• BMB Reports
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• v.52 no.11
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• pp.665-670
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• 2019

Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain protein 2 (NOD2), an intracellular pattern recognition receptor, plays important roles in inflammation and cell death. Previously, we have shown that NOD2 is expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and that NOD2 deficiency promotes VSMC proliferation, migration, and neointimal formation after vascular injury. However, its role in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced cell death in VSMCs remains unclear. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate ER stress-induced viability of mouse primary VSMCs. NOD2 deficiency increased ER stress-induced cell death and expression levels of apoptosis mediators (cleaved caspase-3, Bax, and Bak) in VSMCs in the presence of tunicamycin (TM), an ER stress inducer. In contrast, ER stress-induced cell death and expression levels of apoptosis mediators (cleaved caspase-3, Bax, and Bak) were decreased in NOD2-overexpressed VSMCs. We found that the $IRE-1{\alpha}-XBP1$ pathway, one of unfolded protein response branches, was decreased in NOD2-deficient VSMCs and reversed in NOD2-overexpressed VSMCs in the presence of TM. Furthermore, NOD2 deficiency reduced the expression of XBP1 target genes such as GRP78, PDI-1, and Herpud1, thus improving cell survival. Taken together, these data suggest that the induction of ER stress through NOD2 expression can protect against TM-induced cell death in VSMCs. These results may contribute to a new paradigm in vascular homeostasis.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.92-97
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• 2013

The calcification of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is considered one of the major contributors for vascular disease. Phosphate is known as the inducer for VSMC calcification. In this study, we assessed whether phosphate affected cell viability and fetuin-A, a calcification inhibitor protein, both which are related to VSMC calcification. Also, VSMC viability by zinc level was assessed. The results showed that phosphate increased Ca and P deposition in VSMCs (A7r5 cell line, rat aorta origin). This phosphate-induced Ca and P deposition was consistent with the decreased A7r5 cell viability (P<0.05), which implies phosphate-induced calcification in A7r5 cells might be due to the decreased VSMC cell viability. As phosphate increased, the protein expression of fetuin-A protein was up-regulated. A7r5 cell viability decreased as the addition of cellular zinc level was decreased (P<0.05). The results suggested that zinc deficiency causes the decreased cell viability and it would be the future study to clarify how zinc does act for VSMC cell viability. The results suggest that the decreased VSMC viability by high P or low Zn in VSMCs may be the risk factor for vascular disease.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.38-41
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• 2012

A 32-year-old female patient and her sister show high levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in regular health checkups, since female patient was 11 years old. The patient's serum total cholesterol was 285 mg/dL and HDL cholesterol was 113 mg/dL. Her sister's total cholesterol was 240 mg/dL and the HDL cholesterol measured to be 90 mg/dL. Lipoprotein pattern and cholesteryl ester transfer activity gene analysis were examined in these patients. We found c.1321+1G>A (IVS14+1G/A) hetero mutation in cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) genes. Generally, CETP mediates transfer and exchange of triglycerides and cholesteryl ester between plasma lipoproteins. Also we investigated a key role of HDL-CE and Apo A-1 metabolism. Patients with low levels of CETP have increased serum HDL levels. We hereby report two Korean cases of CETP deficiency in a family. Brief literature review ensues with the cases.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.613-618
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Iron deficiency in early life is associated with developmental problems, which may persist until later in life. The question of whether iron repletion after developmental iron deficiency could restore iron homeostasis is not well characterized. In the present study, we investigated the changes of iron transporters after iron depletion during the gestational-neonatal period and iron repletion during the post-weaning period. MATERIALS/METHODS: Pregnant rats were provided iron-deficient (< 6 ppm Fe) or control (36 ppm Fe) diets from gestational day 2. At weaning, pups from iron-deficient dams were fed either iron-deficient (ID group) or control (IDR group) diets for 4 week. Pups from control dams were continued to be fed with the control diet throughout the study period (CON). RESULTS: Compared to the CON, ID rats had significantly lower hemoglobin and hematocrits in the blood and significantly lower tissue iron in the liver and spleen. Hepatic hepcidin and BMP6 mRNA levels were also strongly down-regulated in the ID group. Developmental iron deficiency significantly increased iron transporters divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) and ferroportin (FPN) in the duodenum, but decreased DMT1 in the liver. Dietary iron repletion restored the levels of hemoglobin and hematocrit to a normal range, but the tissue iron levels and hepatic hepcidin mRNA levels were significantly lower than those in the CON group. Both FPN and DMT1 protein levels in the liver and in the duodenum were not different between the IDR and the CON. By contrast, DMT1 in the spleen was significantly lower in the IDR, compared to the CON. The splenic FPN was also decreased in the IDR more than in the CON, although the difference did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that iron transporter proteins in the duodenum, liver and spleen are differentially regulated during developmental iron deficiency. Also, post-weaning iron repletion efficiently restores iron transporters in the duodenum and the liver but not in the spleen, which suggests that early-life iron deficiency may cause long term abnormalities in iron recycling from the spleen.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.44-47
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• 2021

Cerebral creatine deficiency syndrome (CCDS) is a disorder where a defect is present in transport of creatine in the brain. Creatine plays an essential role in the energy metabolism of the brain. This is a genetic disorder, autosomal recessive or X linked, characterized by intellectual disability, speech and language delay, epilepsy, hypotonia, etc. Until recently very few number of cases have been reported. Here we report a case of 1.5-year-old boy who had epilepsy (epileptic spasm and generalized tonic clonic seizure), intellectual disability, microcephaly, hypotonia and speech delay. His magnetic resonance imaging of brain showed cortical atrophy and electroencephalography showed burst suppression pattern. The diagnosis was confirmed by clinical exome sequencing which showed novel mutation of SLC6A8+ in exon 9, suggestive of X linked recessive CCDS. The patient was then treated with glycine, L-arginine and creatine monohydrate with multiple antiepileptic drugs.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.103-107
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• 2003

Phosphorus (P) is a macronutrient playing important roles in many plant processes. Significant interest has been devoted to search and utilize genotypic variations in P use efficiency in rice but with little effort to understand its physiological and biochemical bases. In this study, we examined responses to P deprivation of some primary and secondary traits in 3-week-old seedlings of the three genotypes, Sobi-byeo (japonica), Dasan-byeo (japonica $\times$ indica) and Palawan (indica). In general, percent weight due to root was increased up to 26%, but amounts of root protein and proteins secreted from roots were decreased by 11 to 19% and 31 to 51 %, respectively, by 3 to 21 days of P deprivation in the three genotypes. Interestingly, however, responses of Palawan to short-term P deprivation were contrasting to those of Dasan-byeo and Sobi-byeo in seedling weight and contents of shoot protein, chlorophyll and anthocyanin. Seedling weight was not decreased, but shoot protein content was decreased in P-deprived seedlings of Palawan. Contents of chlorophyll in leaves and anthocynin in roots were increased in Dasan-byeo and Sobi-byeo, but decreased in Palawan. The results suggest that responses of protein and pigment synthesis to P deficiency are different in modem and traditional varieties and the difference may at least in part be due to the selection for high yield under highly fertilized conditions.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.787-792
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to estimate the iron availability and to analyze dietary factors which influence hematological indices of 130 female adolescents with iron deficiency anemia. Intakes of iron and other nutrients were estimated using a self-administrated questionnaire combined with the 24-hour recall mehtod and iron availability was calculated by Monsen's method. Mean daily intakes of calorie, protein and vitamin C were 1631.0kcal(77.7% of RDA), 54.7g(84.2% of RDA) and 45.7mg(83.0% of RDA), respectively. In terms of iron, mean daily intake was 8.7mg(48.3% of RDA) and heme iron intake was 3.0mg which correspond to 34% of total iron intake. The amount of total absorbable iron was 1.5mg and the estimated bioavailability of dietary iron was 17.2%. In summary, intake of several nutrients for most of the subjects were under RDA. Dietary factors affecting hematological indices were analyzed by stepwise multiple regression. Intake of vitamin C was a major determinant of Hb level, while both intake of enhancing factor and iron availability were major determinants of serum ferritin level. In conclusion proper nutritional education and guidance for iron deficiency anemic female adoalescent needs to be developed and to improve their iron storage should be increased intakes of enhancing factors, female adoalescents.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.41 no.8
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• pp.691-700
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• 2008

One suggested mechanism underlying copper (Cu) deficiency teratogenicity is a low availability of nitric oxide (NO), signaling molecule which is essential in developmental processes. Increased superoxide anions secondary to decreased activities of Cu-zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu-Zn SOD) in Cu deficiency can interact with NO to form peroxynitrite, which can nitrate proteins at tyrosine residues. In addition, peroxynitrite formation can limit NO bioavailability. We previously reported low NO availability and increased protein nitration in Cu deficient (Cu-) embryos. In the current study, we tested whether Cu deficiency alters downstream signaling of NO by assessing cyclic GMP (cGMP) and phosphorylated vasodilator-stimulating phosphoprotein (VASP) levels, and whether NO supplementation can affect these targets as well as protein nitration. Gestation day 8.5 embryos from Cu adequate (Cu+) or Cu- dams were collected and cultured in either Cu+ or Cu- media for 48 hr. A subset of embryos was cultured in Cu- media supplemented with a NO donor (DETA/NONOate; 20 ${\mu}M$) and/or Cu-Zn SOD. Cu-/Cu- embryos showed a higher incidence of embryonic and yolk sac abnormalities, low NO availability, blunted dose-response in NO concentrations to increasing doses of acetylcholine, low mRNA expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), increased levels of 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) compared to Cu+/Cu+ controls. cGMP concentrations tended to be low in Cu-/Cu- embryos, and they were significantly lower in Cu-/Cu- yolk sacs than in controls. Levels of phosphorylated VASP at serine 239 (P-VASP) were similar in all groups. NO donor supplementation to the Cu- media ameliorated embryonic and yolk sac abnormalities, and resulted in increased levels of cGMP without altering levels of P-VASP and 3-NT. Taken together, these data support the concept that Cu deficiency limits NO availability and alters NO/cGMP-dependent signaling in Cu- embryos and yolk sacs, which contributes to Cu deficiency-induced abnormal development.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.60 no.4
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• pp.281-288
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• 2022

Malaria continues to be one of the most crucial infectious burdens in endemic areas worldwide, as well as for travelers visiting malaria transmission regions. It has been reported that 8-aminoquinolines are effective against the Plasmodium species, particularly primaquine, for anti-hypnozoite therapy in P. vivax malaria. However, primaquine causes acute hemolytic anemia in individuals with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. Therefore, G6PD deficiency testing should precede hypnozoite elimination with 8-aminoquinoline. Several point-of-care devices have been developed to detect G6PD deficiency. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the performance of a novel, quantitative G6PD diagnostics based on a metagenomic blue fluorescent protein (mBFP). We comparatively evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of the G6PD diagnostic modality with standard methods using 120 human whole blood samples. The G6PD deficiency was spectrophotometrically confirmed. The performance of the G6PD quantitative test kit was compared with that of a licensed control medical device, the G6PD strip. The G6PD quantitative test kit had a sensitivity of 95% (95% confidence interval (CI): 89.3-100%) and a specificity of 100% (95% CI: 94.3-100%). This study shows that the novel diagnostic G6PD quantitative test kit could be a cost-effective and time-efficient, and universally mandated screening tool for G6PD deficiency.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.222-230
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• 2011

This study was undertaken to investigate iron status and related factors in female college students residing in Gyeongnam. The subjects were divided into normal (40.8%) and iron deficiency (ID) groups (59.2%) by iron status. Mean height, weight, lean body mass, percent body fat, body mass index, and wrist to hip ratio were not significantly different between the groups, but basic metabolic rate was significantly higher in the normal group than that in the ID group. The levels of hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum ferritin, transferrin saturation, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration were significantly higher in the normal group than those in the ID group. However, total iron binding capacity was significantly lower in the normal group than that in the ID group. Daily intake of protein, heme-Fe, niacin, and vitamin C were significantly higher in the normal group than those in the ID group. The mean intake of protein, Fe, niacin, vitamin $B_{12}$, and vitamin C based on the Korean recommended intake (RI) were significantly higher in the normal group than those in the ID group. The mean intakes of Ca, vitamin $B_{12}$, and folate in both groups were < 75% of the Korean RI. In conclusion, increasing dietary heme-Fe and vitamin C may be helpful for preventing ID anemia in female college students.