• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.907-915
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• 2014

Alpha-lipoic acid (${\alpha}$-LA) is not only involved in energy metabolism, but is also a powerful antioxidant that can protect against hepatic oxidative stress induced by some drugs, toxins, or under various physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Here, we investigated the effect of ${\alpha}$-LA against liver oxidative damage in broilers exposed to aflatoxin $B_1$ ($AFB_1$). Birds were randomly divided into four groups and assigned different diets: basal diet, 300 mg/kg ${\alpha}$-LA supplementation in basal diet, diet containing 74 ${\mu}g/kg$ $AFB_1$, and 300 mg/kg ${\alpha}$-LA supplementation in diet containing 74 ${\mu}g/kg$ $AFB_1$, for 3 weeks. The results revealed that the addition of 300 mg/kg ${\alpha}$-LA protected against the liver function damage of broilers induced by chronic low dose of $AFB_1$ as estimated by a significant (p<0.05) change in levels of plasma total protein, albumin, alkaline phosphatase and the activities of liver glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase. The histopathological analysis also showed that liver tissues were injured in the $AFB_1$ diet, but this effect was alleviated by the addition of 300 mg/kg ${\alpha}$-LA. Additionally, $AFB_1$ induced a profound elevation of oxidative stress in birds, as indicated by an increase in malondialdehyde level, a decrease in glutathione peroxidase activity and a depletion of the glutathione content in the liver. All of these negative effects were inhibited by treatment with ${\alpha}$-LA. Our results suggest that the inhibition of $AFB_1$-induced excess production of lipid peroxides and the maintenance of intracellular antioxidant status may play important roles in the protective effects of ${\alpha}$-LA against $AFB_1$-induced oxidative damage in the liver.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.7
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• pp.395-400
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• 2015

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disability caused by a decrease of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN). Although the etiology of PD is not clear, oxidative stress is believed to lead to PD. Catalase is antioxidant enzyme which plays an active role in cells as a reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger. Thus, we investigated whether PEP-1-Catalase protects against 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP⁺) induced SH-SY5Y neuronal cell death and in a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-trtrahydropyridine (MPTP) induced PD animal model. PEP-1-Catalase transduced into SH-SY5Y cells significantly protecting them against MPP⁺-induced death by decreasing ROS and regulating cellular survival signals including Akt, Bax, Bcl-2, and p38. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that transduced PEP-1-Catalase markedly protected against neuronal cell death in the SN in the PD animal model. Our results indicate that PEP-1-Catalase may have potential as a therapeutic agent for PD and other oxidative stress related diseases. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(7): 395-400]

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.303-310
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• 2008

This study was performed to verify the effects of encapsulation against oil oxidation. Thiobarbituric acid (TBA) values of samples were compared during storage at $60^{\circ}C$, indicating that the encapsulated avocado oil had lower TBA values than the free avocado oil. Microcapsules consisting of a whey protein isolate (WPI)-only wall system had slightly improved oxidative stability; however, spray-dried particles containing a high proportion of maltodextrin (MD) clearly offered better protection from oxidation than the other forms of encapsulation. The chlorophyll (Chl) content of the encapsulated avocado oil was higher than that of the free oil sample. When compared to the control, all wall systems protected the change of the chlorophyll content storage. No large differences were observed between the encapsulated powders according to the various wall materials. The color of the encapsulated oil changed from green to yellowish-green, indicating the formation of pheophytin from chlorophyll. The yellowish color of the oil correlated with a reduced total Chl content. In conclusion, encapsulation with spray drying for avocado oil could lead to improved stability during storage with respect to oxidation and the preservation of chlorophyll.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.1 s.81
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• pp.12-17
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• 2007

Curcumin is a natural phenolic yellow curry spice, derived from the tumeric, which has been used for the treatment of diseases associated with oxidative stress and inflammation. Curcumin is known to have both anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. These properties can be beneficial to protect the brain from the neurodegenerative diseases. We now report the neuroprotective effects of curcumin pretreatment in primary hippocampal neurons to glutamate-induced excitotoxicity. Pretreatment of embryonic mouse hippocampal cell cultures with low does of curcumin protected neurons against glutamate-induced death, however, this neuroprotection was not correlated with the modulation of oxidative stress. Interestingly, high dose of curcumin showed the cytotoxicity in primary cultured hippocampal neurons. Immunoblot analyses showed that levels of stress response. protein HSP70 were significantly elevated in neurons exposed to low dose of curcumin, whereas levels of cleaved PARP were increased in neurons exposed to high dose of curcumin. These findings show that curcumin can modulate neuronal responses to glutamate, and suggest possible use of curcumin and related compounds in the prevention and/or treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.25-33
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• 2003

Background and Objectives: The Herpes Simplex type 2 Defective Infectious Single Cycle virus (DISC virus) is attenuated virus originally produced as viral vaccines but are also efficient gene transfer vehicle. The main goals of this study were to examine the efficiencies of the gene transfer using DISC vectors for various head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines and to evaluate the efficacy of vaccination with DISC virus carrying a immunomodulatory genes (GM-CSF) as cancer therapy in a organotopic oral cavity squamous cell cancer model. Materials and Methods : We determinated the gene transfer efficiency of DISC virus by x-gal stain method and proved gene and protein expression of DISC-GMCSF transfected SCCVII cells by RT-PCR and ELISA method. Also we evaluated the ex vivo vaccination effects of SCCVII/GMCSF (DISC-GMCSF transfected SCCVII vaccine) vaccine on preventing the recurrence of micro-residual tumor. After the vaccination of SCCVII/GMCSF, specific cytotoxic T-cell responses was evaluated by CTL assay. Results: At an MOI of 10 DISC virus showed 64-88% of transfection rates in various head and neck squamous cancer cell lines. SCCVII cells transduced by DISC virus vector (MOI=10) carrying the GM-CSF gene, produced 4.5 nanogram quantities of GM-CSF per $10^6$ cells. In vivo vaccination using tumor cells transduced ex vivo with DISC-GMCSF resulted in better protection rate against subsequent tumor recurrence in organotopic oral cavity cancer model. Although tumor free survival rate was not statistically significantly increased in vaccination group (p=0.078), tumor specific cytotocic T-cell responses were significantly increased in SCCVII/GMCSF vaccination group. Conclusion: These data demonstrate that; 1) The DISC virus vector is capable of efficient gene transfer to various head and neck squamous cancer cell lines, 2) GM-CSF secreting genetically modified tumor vaccine (SCCVII/GMCSF) efficiently protected against tumor recurrence in organotopic micro-residual oral cavity cancer model and produced tumor specific cytotoxic T-cell response. DISC virus-mediated, cytokine gene transfer may prove to be useful as a clinical therapy for head and neck cancers.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.125-134
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• 2019

Background: Excessive stress causes varied physiological and psychological disorders including male reproductive problems. Here, we attempted to investigate the protective effects of Korean Red Ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer; KRG) against sub-acute immobilization stress-induced testicular damage in experimental rats. Methods: Male rats (age, 4 wk; weight, 60-70 g) were divided into four groups (n = 8 in each group): normal control group, immobilization control group, immobilization group treated with 100 mg/kg of KRG daily, and immobilization group treated with 200 mg/kg of KRG daily. Normal control and immobilization control groups received vehicle only. KRG (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg) was mixed in the standard diet powder and fed daily for 6 mo. Parameters such as organ weight, blood chemistry, sperm kinematic values, and expression levels of testicular-related molecules were measured using commercially available kits, Western blotting, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results: Data revealed that KRG restored the altered testis and epididymis weight in immobilization stress-induced rats significantly (p < 0.05). Further, KRG ameliorated the altered blood chemistry and sperm kinematic values when compared with the immobilization control group and attenuated the altered expression levels of spermatogenesis-related proteins (nectin-2, cAMP responsive element binding protein 1, and inhibin-${\alpha}$), sex hormone receptors (androgen receptor, luteinizing hormone receptor, and follicle-stimulating hormone receptor), and antioxidant-related enzymes (glutathione S-transferase m5, peroxiredoxin-4, and glutathione peroxidase 4) significantly in the testes of immobilization stress-induced rats. Conclusion: KRG protected immobilization stress-induced testicular damage and fertility factors in rats, thereby indicating its potential in the treatment of stress-related male sterility.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.468-478
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• 2019

The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of cordyceps militaris extracts for the improvement of cognitive dysfunction in PC12 and BV2 cells. Cordyceps militaris extracts was prepared by extracting with distilled water. Cell viability was assessed by MTT assay using PC12 cells and BV2 cells. Confirmed effects of L-glutamate induced cytotoxicity test, Acetylcoline (ACh) concentration, and Acetylcolinestase (AChE) activity in PC12 cells. Anti-inflammatory activities of cordyceps militaris extracts was measured through changes in the levels of nitric oxide (NO), and prostaglandin E2 ($PGE_2$) on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced BV2 cell. In addition, we measured the expression of $NF-{\kappa}B$, p38, JNK, and caspase-3 in western blot analysis. Cordyceps militaris extracts showed no cytotoxicity at the concentrations of 1, 10, and $100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ except for the concentration of $200{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. Cordyceps militaris extracts protected the cell and exhibited significant increases in the ACh concentration and a significant decrease in the AChE activity in L-glutamate induced PC12 cells. Moreover, cordyceps militaris extracts inhibited the productions NO, and PGE2 level and the protein expression of $NF-{\kappa}B$, p38, JNK, caspase-3 in LPS-induced BV2 cells. These results indicate that cordyceps militaris extracts possible prevented and improved cognitive dysfuction symptoms. Thus, cordyceps militaris extracts may be a novel natural material option for the improvement of cognitive dysfunction.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.498-506
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• 2018

Purpose: Lycopene, a carotenoid with anti-oxidant properties, occurs naturally in tomatoes and pink grapefruit. Although the beneficial effects of lycopene on various disorders have been established, little attention has been paid to the possible anti-diabetic effects of lycopene focusing on ${\beta}$-cells. Therefore, this study investigated the potential of lycopene to protect ${\beta}$-cells against apoptosis induced by a cytokine mixture. Methods: For toxicity experiments, the cells were treated with 0.1 ~ 10 nM of lycopene, and the cell viability in INS-1 cells (a rat ${\beta}$-cell line) was measured using a MTT assay. To induce cytokine toxicity, the cells were treated with a cytokine mixture (20 ng/mL of $TNF{\alpha}$ + 20 ng/mL of IL-$1{\beta}$) for 24 h, and the effects of lycopene (0.1 nM) on the cytokine toxicity were measured using the MTT assay. The expression levels of the apoptotic proteins were analyzed by Western blotting, and the level of intracellular reactive oxidative stress (ROS) was monitored using a DCFDA fluorescent probe. The intracellular ATP levels were determined using a luminescence kit, and mRNA expression of the genes coding for anti-oxidative stress response and mitochondrial function were analyzed by quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR. Results: Exposure of INS-1 cells to 0.1 nM of lycopene increased the cell viability significantly, and protected the cells from cytokine-induced death. Lycopene upregulated the mRNA and protein expression of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and reduced the expression of the Bcl-2 associated X (Bax) protein. Lycopene inhibited apoptotic signaling via a reduction of the ROS, and this effect correlated with the upregulation of anti-oxidative stress response genes, such as GCLC, NQO1, and HO-1. Lycopene increased the mRNA expression of mitochondrial function-related genes and increased the cellular ATP level. Conclusion: These results suggest that lycopene reduces the level of oxidative stress and improves the mitochondrial function, contributing to the prevention of cytokine-induced ${\beta}$-cell apoptosis. Therefore, lycopene could potentially serve as a preventive and therapeutic agent for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.1343-1352
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• 1997

Background : Heat-treated cells are known to be protected from lysis by TNF, which is considered to play a central role in the pathogenesis of sepsis-induced acute lung injury. The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of heat shock response by heat-pretreatment on the acute lung injury of the rats induced by intratracheally administered TNF-$\alpha$, Methods : We intratracheally instilled either saline or TNF (R&D, 500ng) with and without heat pretreatment in Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250~350 g. The heated rats were raised their rectal temperature to $41^{\circ}C$ and was maintained thereafter for 13 minutes at 18 h before intratracheal administration of saline or TNF. After 5 h of intratracheal treatment, lung leak, lung myeloperoxidase activity (MPO) and heat shock proteins were measured in rats. Lung leak index was defined as counts per minute of $I^{25}$ in the right lung divided by counts per minutes of $I^{25}$ in 1.0 ml of blood. All data are expressed as means ${\pm}$SE. Results : There is no difference in acute lung leak index ($0.099{\pm}0.024$ vs $0.123{\pm}0.005$) among the rats given saline intratracheally with and without heat pretreatment, but MPO activity showed a decreased tendency in heat-pretreated rats ($4.58{\pm}0.79\;U/g$) compared with heat-unpretreated rats ($7.32{\pm}0.97\;U/g$) (P=0.064). Rats administered TNF intratracheally with heat-pretreatment had decreased lung leak index ($0.137{\pm}0.012$) and lung MPO activity ($5.51{\pm}1.04\;U/g$) compared with those of heat-unpretreated and TNF-administered rats ($0.186{\pm}0.016$, $14.34{\pm}1.22\;U/g$) (P<0.05 in each). There were no significant difference of lung leak index and MPO activity between TNF-treated rats with heat-pretreatment and saline-treated rats with and without heat-pretreatment. Conclusion : The heat shock response attenuated neutrophil recruitment and acute lung leak induced by intratracheal instillation of TNF-in rats.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.227-237
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• 2003

Purpose: The human chronic myelogenous leukemia cell line, K562, expresses the chimeric bcr-abl oncoprotein, whose deregulated protein tyrosine kinase activity antagonizes via DNA damaging agents. Previous experiments have shown that nanomolar concentrations of herbimycin A (HWA) coupled with X-irradiation have a synergistic effect in inducing apoptosis in the Ph-positive K562 leukemia cell line, but genistein, a PTK inhibitor, is non selective for the radiation-induced apoptosils on $p210^{bcr/abl}$ protected K562 cells. In these experiments, the cytoplasmic signal transduction pathways, the Induction on a number of transcription factors and the differential gene expression in this model were investigated. Materials and Methids: K562 cells in the exponential growth phase were used in this study. The cells were irradiated with 0.5-12 Gy, using a 6 Mev Linac (Clinac 1800, Varian, USA). Immediately after irradiation, the cells were treated with $0.25/muM$ of HMA and $25/muM$ of genistein, and the expressions and the activities of abl kinase, MAPK family, NF- kB, c-fos, c-myc, and thymidine kinase1 (TK1) were examined. The differential gene expressions induced by PTK inhibitors were also investigated. Results: The modulating effects of herbimycin A and genistein on the radiosensitivity of K562 cells were not related to the bcr-abl kinase activity. The signaling responses through the MAPK family of proteins, were not involved either in association with the radiation-induced apoptosis, which is accelerated by HMA, the expression of c-myc was increased. The combined treatment of genistein, with irradiation, enhanced NF- kB activity and the TK1 expression and activity. Conclusion: The effects of HMA and genistein on the radiosensitivity on the K562 cells were not related to the bcr-abl kinase activity in this study, another signaling pathway, besides the WAPK family responses to radiation to K562 cells, was found. Further evaluation using this model will provide valuable information for the optional radiosensitization or radioprotection.