• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제42권3호
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• pp.205-210
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• 2007

Objective : Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels mediate the hyperpolarization-activated currents (Ih) that participate in regulating neuronal membrane potential and contribute critically to pacemaker activity, promoting synchronization of neuronal networks. However, distinct regional and cellular localization of HCN channels in the brain have not been precisely defined. Aim of this study was to verify the precise cellular location of HCN1 channels in rat cerebellum to better understand the physiological role these channels play in synaptic transmission between CNS neurons. Methods : HCN1 expression in rat brain was analyzed using immunohistochemistry and electron-microscopic observations. Postsynaptic density-95 (PSD-95), otherwise known as locating and clustering protein, was also examined to clarify its role in the subcellular location of HCN1 channels. In addition, to presume the binding of HCN1 channels with PSD-95, putative binding motifs in these channels were investigated using software-searching method. Results : HCN1 channels were locally distributed at the presynaptic terminal of basket cell and exactly corresponded with the location of PSD-95. Moreover, nine putative SH3 domain of PSD-95 binding motifs were discovered in HCN1 channels from motif analysis. Conclusion : Distinct localization of HCN1 channels in rat cerebellum is possible, especially when analyzed in conjunction with the SH3 domain of PSD-95. Considering that HCN1 channels contribute to spontaneous rhythmic action potentials, it is suggested that HCN1 channels located at the presynaptic terminal of neurons may play an important role in synaptic plasticity.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제16권6호
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• pp.423-429
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• 2012

Brain ischemia leads to overstimulation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, referred as excitotoxicity, which mediates neuronal cell death. However, less attention has been paid to changes in synaptic activity and morphology that could have an important impact on cell function and survival following ischemic insult. In this study, we investigated the effects of reperfusion after oxygen/glucose deprivation (OGD) not only upon neuronal cell death, but also on ultrastructural and biochemical characteristics of postsynaptic density (PSD) protein, in the stratum lucidum of the CA3 area in organotypic hippocampal slice cultures. After OGD/reperfusion, neurons were found to be damaged; the organelles such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, dendrites, and synaptic terminals were swollen; and the PSD became thicker and irregular. Ethanolic phosphotungstic acid staining showed that the density of PSD was significantly decreased, and the thickness and length of the PSD were significantly increased in the OGD/reperfusion group compared to the control. The levels of PSD proteins, including PSD-95, NMDA receptor 1, NMDA receptor 2B, and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II, were significantly decreased following OGD/reperfusion. These results suggest that OGD/reperfusion induces significant modifications to PSDs in the CA3 area of organotypic hippocampal slice cultures, both morphologically and biochemically, and this may contribute to neuronal cell death and synaptic dysfunction after OGD/reperfusion.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제38권1호
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• pp.38-45
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• 2024

To compare and analyze the improvement effects of white ginseng extract, red ginseng extract, and black ginseng extract on cognitive dysfunction and memory impairment caused by scopolamine in rats. In the cognitive behavioral test, the tendency of the SCOP+B group to overcome the escape time delay induced by scopolamine administration was observed, unlike the SCOP group. The frequency on plat form was significantly increased in the group treated with ginseng extracts compared to the SCOP group. As a result of measuring the duration time on goal quadrant, the time spent in the quadrant was significantly increased in the SCOP+B group compared to the SCOP group. In the hippocampus, the SCOP-treated group significantly decreased the activity of AChE compared to the normal group, but the ginseng extract-treated groups significantly increased it compared to the SCOP group. After sacrificing the rats after the behavioral test, the expression of PSD95 protein in the excised brain was significantly decreased in the SCOP group compared to normal, but it was observed that the SCOP+R and SCOP+B groups were significantly increased compared to the SCOP group. CREB1 protein expression was significantly increased in the SCOP+R group, and the expression of Cdk5 was significantly increased in the SCOP+B group. Ginseng extracts significantly restored the memory damaged by scopolamine suggesting that red ginseng increased the expression of CREB1 and PSD95 proteins, and black ginseng increased the protein expression of Cdk5 and PSD95 to induce memory recovery.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제36권1호
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• pp.18-22
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• 2022

To investigate effects of cognitive function improvement whether against Taegeuk ginseng on scopolamine-induced memory impairment in rats. All experiments were conducted in three groups: the control group (CTR), the scopolamine 0.4mg/kg (SCP), and the scopolamine (SCP+T) treated with Taegeuk ginseng 100 mg/kg. Taegeuk ginseng 100 mg/kg daily was orally administered for one month and treated with scopolamine was only for 7 consecutive days on the Morris water maze task. 3 weeks after oral administration of Taegeuk ginseng, subjects were performed the Morris water maze test for 8 days and then the open-field exploration test which to assessed for cognitive function improvement. After behavioral testing, subjects were sacrificed and microdissected brains for neurochemical analysis. In the cognitive-behavioral test, long-term administration of Taegeuk ginseng improved spatial navigation learning task compared with the impeded by scopolamine treatment. In neurochemistry, the expression of the synaptic marker PSD95 (postsynaptic density protein 95) was increased in the hippocampus compared to the scopolamine group. Also, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression was significantly increased in the taegeuk ginseng administration group. These data suggested that long-term administration of taegeuk ginseng might improve cognitive-behavioral functions on hippocampal related spatial learning memory, and it was correlated with neurotropic and synaptic reinforcement. In conclusion, treatment with taegeuk ginseng may positive outcome on learning and memory deficit disorders.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.109-114
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• 2018

Liquiritigenin (LQ) is a flavonoid that can be isolated from Glycyrrhiza radix. It is frequently used as a tranditional oriental medicine herbal treatment for swelling and injury and for detoxification. However, the effects of LQ on cognitive function have not been fully explored. In this study, we evaluated the memory-enhancing effects of LQ and the underlying mechanisms with a focus on the N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor (NMDAR) in mice. Learning and memory ability were evaluated with the Y-maze and passive avoidance tests following administration of LQ. In addition, the expression of NMDAR subunits 1, 2A, and 2B; postsynaptic density-95 (PSD-95); phosphorylation of $Ca^{2+}$/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII); phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK 1/2); and phosphorylation of cAMP response element binding (CREB) proteins were examined by Western blot. In vivo, we found that treatment with LQ significantly improved memory performance in both behavioral tests. In vitro, LQ significantly increased NMDARs in the hippocampus. Furthermore, LQ significantly increased PSD-95 expression as well as CaMKII, ERK, and CREB phosphorylation in the hippocampus. Taken together, our results suggest that LQ has cognition enhancing activities and that these effects are mediated, in part, by activation of the NMDAR and CREB signaling pathways.

• 한국생물물리학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국생물물리학회 2001년도 학술 발표회 진행표 및 논문초록
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• pp.21-21
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• 2001

PDZ domains are molecular-recognition elements that mediate protein-protein interactions. The PDZ domain was discovered originally as a common motif present in three structurally related proteins： PSD-95 (postsynaptic density protein), Dlg (discs-large protein) and ZQ-1 (zonula occludens-1). The PDZ domain is globular domain, containing about 80-100 amino acids, and a conserved motif with two alpha helices and six beta strands. Most of them bind selectively to the C-termini of the interacting proteins at the complexes of signaling molecules and membrane associated receptors.(omitted)

• 생명과학회지
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• 제15권4호
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• pp.607-612
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• 2005

열충격단백질 70 (HSP70)은 복수유전자족으로서 통상적으로 표현되는 Hsc70와 스트레스에 의하여 유도되는 Hsp70가 있다. 포유동물의 신경계통에서는 상당한 량의 HSP70가 정상조건에서도 표현되는 것으로 알려져 있다. 본 연구에서는 흰쥐의 소뇌 세포의 연접에서 Hsp70의 표현에 대한 연구를 하였다. 면역조직화학적으로 소뇌절편을 염색하여 관찰한 결과 Hsp70와 Hsc70 모두 표현되었는데, 소뇌 조롱박세포에서 가장 강하게 표현되었으며, 다음으로 소뇌 과립세포에서 강하게 표현되었다. 또한 깊은소뇌핵의 신경세포들도 강하게 염색되었다. 배양한 P1 소뇌신경 세포를 Hsp70 항체로 염색한 결과 Hsp70는 조롱박세포와 과립 세포에서 모두 표현되었으며, 세포체와 가지돌기를 따라 점박이를 형성하였다. 이들 점 박이들은 PSD95 점박이와 같이 위치하였다. 그리고 PSD 분획을 이용한 면역염색에서도 PSD70이 검출되었다. 본 연구결과는 Hsp70이 정상조건에서도 소뇌신경세포의 연접에 존재함을 의미한다.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제45권6호
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• pp.665-675
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• 2021

Background: Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1), an active ingredient in ginseng, may be a potential agent for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the protective effect of Rg1 on neurodegeneration in AD and its mechanism of action are still incompletely understood. Methods: Wild type (WT) and APP/PS1 AD mice, from 6 to 9 months old, were used in the experiment. The open field test (OFT) and Morris water maze (MWM) were used to detect behavioral changes. Neuronal damage was assessed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Nissl staining. Immunofluorescence, western blotting, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR) were used to examine postsynaptic density 95 (PSD95) expression, amyloid beta (Aβ) deposition, Tau and phosphorylated Tau (p-Tau) expression, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and NAPDH oxidase 2 (NOX2) expression. Results: Rg1 treatment for 12 weeks significantly ameliorated cognitive impairments and neuronal damage and decreased the p-Tau level, amyloid precursor protein (APP) expression, and Aβ generation in APP/PS1 mice. Meanwhile, Rg1 treatment significantly decreased the ROS level and NOX2 expression in the hippocampus and cortex of APP/PS1 mice. Conclusions: Rg1 alleviates cognitive impairments, neuronal damage, and reduce Aβ deposition by inhibiting NOX2 activation in APP/PS1 mice.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제32권9호
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• pp.1154-1167
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• 2022

In this study, we investigated the anti-amnesic effect of Korean red pine (Pinus densiflora) bark extract (KRPBE) against amyloid beta_1-42 (Aβ_1-42)-induced neurotoxicity. We found that treatment with KRPBE improved the behavioral function in Aβ-induced mice, and also boosted the antioxidant system in mice by decreasing malondialdehyde (MDA) content, increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, and reducing glutathione (GSH) levels. In addition, KRPBE improved the cholinergic system by suppressing reduced acetylcholine (ACh) content while also activating acetylcholinesterase (AChE), regulating the expression of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), postsynaptic density protein-95 (PSD-95), and synaptophysin. KRPBE also showed an ameliorating effect on cerebral mitochondrial deficit by regulating reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and ATP levels. Moreover, KRPBE modulated the expression levels of neurotoxicity indicators Aβ and phosphorylated tau (p-tau) and inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, p-IκB-α, and IL-1β. Furthermore, we found that KRPBE improved the expression levels of neuronal apoptosis-related markers BAX and BCl-2 and increased the expression levels of BDNF and p-CREB. Therefore, this study suggests that KRPBE treatment has an anti-amnestic effect by modulating cholinergic system dysfunction and neuroinflammation in Aβ_1-42-induced cognitive impairment in mice.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제24권8호
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• pp.820-826
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• 2014

세포표면 수용체와 통로가 적절히 기능하려면 특정 세포 내 위치로 배치되고 조절되어야 한다. PSD95/Dlg/Zo-1 (PDZ) 도메인은 이러한 배치와 조절을 매개하는 다양한 단백질들을 인식하고 이 단백질들이 서로 결합하는데 관여한다. MUPP1은 13개의 PDZ domain을 가지는 단백질로서 여러 구조 단백질 및 신호전달 단백질과 상호 결합하지만, MUPP1이 어떻게 안정화되며, 어떻게 신호전달과정에 관여하는지에 대해 아직 명확히 밝혀지지 않았다. 본 연구에서 MUPP1의 PDZ 도메인과 상호 작용하는 단백질을 규명하기 위하여 효모 two-hybrid 방법을 이용하였고, Parkin이 MUPP1과 결합하는 것을 확인하였다. Parkin은 E3 ubiquitin ligase로서, Parkin 유전자의 기능상실 돌연변이는 autosomal recessive juvenile parkinsonism을 일으키는 것으로 알려져 있다. Parkin은 MUPP1의 12번째 PDZ domain과 결합하지만, 다른 PDZ 도메인과는 결합하지 않았다. Parkin의 C-말단부위는 II 형 PDZ-결합모티프를 가지고 있는데, 이 모티프가 MUPP1과의 결합에 필수적임을 확인하였다. HEK-293T 세포에 MUPP1과 Parkin을 동시에 발현하여 발현위치를 확인한 결과 세포내의 같은 위치에서 발현하였다. 또한 Parkin은 MUPP1을 강하게 유비퀴틴화 하였다. 이러한 결과들은 MUPP1이 Parkin의 기질이며, Parkin에 의한 유비퀴틴화에 의해 MUPP1의 기능 혹은 안정성이 조절될 수 있음을 시사한다.