• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.117-125
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• 2007

Neuronal ischemia is a pathological process caused by a lack of oxygen (anoxia) and glucose (hypoglycemia), resulting in neuronal death. It is believed that apoptosis is one of the mechanisms involved in ischemic cell death. Neuronal apoptosis is a process characterized by nuclear DNA fragmentation, changes of plasma membrane organization. To elucidate the mechanism of neuronal death following ischemic insult and to develop neuroprotective effects of Daebowonjeon(DBWJ) against ischemic damage, in vitro models are used. In vitro models of cell death have been devloped with pheochromocytoma (PC12) cell, which have become widely used as neuronal models of oxidative stress, trophic factor, serum deprivation and chemical hypoxia. Using a special ischemic device and PC12 cultures, we investigated an in vitro model of ischemia based on combined Oxygen and Glucose Deprivation (OGD) insult, followed by reoxygenation, mimicking the pathological conditions of ischemia. In this study, Daebowonjeon rescued PC12 cells from Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation (OGD)-induced cell death in a dose-dependent manner The nuclear staining of PC12 cells clearly showed that DBWJ attenuated nuclear condensation and fragmentation which represent typical neuronal apoptotic characteristics. DBWJ also prevents the LDH release and induction of Hypoxia Inducing Factor (HIF)-1 by OGD-exposed PC12 cells. Furthermore, DBWJ reduced the activation of polyADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) by OGO-exposed PC12 cells. These results suggest that apoptosis is an important characteristic of OGD-induced neuronal death and that oriental medicine, such as DBWJ, may prevent PC12 cell from OG D-induced neuronal death by inhibiting the apoptotic process.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.223-229
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• 2003

Using phospholipase D1 (PLD1)-overexpressing PC12 (PLD1-PC12) cells, the regulatory roles of PLD1 on ATP-induced currents were investigated. In control and PLD1-PC12 cells, ATP increased PLD activity in an external $Ca^{2+}$ dependent manner. PLD activity stimulated by ATP was substantially larger in PLD1-PC12 cells than in control cells. In whole-cell voltage-clamp mode, ATP induced transient inward and outward currents. The outward currents inhibited by TEA or charybdotoxin were significantly larger in PLD1-PC12 cells than in control cells. The inward currents known as $Ca^{2+}$ permeable nonselective cation currents were also larger in PLD1-PC12 cells than in control cells. However, the difference between the two groups of cells disappeared in $Ca^{2+}$-free external solution, where ATP did not activate PLD. Finally, ATP-induced $^{45}Ca$ uptakes were also larger in PLD1-PC12 cells than in control cells. These results suggest that PLD enhances ATP-induced $Ca^{2+}$ influx via $Ca^{2+}$ permeable nonselective cation channels and increases subsequent $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+$ currents in PC12 cells.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.179-192
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• 2003

Objectives : Boyanghwanoh-tang (Buyanhaiwu-tang) has been used as a prescription for stroke, senile and vascular dementia, ischemic brain and heart damage in Oriental traditional medicine. However, there is little known about the mechanism by which the water extracts of Boyanghwanoh-tang (Buyanhaiwu-tang) rescue cells fromthese damages, and little is known about the protective mechanisms of Boyanghwanoh-tang (Buyanhaiwu-tang) on oxidative stress in neuronal cells. Therefore, we have investigated the role of Boyanghwanoh-tang (Buyanhaiwu-tang) on serum and glucose deprived apoptosis in PC12 cells. Methods : PC12 Cells have been used extensively as a model for studying the cellular and molecular effects of neuronal cells. The viability of cells was measured by MIT assay. We used DNA fragmentation and caspase 1, 2, 3, 6, 9-likeproteases activation assay. Transcriptional activation of NF-kB was assessed by using electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Results : Boyanghwanoh-tang (Buyanhaiwu-tang) rescued PC12 cells from apoptotic death by serum and glucose deprivation in a dose-dependent manner. The nuclear staining of PC12 cells clearly showed that Boyanghwanoh-tang (Buyanhaiwu-tang) attenuated nuclear condensation and fragmentation, which represent typical neuronal apoptotic characteristics. Boyanghwanoh-tang (Buyanhaiwu-tang) also prevents fragmentation of genomic DNA and activation of caspase 3-like protease in serum and glucose deprived PC12 cells. Furthermore, Boyanghwanoh-tang (Buyanhaiwu-tang) reduced the activation of NF-kB by serum and glucose-deprived apoptosis. Conclusions : These findings suggest that serum and glucose deprivation induces reduced glutathione (GSH) depletion, and consequently, apoptosis through endogenously produced reactive oxygen species in PC12 cells. Also, our data indicated that Boyanghwanoh-tang (Buyanhaiwu-tang) has protective effects against the serum and glucose deprived deaths of PC12 cells, which are mediated by the generation of GSH that, in turn, can reduce oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as hydrogen peroxide.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.51-63
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• 2009

Background and Objective : The prospects for developing an anti-apoptotic natural component or a compound that exerts a neuroprotective effect with few or no side effects for the treatment of neurodegenerative disease appear favorable. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of the methanol extract of Phellodendri Cortex (PC extract) on 1-methyl-4-phenyl pyridinium($MPP^+$)-induced apoptosis in PC-12 cells. Materials and Methods : We used the methanol extract of Phellodendri Cortex (PC extract). PC-12 cells were cultured by RPMZ-1640. We found the PC extract's gene expression (Bax, Bcl-2) by using RT-PCR. We examined the PC extract's protein expression (Bcl-2, Bax, cytochrome c, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), caspase-3) by SDS-PAGE and Western blot. Results : Apoptosis in $MPP^+$-induced PC-12 cells was accompanied by an increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, release of cytochrome c to the cytosol and the activation of caspase-3. PC extract inhibited the down-regulation of Bcl-2 and the up-regulation of Bax, as well as the release of mitochondrial cytochrome c into the cytosol. In addition, PC extract attenuated caspase-3 activation and cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Conclusion : These results suggest that the neuroprotective potentials of PC extract against $MPP^+$-induced apoptosis can be. at least partially, ascribed to its anti-apoptotic effects in PC-12 cells.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.510-512
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• 1997

The effects of noscapine a phthalide isoquinoline alkaloid, on dopamine biosynthesis and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity in PC12 cells were investigated. Noscapine showed 74.6% inhibition on dopamine content in PC12 cells at a concentration of $20{\mu}M.$ $IC_{50}$ of noscapine was $6.8{\mu}M.$ TH activity was inhibited by the treatment of noscapine in PC12 cells (20.9% inhibition at 20 .mu.M). Therefore, the inhibition of TH activity by noscapine might be involved in at least one component of the reduction of dopamine biosynthesis in PC12 cells.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.112-118
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• 2003

1-Methylated $\beta$-carbolines (harmaline and harmalol) and antioxidants (N-acetylcysteine and ascorbate) reduced the loss of cell viability in differentiated PC 12 cells treated with 5 mM glutamate. $\beta$-Carbolines prevented the glutamate-induced decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, cytochrome c release and caspase-3 activation in PC 12 cells. $\beta$-Carbolines reduced the formation of reactive oxygen species and depletion of glutathione due to glutamate in PC12 cells. $\beta$-Carbolines revealed a scavenging action on hydrogen peroxide and reduced the iron and EDTA-mediated degradation of 2-deoxy-D-ribose. The results suggest that I-methylated $\beta$-carbolines attenuate the cytotoxic effect of glutamate on PC12 cells by reducing the alteration of mitochondrial membrane permeability that seems to be mediated by oxidative stress.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.155-158
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• 1996

The methanol extract of Albizzia julibrissin Durazz. (Leguminosae) was successively partitioned into dichloromethane, ethylacetate, butanol (BuOH) and water fractions, and the effects of the each solvent extract on catecholamine biosynthesis in PC12 cells were investigated. Among them, the BuOH fraction $(5{\mu}g/ml\;medium)$ showed 68.8% and 63.6% inhibition on dopamine and norepinephrine content in PC12 cells, respectively. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity was also reduced markedly by treatment of the BuOH fraction (41.8% inhibition at $5{\mu}g/ml$ in the medium). Each solvent fraction did not show cytotoxicity towards PC12 cells by trypan blue exclusion test. This result suggests that the BuOH fraction has an inhibitory effect on catecholamine biosynthesis by reducing TH activity in PC12 cells.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.33-37
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• 2003

Oxidative damage to mitochondria is a critical mechanism in necrotic or apoptotic cell death induced by many kinds of toxic chemicals. Thioredoxin (Trx) family proteins are known to play protective roles in organisms under oxidative stress through redox reaction by using reducing equivalents of cysteines at a conserved active site, Cys-X-X-Cys. Whereas biological and physiological properties of Trx1 are well characterized, significance of mitochondrial thioredoxin (Trx2) is not well known. Therefore, we addressed physiological role of Trx2 in PC12 cells under oxidative stress. In PC12 cells, transiently overexpressed Trx2 significantly reduced cell death induced by hydrogen peroxide, whereas mutant Trx2, having serine residues instead of two cysteine residues at the active site did not. In addition, stably expressed Trx2 protected PC12 cells from serum deprivation. These results suggest that Trx2 may play defensive roles in PC12 cells by reducing oxidative stress to mitochondria.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.1462-1469
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• 2008

The purpose of the study was to confirm what effect HRHDT treatment had on cell extinction by damage of endoplasmic reticulum induced to PC-12 cell damage by glucose deprivation. The study confirmed what effect it had on forming the condition of glucose deprivation within a culture fluid of PC-12 cell and on a nerve cell's survival rates and tested whether HRHDT could prevent extinction of PC-12 cell by glucose deprivation. Also, the study confirmed what effect HRHDT treatment had on the emitted quantity of LDH by glucose deprivation. To examine PC-12 cell's behavioral change under the condition of glucose deprivation and a protective effect of HRHDT on the change, the study observed PC-12 cell's behavioral change with a microscope. Also, the study confirmed density of calcium ion within cells followed by a culture time in the condition of glucose deprivation with FACS and confirmed what effect HRHDT treatment had on the above density of calcium ion within cells. Finally, the study carried out the western blot and confirmed what effect HRHDT treatment had on revelation of GRP 78 and CHOP protein and a segmental type of aspase 12. In this study, HRHDT rescued PC-12 cells from glucose deprivation-induced cell death. HRHDT also prevents the LDH release, Ca++ accumulation, and morphological change, which was associated with the ER stress. Furthermore, HRHDT reduced the expression of ER chaperone (Grp78 and CHOP) proteins by glucose deprivation in PC-12 cells. These results suggest that HRHDT might provide a useful therapeutic strategy in treatment of the neurodegenerative diseases caused by glucose deprivation injuries.

• BMB Reports
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.267-272
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• 2002

TNF-$\alpha$ elicits various responses including apoptosis, proliferation, and differentiation according to cell type. In neuronal PC12 cells, TNF-$\alpha$ induces moderate apoptosis while lipopolysarccaharide or trophic factor deprivation can potentiate apoptosis that is induced by TNF-$\alpha$. TNF-$\alpha$ initiates various signal transduction pathways leading to the activation of the caspase family, NF-${\kappa}B$, Jun N-terminal kinase, and p38 MAPK via the death domain that contains the TNF-$\alpha$ receptor. Inhibition of translation using cycloheximide greatly enhanced the apoptotic effect of TNF-$\alpha$. This implies that the induction of anti-apoptotic genes for survival by TNF-$\alpha$ may be able to protect PC12 cells from apoptosis. Accordingly, Bcl-2, an anti-apoptotic genes for survival by TNF-$\alpha$ may be able to protect PC12 cells from apoptosis. Accordingly, Bcl-2, an anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member, was highly expressed in response to TNF-$\alpha$. In this study, we examined the anti-apoptotic role of p38 MAPK that is activated by TNF-$\alpha$ in neuronal PC12 cells. The phosphorylation of p38 MAPK in response to TNF-$\alpha$ slowly increased and lasted several hours in the PC12 cell and DRG neuron. This specific inhibitor of p38 MAPK, SB202190, significantly enhanced the apoptosis that was induced by TNF-$\alpha$ in PC12 cells. This indicates that the activation of p38 MAPK could protect PC12 cells from apoptosis since there is no known role of p38 MAPK in resoonse to TNF-$\alpha$ in neuron. This discovery could be evidence for the neuroprotective role of the p38 MAPK.