, the patterns of the SDS-PAGE were examined and the patterns of SDS-PAGE in groups C and D were significantly different between 43kd and 200kd of molecular weight.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.229-232
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• 2002

There are two distinct UV-responsive signaling pathways in UV-irradiated mammalian cells, i.e., the DNA damage-dependent and -independent pathways. The former occurs in nucleus and results in growth arrest and apoptosis via post-translational modification of p53. The latter is initiated by oxidative stress and/or by damages in cell membrane or cytoplasm, which activate signaling cascade through intracellular molecules including mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK). In normal human fibroblastic cells, all of MAPK family members, extracellular signal-related kinases (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) and p38, were rapidly phosphorylated following UV-irradiation. ERK phosphorylation was suppressed by an inhibitor of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK). As ERK usually responds to mitogenic stimuli from RTK ligands, UV-induced ERK phosphorylation may be linked to the proliferation of survived cells. In contrast, phosphorylation of JNK and p38, as well as apoptosis, were modulated by the level of UV-generated oxidative stress Therefore, JNK and p38 may take part in oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis. Phosphorylation of p53 at Ser and Thr residues are essential for stabilization and activation of p53. Among several sites reported, we confirmed phosphorylation at Ser-15 and Ser-392 after UV-irradiation. Both of these were inhibited by a phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitor, presumably due to the shutdown of signals from DNA damage to p53. Phosphorylation at Ser-392 was also sensitive to an antioxidant and a p38 inhibitor, suggesting that Ser-392 of p53 is one of the possible points where DNA damage-dependent and -independent apoptic signals merge. Thus, MAPK pathway links UV-induced intracellular signals to the nuclear responses and modifies DNA damage-dependent cellular outcome, resulting in the determination of cell death.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.190-198
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• 2007

Alzheimer's disease, a representative neurodegenerative disorder, is characterized by the presence of senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles accompanied by neuronal damages. b-Amyloid peptide is considered to be responsible for the formation of senile plagues that accumulate in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease. There has been compelling evidence supporting that b-amyloid-induced cytotoxicity is mediated through generation of reactive oxygen species. In this study, we have investigated the possible protective effect of Rehmannia glutihosaagainst b-amyloid-induced oxidative ceil death in cultured human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. SH-SY5Y cells treated with b-amyloid underwent apoptotic death as determined by morphological features and positive in situterminal end-labeling (TUNEL staining). Rehmannia glutinosawater extract, wine, and vinegar pretreatments attenuated b-amyloid-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis. Rehmannia glutinosa vinegar exhibited maximum protective effect by increasing the expression of anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2. in addition to oxidative stress, b-amyloid-treatment caused nitrosative stress via marked increase in the levels of nitric oxide, which was effectively blocked by Rehmannia glutinosa. To further explore the possible molecular mechanisms underlying the protective effect of Rehmannia glutinosa, we assessed the mRNA expression of cellular antioxidant enzymes. Treatment of Rehmannia glutinosa vinegar led to up-regulation of heme oxygemase-1 and catalase. These results suggest that Rehmannia glutinosa could modulate oxidative neuronal cell death caused by b-amyloid and may have preventive or therapeutic potential in the management of Alzheimer's disease. Particularly, Rehmannia glutinosa vinegar can augment cellular antioxidant capacity, there by exhibiting higher neuroprotective potential.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.99-102
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• 2003

IARC classified areca quid as a human carcinogen. Areca quid chewed in Taiwan includes Piper betle inflorescence, which contains high concentrations of safrole (15 mg/fresh weight). Safrole is a documented rodent hepatocarcinogen, and chewing areca quid may contribute to human exposure (420 $\mu$m in saliva). The carcinogenicity of safrole is mediated through 1'-hydroxysafrole formation, followed by sulfonation to an unstable sulfate that reacts to form DNA adducts. Using human liver microsomes and Escherichia coli membranes expressing bicistronic human P450s, CYP2E1 and CYP2C9 were identified as the main P450s involved in the activation of safrole. We have demonstrated the presence of stable safrole-dGMP adducts in human oral tissues following areca quid chewing using $^{32}$ P-postlabeling and HPLC mass spectrometry methods. By studying 88 subjects with a known AQ chewing history and 161 matched controls, we have demonstrated that the presence of safrole-DNA adducts in peripheral blood cells was correlated to AQ chewing, and CYP2E1 seemed to play an important role in the modulation of safrole-DNA adduct formation. We have also shown that safrole can form stable safrole-DNA adducts as well as oxidative damages in rodent liver. However, the stable safrole-DNA adducts may represent a more significant initial lesion as compared to the rapidly repaired safrole-induced 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine. This oxidative DNA damage is mediated through the formation of hydoryxchavicol, the major safrole metabolite in human urine. Hydroxychavicol may have gone through two-electron oxidation to the o-quinone; then via one-electron reduction to semiquinone radicals to generate oxidative DNA damage. However, these reactive metabolites can be efficiently conjugated by GSH. These data suggest that safrole may contribute to the initiation of oral carcinogenesis through safrole-DNA adduct and not oxidative DNA damage. In addition, CYP2E1 may modulate this adduct formation.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.213-222
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• 2002

The alkaline comet assay has been used with increasing popularity to investigate the level of DNA damage in biomonitoring studies within the last decade in Western countries. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the alkaline comet assay as a biomarker of oxidative DNA damage for monitoring in the Korean population, and also to evaluate the effect of nutritional status and lifestyle factors on H2O2 induced oxidative DNA damage measured by the alkaline comet assay in human lymphocytes. The study population consisted of 61 healthy Korean male volunteers, aged 20-28. Epidemiological background data including dietary habits, smoking habits and anthropometrical measurements were collected through personal interviews. After blood collection, the comet assay in peripheral lymphocytes and plasma lipids analysis was carried out and the results analyzed. Tail moment (TM) and tail length (TL) of the comet assay were use\ulcorner to measure DNA damage in the lymphocytes of the subjects. Statistically significant (p < 0.05) positive correlations were observed between DNA damage (TM or TL) and smoking habits expressed as cigarettes smoked per day and pack years (r = 0.311 and 0.382 for TM, r = 0.294 and 0.350 for TL, respectively). There were also significant positive correlations between DNA damage parameter and waist-hip ratio. Higher plasma triglyceride levels were associated with increased damage to DNA. There were no correlations between the consumption frequencies of vegetables and DNA damage to the subjects. However, consumption frequencies of fruit and fruit juice intake were inversely associated with the TM and TL. The results indicate that die comet assay is a simple, rapid and sensitive method for detecting lymphocyte DNA damage induced by cigarette smoking. Consumption of fruit or fruit juices could potentiall modify the damaged DNA in the human peripheral lymphocytes of young Korean men.