• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.249-268
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• 2005

Drug metabolizing enzymes (DMEs) play central roles in the metabolism, elimination and detoxification of xenobiotics and drugs introduced into the human body. Most of the tissues and organs in our body are well equipped with diverse and various DMEs including phase I, phase II metabolizing enzymes and phase III transporters, which are present in abundance either at the basal unstimulated level, and/or are inducible at elevated level after exposure to xenobiotics. Recently, many important advances have been made in the mechanisms that regulate the expression of these drug metabolism genes. Various nuclear receptors including the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), orphan nuclear receptors, and nuclear factor-erythoroid 2 p45-related factor 2 (Nrf2) have been shown to be the key mediators of drug-induced changes in phase I, phase II metabolizing enzymes as well as phase III transporters involved in efflux mechanisms. For instance, the expression of CYP1 genes can be induced by AhR, which dimerizes with the AhR nuclear translocator (Arnt) , in response to many polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs). Similarly, the steroid family of orphan nuclear receptors, the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) and pregnane X receptor (PXR), both heterodimerize with the ret-inoid X receptor (RXR), are shown to transcriptionally activate the promoters of CYP2B and CYP3A gene expression by xenobiotics such as phenobarbital-like compounds (CAR) and dexamethasone and rifampin-type of agents (PXR). The peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR), which is one of the first characterized members of the nuclear hormone receptor, also dimerizes with RXR and has been shown to be activated by lipid lowering agent fib rate-type of compounds leading to transcriptional activation of the promoters on CYP4A gene. CYP7A was recognized as the first target gene of the liver X receptor (LXR), in which the elimination of cholesterol depends on CYP7A. Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) was identified as a bile acid receptor, and its activation results in the inhibition of hepatic acid biosynthesis and increased transport of bile acids from intestinal lumen to the liver, and CYP7A is one of its target genes. The transcriptional activation by these receptors upon binding to the promoters located at the 5-flanking region of these GYP genes generally leads to the induction of their mRNA gene expression. The physiological and the pharmacological implications of common partner of RXR for CAR, PXR, PPAR, LXR and FXR receptors largely remain unknown and are under intense investigations. For the phase II DMEs, phase II gene inducers such as the phenolic compounds butylated hydroxyanisol (BHA), tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ), green tea polyphenol (GTP), (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and the isothiocyanates (PEITC, sul­foraphane) generally appear to be electrophiles. They generally possess electrophilic-medi­ated stress response, resulting in the activation of bZIP transcription factors Nrf2 which dimerizes with Mafs and binds to the antioxidant/electrophile response element (ARE/EpRE) promoter, which is located in many phase II DMEs as well as many cellular defensive enzymes such as heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), with the subsequent induction of the expression of these genes. Phase III transporters, for example, P-glycoprotein (P-gp), multidrug resistance-associated proteins (MRPs), and organic anion transporting polypeptide 2 (OATP2) are expressed in many tissues such as the liver, intestine, kidney, and brain, and play crucial roles in drug absorption, distribution, and excretion. The orphan nuclear receptors PXR and GAR have been shown to be involved in the regulation of these transporters. Along with phase I and phase II enzyme induction, pretreatment with several kinds of inducers has been shown to alter the expression of phase III transporters, and alter the excretion of xenobiotics, which implies that phase III transporters may also be similarly regulated in a coordinated fashion, and provides an important mean to protect the body from xenobiotics insults. It appears that in general, exposure to phase I, phase II and phase III gene inducers may trigger cellular 'stress' response leading to the increase in their gene expression, which ultimately enhance the elimination and clearance of these xenobiotics and/or other 'cellular stresses' including harmful reactive intermediates such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), so that the body will remove the 'stress' expeditiously. Consequently, this homeostatic response of the body plays a central role in the protection of the body against 'environmental' insults such as those elicited by exposure to xenobiotics.

• 대한예방한의학회지
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.73-87
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• 2008

In recent years, there has been a globally increasing application of herbal medicines and dietary supplements to treat various chronic diseases and to promote health. However, there are increasing clinical reports on the organ toxicities associated with consumption of herbal medicines. In general, most xenobiotics are metabolized by Phase I reaction(the main enzyme : cytochrome P450) and Phase II reaction. However, reactive oxygen species, free radicals and electrophils are produced inevitably during xenobiotics metabolism. These toxic species and metabolites are increased whenever the endogenous substances and enzymes for Phase II reaction not available. In addition, herbal-drug interactions are pharmacokinetic, with most actually or theoretically affecting the metabolism of the affected product by way of the cytochrome P450 enzymes. This review updated the knowledge on metabolic activation of herbal components and its clinical and toxicological implications. Also, the possible way for preventing the side-effects by herbal-medicine use was suggested.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.339-345
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• 2015

CYP1A1 is a phase I xenobiotic-metabolizing enzyme whose expression is mainly driven by AhR. Endosulfan is an organochlorine pesticide used agriculturally for a wide range of crops. In this study, we investigated the effect of endosulfan on CYP1A1 expression and regulation. Endosulfan significantly increased CYP1A1 enzyme activity as well as mRNA and protein levels. In addition, endosulfan markedly induced XRE transcriptional activity. CH-223191, an AhR antagonist, blocked the endosulfan-induced increase in CYP1A1 mRNA and protein expression. Moreover, endosulfan did not induce CYP1A1 gene expression in AhR-deficient mutant cells. Furthermore, endosulfan enhanced the phosphorylation of calcium calmodulin (CaM)-dependent protein kinase (CaMK) and protein kinase C (PKC). In conclusion, endosulfan-induced up-regulation of CYP1A1 is associated with AhR activation, which may be mediated by PKC-dependent pathways.

• 미생물학회지
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.77-84
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• 1984

This examined some conditions for the induction of ${\beta}$-D-galactosidase synthesis in Candida kefyr CBS 834. The optimal pH, temperature, and inoculum size either for growth or${\beta}$-D-galactosidase synthesis were 5.5, $30^{\circ}C$ and above 0.2 at A610nm, respectively. Enzyme activity began to increase at 2h after the addition of inducer, and continued to increase linearly up to $2{\sim}3h$ before reaching stationary phase, and thereafter its activity was decreased. ${\beta}$-D-galactosidase was induced either by lactose or galactose but not either by glucose or ethanol. The greater activity of ${\beta}$-D-galactosidase on galactose than on lactose indicated that the former might be natural inducer for ${\beta}$-D-galactosidase synthesis. The rate of its induction as a function of lactose concentration showed that enzyme activity increased linearly above 4mM, while it was very low below that. Glucose represed the induction of ${\beta}$-D-galactosidase, and the period of adaptation to inducer from other carbon sources was relatively short.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제16권9호
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• pp.1339-1347
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• 2003

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of microbial phytase ($Natuphos^{(R)}$) supplementation in combination with carbohydrases (composed of enzymes targeted to soybean meal (SBM) dietary components such as $\alpha$-galactosides and galactomannans; $Endo-Power^{(R)}$) to corn-soybean meal based diet (CSD) and complex diet (CD) with a partial replacement of SBM with rape seed meal (RSM) and cotton seed meal (CSM) on growth performance and nutrient digestibility of growing pigs. A total of 168 growing pigs averaging $13.18{\pm}1.77kg$ of initial body weight was arranged as a $2{\times}2$ factorial design with main effects of diet types (corn-SBM based diet (CSD) and complex diets (CD; 5% of SBM was replaced with 2.5% of RSM and 2.5% of CSM in diet for phase I (0 to 3 weeks) and 6% of SBM was replaced with 3% of RSM and 3% of CSM in diet for phase II (4 to 7 weeks))) and enzyme supplementation (none and 0.1% of phytase (500 FTU/kg diet) and 0.1% of carbohydrases). The diet with enzyme application were formulated to have a 0.18% unit lower aP than diets without enzyme application. Each treatment had three replicates with 14 pigs per replicate. To determine supplementation effect of phytase and carbohydrases on ileal amino acid digestibility of SBM, RSM and CSM, a total of 18 T-cannulated pigs (initial body weight; $13.52{\pm}1.24kg$) were assigned to six dietary treatments in the present study. Dietary treatments in metabolic trial included 1) SBM diet, 2) SBM diet+with enzymes (phytase (500 FTU/kg) and carbohydrases at 0.1%, respectively), 3) CSM diet, 4) CSM diet+enzymes, 5) RSM diet and 6) RSM diet+enzymes. During whole experimental period (0 to 7 wks), there was no difference in growth performance between diets (CSD and CD). However, dietary phytase and carbohydrases supplementation significantly improved gain/feed ratio (G:F) of growing pigs. During the phase II (4-7 weeks), dietary phytase and carbohydrases supplementation significantly improved all fecal nutrient digestibilities (Dry matter (DM), gross energy (GE), crude protein (CP), crude fat (CF), calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P)). Dietary phytase and carbohydrases supplementation improved significantly overall ileal amino acid digestibilities of SBM, RSM and CSM based diets (p<0.05). The simultaneous inclusion of phytase and carbohydrases in both of CSD and CD reduced feed cost per kg body weight gain (FCG). Also, results suggest that 2.5 to 3% of RSM and CSM, respectively, might be used as a protein source in growing pig diets without having an adverse effect on the growth performance and nutrient digestibility and simultaneous phytase and carbohydrases addition improves nutritional value of SBM, RSM and CSM by improving ileal amino acid digestibilities.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• 제28권5호
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• pp.364-371
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• 2002

Many chemical compopunds are converted into reactive electrophilic metabolites by the oxidative(Phase I) enzymes, which are mainly cytochrome P-450 enzyme(CYPs). Phase II conjugating enzymes, such as glutathione S-transferase(GST), usually act as inactivation of enzymes. Genetic polymorphisms have been found to be associated with increased susceptibility to cancer of the lung, bladder, breast and colorectal. Many of the polymorphic genes of carcinogen metabolism show considerably different type of cancer among different ethnic groups as well as individuals within the same group. The aim of this study is (1) to establish the frequencies of genetic polymorphisms of GSTM1 and CYP1A1 in Korean oral squamous cell carcinoma(SCC), (2) to associate oral SCC with the risk of these genetic polymorphisms. The genetic polymorphisms of the GSTM1 and the CYP1A1 genes among 50 Korean oral SCC were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction(PCR). The results suggest that the homozygote and the mutant type of CYP1A1 MspI polymorphisms may be associated with genetic susceptibility to oral SCC in Korean. A combination of the GSTM1 null type with the homozygote(m1/m1), and the mutant(m2/m2) type of CYP1A1 MspI polymorphisms showed a relatively high risk of oral SCC in Korean. In the smoking group, the GSTM1 wild genotype may be the high risk factor of oral SCC in Korean. These data coincide with the hypothesis which states that different susceptibility to cancer of genetic polymorphisms exist among different ethnic group and different types of human cancer.

• BMB Reports
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• 제36권1호
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• pp.110-119
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• 2003

The acetylation state of histone is reversibly regulated by histone acetyltransferase (HAT) and deacetylase (HDAC). An imbalance of this reaction leads to an aberrant behavior of the cells in morphology, cell cycle, differentiation, and carcinogenesis. Recently, these key enzymes in the gene expression were cloned. They revealed a broad use of this modification, not only in histone, but also other proteins that involved transcription, nuclear transport, and cytoskeleton. These results suggest that HAT/HDAC takes charge of multiple-functions in the cell, not just the gene expression. HDAC is especially known to play an important role in carcinogenesis. The enzyme has been considered a target molecule for cancer therapy. The inhibition of HDAC activity by a specific inhibitor induces growth arrest, differentiation, and apoptosis of transformed or several cancer cells. Some of these inhibitors are in a clinical trial at phase I or phase II. The discovery and development of specific HDAC inhibitors are helpful for cancer therapy, and decipher the molecular mode of action for HDAC.

• 한국응용약물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국응용약물학회 1997년도 추계학술대회
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• pp.35-39
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• 1997

Recent development of human genetics and techniques of gene transfer and expression have opened the way for investigating novel approaches based on the genetic modification of cells to treat both inherited and acquired diseases. This approach is referred to as gene therapy. Over the past few years, gene therapy has moved from the laboratory to phase I clinical trials. Although the clinical performance of gene transfer experiments is still in an early phase of development, the NIH of Health Recombinant DNA Advisory Comittee (RAC) has approved more than 150 protocols that involve gene transfer or putative gene therapy procedures in clinical settings. Many sectors of society in United States have participated in the design and formulation of these clinical trials through local Institutional Review Boards, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) RAC, the Chemotherapy Evaluation Program of the National Cancer institute, and the FDA. Currently, clinical trials involving gene modification are under way at many medical centers throughout the United Slates. The goals of these trials are as follows. (1) The design should be directed to short-term achievable goals. (2) Each clinical trial is best considered as an intermediate step in a multistep process. (3) The design should identify evaluable proximate endpoints for toxicity and for efficacy, (4) The potential benefits and possible risks for patients participating in these trial should be defined.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.127-133
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• 2007

Metformin is a drug used to lower blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes via activation of adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK). The primary objective of this study was to investigate whether metformin at the pharmacologically effective concentrations affects the expressions of ${\gamma}$-glutamylcysteine synthetase and phase II antioxidant genes in the H4IIE cell. Treatment of the cells with either metformin or 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide riboside (AICAR) abrogated tert-butylhydroxyquinone (t-BHQ) induction of ${\gamma}$-glutamylcysteine synthetase, a rate limiting enzyme of GSH synthesis. The ability of t-BHQ to induce glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), a major class of phase II detoxifying enzymes that playa critical role in protecting cells from oxidative stress or electrophiles, was also inhibited by the agents. Transcriptional gene repression by metformin was verified by the GSTA2 promoter luciferase assay. Moreover, either metformin or AICAR treatment significantly decreased t-BHQ-dependent induction of other GSTs (i.e., $GST{\mu}$ and $GST{\pi}$ forms). Taken together, our data indicate that metformin treatment may result in the repression of ${\gamma}$-glutamylcysteine synthetase and glutathione S-transferase genes possibly via AMPK activation.

• Mycobiology
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• 제43권1호
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• pp.9-13
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• 2015

Medicinal fungi, taken whole or as various forms of extracts, have been used to alleviate, cure or prevent human ailments since pre-historic times. In particular, Asian cultures have incorporated a variety of mushrooms into their medical practices. Chemically pure, bioactive metabolites from fungi have been a mainstay of modern pharmacological research and in addition to antibiotics, include anticancer agents, immunosuppressants, enzyme inhibitors, antagonist and agonists of hormones, and a variety of psychotropic substances. However, to date not many studies have focused on the possible health benefits of odorant volatile organic compounds (i.e., gas phase compounds). An analysis of these compounds for their health related effects will expand the range of compounds available for the treatment of chronic and acute diseases. This review highlights phenolic acids and monoterpenes from Asian medicinal mushrooms (AMMs), which not only produce pleasant odors but also have antioxidant and antibacterial effects. Odorant bioactive volatile phase compounds from medicinal mushrooms remain an essentially untapped source for future medicines, and AMMs remain a promising resource for future pharmacological research.