• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.4-10
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• 2015

Etifoxine (etafenoxine, $Stresam^{(R)}$) is a non-benzodiazepine anxiolytic with an anticonvulsant effect. It was developed in the 1960s for anxiety disorders and is currently being studied for its ability to promote peripheral nerve healing and to treat chemotherapy-induced pain. In addition to being mediated by $GABA_A{\alpha}2$ receptors like benzodiazepines, etifoxine appears to produce anxiolytic effects directly by binding to ${\beta}2$ or ${\beta}3$ subunits of the $GABA_A$ receptor complex. It also modulates $GABA_A$ receptors indirectly via stimulation of neurosteroid production after etifoxine binds to the 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO) of the outer mitochondrial membrane in the central and peripheral nervous systems, previously known as the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR). Therefore, the effects of etifoxine are not completely reversed by the benzodiazepine antagonist flumazenil. Etifoxine is used for various emotional and bodily reactions followed by anxiety. It is contraindicated in situations such as shock, severely impaired liver or kidney function, and severe respiratory failure. The average dosage is 150 mg per day for no more than 12 weeks. The most common adverse effect is drowsiness at the initial stage. It does not usually cause any withdrawal syndromes. In conclusion, etifoxine shows less adverse effects of anterograde amnesia, sedation, impaired psychomotor performance, and withdrawal syndromes than those of benzodiazepines. It potentiates $GABA_A$ receptor-function by a direct allosteric effect and by an indirect mechanism involving the activation of TSPO. It seems promising that non-benzodiazepine anxiolytics including etifoxine will replenish shortcomings of benzodiazepines and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors according to animated studies related to TSPO.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.51-58
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• 2022

Quercetin, a flavonoid found in fruits and vegetables, exhibits a strong anti-inflammatory activity. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of quercetin on chemotactic activity of peripheral blood polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) to culture supernatant from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In addition, we determined whether this effect is related to interleukin (IL)-8 and changes in cytoskeleton. The chemotactic activity of PMNs was evaluated by a modified Boyden chamber assay. Total cellular filamentous (F)-actin levels were measured by method of fluorescence microscopy. The levels of IL-8 mRNA and protein were measured by real time polymerase reaction method and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Quercetin (0-50 µM) itself has no chemoattractant effect for PMNs. The culture supernatant from PBMCs (2 × 10⁶ cells/mL) treated with LPS (1 ㎍/mL) showed remarkable increase in chemotaxis of PMNs. However, this effect was reduced dose-dependently by treatment with quercetin. In addition, PBMCs treated with LPS revealed enhanced levels in IL-8 protein and mRNA. Co-treatment of LPS with quercetin (50 µM) in PBMCs decreased IL-8 production and expression. Treatment of quercetin (0-50 µM) on PMNs to rpIL-8 (10 nM) decreased dose-dependently the chemotactic activity of PMNs. Treatment of quercetin on PMNs to IL-8 also reduced their total cellular F-actin level. These results suggested that quercetin attenuates chemotactic activity of PMNs, which is mediated by down-regulation of IL-8 production from LPS-stimulated PBMCs and inhibition of F-actin polymerization in PMNs.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.228-233
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• 2004

Summary: The malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor(MPNST) is an aggressive neoplasm and can either arise independently or result from malignant change in preexisting neurofibromatosis (von Recklinghausen's disease). Its histologic characteristics remain controversial, but currently it is believed that the schwann cell is the origin of the peripheral nerve sheath tumors. MPNST is an uncommon neoplasm of the head and neck region, and its presentation in the oral cavity is quite rare. In this study, we report a patient with a rare case of a MPNST involving the maxilla. A case report: A 29-year-old female presented with a chief complaint of painless swelling with bleeding tendency on the left maxillary tuberosity area 2 months ago. Clinical examination showed a $5.0{\times}3.0cm^2$ sized, indurative swelling on the site. Conventional radiographs showed a relatively well-defined soft tissue mass involving the left maxillary sinus, and destruction of the anterior, posterolateral walls of the left maxillary sinus. Subtotal maxillectomy and split-thickness skin graft from thigh were undertaken. In histochemical and immunohistochemical studies, the specimen revealed positive reactivities to Vimentin and S-100 protein. Final diagnosis was made as MPNST.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.6
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• pp.873-881
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• 2021

Objective : Peripheral nerve injuries occur mostly as a result of mechanical trauma. Due to the microvascular deterioration in peripheral nerve damage, it becomes challenging to remove free oxygen radicals. Gallic acid is a powerful antioxidant with anti-inflammatory effects and a free radical scavenger. The purpose of the study is to show that gallic acid contributes to the restorative effect in mechanical nerve damage, considering its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Methods : Thirty male Sprague Dawley albino mature rats were included in the study. Ten of them constituted the control group, 10 out of 20 rats for which sciatic nerve damage was caused, constituted the saline group, and 10 formed the gallic acid group. Post-treatment motor functions, histological, immunohistochemical, and biochemical parameters of the rats were evaluated. Results : Compared to the surgery+saline group, lower compound muscle action potential (CMAP) latency, higher CMAP amplitude, and higher inclined plane test values were found in the surgery+gallic acid group. Similarly, a higher nerve growth factor (NGF) percentage, a higher number of axons, and a lower percentage of fibrosis scores were observed in the surgery+gallic acid group. Finally, lower tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) and higher heat shock protein-70 (HSP-70) values were determined in the surgery+gallic acid group. Conclusion : Gallic acid positively affects peripheral nerve injury healing due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. It has been thought that gallic acid can be used as a supportive treatment in peripheral nerve damage.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.135-144
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• 1991

Using T-lymphocytes obtained from rat peripheral blood, we found that the 44kD/pI6.8 protein was the major phosphoprotein of T-lymphocytes under basal condition, and that the 44kD/pI6.3 protein was a new phosphoprotein appeared in T-lymphocytes stimulated with ${\beta}-agonist$. The phosphorylation of the 44kD/pI6.3 protein was also induced by forskolin but inhibited by H-8 pretreatment. To clarify the character of the 44kD/pI6.3 protein, we used Con-A and kinase inhibitors, H-7 and W-7. Con-A stimulation induced phosphorylation of 44kD/pI 6.3 protein but that was inhibited by W-7 pretreatment. The phosphorytation of 44kD/pI6.3 protein was not induced by the PKC activator, PMA. Instead, the phosphorylation of 44kD/pI6.8 protein was reduced by H-7, a PKC inhibitor. From the above results,it can be concluded that the 44kD/pI6.3 protein can be a common substrate for A-kinase and CaM kinase. The two dimensional tryptic peptide mapping revealed that the 44kD/pI6.8 and 44kD/pI6.3 proteins are different.

• BMB Reports
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.156-165
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• 2001

Leptin is a circulating non-glycosylated protein that is mainly produced in adipocytes. Leptin acts in the brain to regulate food intake and energy expenditure. Previously we reported our success in the isolation of a partial cDNA of the long form of the leptin receptor, OB-Rb, from rat spleen, and showed that leptin might also play a role in peripheral immune organs. In the present study, for the first time, the complete coding region of OB-Rb cDNA was cloned from rat splenocytes, and its nucleotide sequence was determined. The cDNA was then further expressed in E. coli and mammalian cells, thereby confirming the functional integrity of this receptor. Prokaryotically overexpressed OB-R protein was then used as an immunizing antigen in BALE/c mice to produce leptin receptor-specific antibodies. By using them, we confirmed the cell surface expression of OB-Rb in transfected CHO cells. It is our belief that the reagents, as produced in this study, will be of great use in further studies of the biological role of rat leptin.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.199-205
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• 2002

The role of peripheral vestibular receptors in acute hypotension was investigated in anesthetized rats. Acute hypotension was induced by either intravenous infusion of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) or by experimental hemorrhage, and electrical activity and expression of cFos-like immunoreactive (cFL) protein were measured in the medial vestibular nuclei (MVN). Blood pressure decreased proportionately to the does of intravenous SNP and to the volume of the hemorrhage. Blood pressure decreased 10, 30, 50% for the 5, 10, $15{\mu}g/kg$ SNP injection, respectively, and also decreased 30 and 50% after 1- and 2-ml blood loss, respectively, due to hemorrhage. In animals with intact labyrinths, acute hypotension induced by either intravenous infusion of SNP or hemorrhage produced different electrical activities with three different patterns in type I and II neurons of MVN. The responses of type I neurons showed excitatory in 2/3 of recorded neurons and inhibitory or no change in 1/3 of neurons, while the responses of type II neurons showed inhibitory in 2/3 of recorded neurons and excitatory or no change in 1/3 of neurons. In unilateral labyrinthectomized animals, 2/3 of type I neurons ipsilateral to the lesion showed an inhibitory response, and 2/3 of contralateral type I neurons showed an excitatory response after the induction of acute hypotension. The response patterns of type II neurons were opposite from those of the type I neurons. After 30% decrease in blood pressure, cFL protein expressed in the bilateral vestibular nuclei of control animals with intact labyrinths. Expression of cFL protein increased significantly proportionately to the reduction of blood pressure. The unilateral labyrinthectomized animals with acute hypotension produced expression of cFL neurons in contralateral vestibular nuclei to the lesion side, but not in ipsilateral vestibular nuclei. However, cFL protein was not expressed in bilateral vestibular nuclei after acute hypotension in bilateral labyrinthectomized animals. These results suggest that the peripheral vestibular receptors might play a significant role in controlling blood pressure following acute hypotension via activation of type I neurons and inhibition of type II neurons in the vestibular nuclei.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2018.05a
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• pp.584-587
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• 2018

Many viruses including mouse hepatitis virus, corona, measles, and sidbis viruses are known as causative virus of inducing demyelination which means destruction of myelination in nervous system of mice. The purpose of this study is to investigate processing of myelination by co-culture of Schwann cells and neuronal cells and demyelination induced by infection of sindbis virusin rat. Schwann cells and neuronal cells from dorsal root ganglion (DRG) in embryos (E16) of rat were cultured in vitro respectively. The purified neuronal cells with anti-mitotic agents and purified Schwann cells were co-cultured. After that, infection of sindbis virus into this myelinated co-culture system was performed. Myelination and demyelination process were observed using antibody of myelin basic protein meaning presence of myelination.We identified myelination and demyelination processing using antibody of peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP 22) meaning presence of myelinated neuron. This study was supported by the Basic Research Program through the National Research Foundation (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning (NRF-2015R1C1A1A01053484 and 2017R1A2B3005753).

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.1219-1224
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• 2008

The embryonic zebrafish (Danio rerio) is rapidly becoming an important model organism for studies of early events in vertebrate development. Neural crest-derived pigment cell precursors of the embryonic zebrafish give rise to melanophores, xanthophores, and/or iridophores. Cell-signaling mechanisms related to the development of pigmentation and pigment pattern formation remain obscure. In this study, zebrafish embryos were treated with various signaling-related molecules - LiCl (an inositol-phosphatase inhibitor), forskolin (a protein kinase-A activator), a combination of LiCl/forskolin, and LiCl/heparin (an IP3 inhibitor) in order to identify the mechanisms involved in pigmentation. LiCl treatment resulted in ultrastructural and morphological alterations of melanophores. To identify the possible proteins responsible for this ultrastructural and morphological change, phosphorylation patterns in vitro and in vivo were analyzed. LiCl and LiCl/forskolin treatment elicited dramatic increases in the phosphorylation of a 55-kDa protein which was inhibited by heparin treatment. LiCl treatment also induced phosphorylation of a 55-kDa protein in melanophores purified from adult zebrafish. Collectively these results suggest that a LiCl-induced 55-kDa phosphoprotein plays a role in melanophore morphology and ultrastructure and ultimately effects gross pigmentation.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.131-138
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• 1991

This study was carried out to investigate the development of endoplasmic reticulum and the formation of Protein body in the endosperm cell during seed formation of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer with electron microscope. In the endosperm cell of early developmental process after pollination, vesicles that contain storage materials produced in rough endoplasmic reticulum incorporated into central vacuole. The central vacuole is gradually subdivided into several small-sized vacuoles and increased in number. Amorphous proteinaceous materials of high electron density are produced in rough endoplasmic reticulum. Rough endoplasmic reticulum increase in number and surround the protein body and vesicles circularly. Spherical proteinaceous granules with limited membrane appeared from the amorphous granules at the peripheral region of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Gradually, storage materials are accumulated within the vacuole surrounded by spherosomes. Protein bodies are formed by interfusing between vacuoles and vesicles derived from rough endoplasmic reticulum which contained the amorphous protein of high electron density.