• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.265-271
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• 2016

Recently, liver damage contributes to big percentage of the morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. Excessive intake of alcohol is one of the major causes of liver injury. When liver injury is repeated and becomes chronic, it leads to development of fibrosis and cirrhosis. In the liver, TGF-${\beta}$ is a profibrogenic cytokine, which participates in various critical events cause liver fibrosis. Seahorse (Hippocampus abdominalis) is a common traditional Chinese medicine and has been widely used for centuries. Seahorse has been known to have a variety of bioactivities, such as anti-oxidant, anti-fatigue, and anti-tumor. Peptide is one of the main compounds of seahorse. In this study, we isolated enzymatic hydrolysate from seahorse H. abdominalis by alcalase hydrolysis and investigated the effect of the hydrolysate on liver injury. In the present in vitro studies, the hydrolysate increases cell viability of Chang cells and protects Huh7 cells from ethanol toxicity. In addition, the hydrolysate inhibits TGF-${\beta}$-induced responses. In vivo studies show that the pretreatment of hydrolysate reduces alcohol-induced increases of serum Glutamic oxaloacetic acid transaminase and Glutamic pyruvate transaminase activities and increases liver weight and body weight. These results suggest that seahorse may have a hepatoprotective effect.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.79 no.4
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• pp.257-266
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• 2016

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a common interstitial lung disease; it is a chronic, progressive, and fatal lung disease of unknown etiology. Over the last two decades, knowledge about the underlying mechanisms of pulmonary fibrosis has improved markedly and facilitated the identification of potential targets for novel therapies. However, despite the large number of antifibrotic drugs being described in experimental pre-clinical studies, the translation of these findings into clinical practices has not been accomplished yet. NADH:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) is a homodimeric enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of NADH to $NAD^+$ by various quinones and thereby elevates the intracellular $NAD^+$ levels. In this study, we examined the effect of increase in cellular $NAD^+$ levels on bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in mice. Methods: C57BL/6 mice were treated with intratracheal instillation of bleomycin. The mice were orally administered with ${\beta}$-lapachone from 3 days before exposure to bleomycin to 1-3 weeks after exposure to bleomycin. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected for analyzing the infiltration of immune cells. In vitro, A549 cells were treated with transforming growth factor ${\beta}1$ (TGF-${\beta}1$) and ${\beta}$-lapachone to analyze the extracellular matrix (ECM) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Results: ${\beta}$-Lapachone strongly attenuated bleomycin-induced lung inflammation and fibrosis, characterized by histological staining, infiltrated immune cells in BALF, inflammatory cytokines, fibrotic score, and TGF-${\beta}1$, ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin accumulation. In addition, ${\beta}$-lapachone showed a protective role in TGF-${\beta}1$-induced ECM expression and EMT in A549 cells. Conclusion: Our results suggest that ${\beta}$-lapachone can protect against bleomycin-induced lung inflammation and fibrosis in mice and TGF-${\beta}1$-induced EMT in vitro, by elevating the $NAD^+$/NADH ratio through NQO1 activation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Embryo Transfer Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.106-106
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• 2002

미토콘드리아는 세포내의 에너지대사에서 중요한 역할을 수행하는 세포내 소기관이며, 자체의 유전물질이 모계를 통해 유전되는 특징을 가지고 있다. 포유류 초기 배아의 발생과정에서 미토콘드리아의 역할과 기능에 대한 연구는 미진한 상태이다. 본 연구에서는 생쥐 초기 배아의 발생과정에서 관찰할 수 있는 미토콘드리아 미세구조의 변화 양상을 살펴보고, 이와 초기 배아의 발생 능력과의 관련성을 밝혀보고자 하였다. 과배란 유도된 ICR 생쥐로부터 배란된 난자와 2-세포기 배아를 수획하여 76 배양액으로 포배기까지 체외배양하면서, 각각의 발생단계에 따라 시료를 수획하였다. 미토콘드리아 미세구조의 변화는 일반적인 투과전자현미경방법(TEM)을 이용하여 관찰하였다. 미토콘드리아의 미세구조는 배란 난자에서 4-세포기 배아까지는 구형이고 크리스타가 발달하지 않은 원시형태였지만, 포배기로 발달함에 따라 크리스타가 발달된 막대형의 전형적인 미토콘드리아로 분화됨이 관찰되었다. 체외배양 중에 발생이 지연되거나 정지된 배아에서 관찰한 미토콘드리아의 미세구조는 공포화 (vacuolization), 크리스타 발달 지연, 손상된 미토콘드리아의 세포막 등과 같은 비정상적인 변형을 관찰할 수 있었다. 또한, 극체에 존재하는 미토콘드리아의 미세구조는 정상적인 핵내의 유전자와의 상호작용이 없어 미분화 상태로 포배기까지 유지되는 것을 관찰하였다. 이상의 결과를 통해 미토콘드리아의 정상적인 분화 과정이 초기 배아의 발생능력과 관련되어 있음을 알 수 있었으며, 포유류 초기 배아의 체외배양시스템을 개선하는데 미토콘드리아 미세구조의 관찰과 변화에 대한 고려가 있어야 될 것으로 생각된다. buffer A 용액으로 세척하여 유리 petri dish의 바닥에 부착된 macrophage만을 cell scraper로 분리하였다. 분리한 macrophage는 0.5-1 $\times$ $10^{6}$ cells/$m\ell$가 되게 조정하여, IL-I 을 0.001, 0.01, 0.1 또한 1 ng/$m\ell$를 첨가하여 농도에 따른 효과를 조사하였고, 각각 24, 48, 72, 96 또한 120시간을 배양하여 시간에 의한 효과도 실시하였다. 각 배치구에서 얻어진 배양액은 TGF-$\beta$를 조사하기 전까지 -2$0^{\circ}C$에 동결 보존하였다. TGF-$\beta$의 측정은 TGF-$\beta$ kit(promega, USA)를 이용하여 실시하였으며, 통계학적 분석은 Anova test를 Statview program을 이용하여 분석하였다. 시험의 결과 대조구에 비해 IL-I 첨가구는 2-3배의 TGF-$\beta$생산을 보였으며, 배양시간에 따른 생산은 시간이 지남에 따라 약간 상승하는 경향을 보였으나, 유의적인 차이를 보이지는 않았다. 또한 IL-I의 농도에 따른 생산의 변화는 IL-I의 농도에 따라 약간의 차이를 보였고 유의적인 차이는 인정되지 않았다. 임신 및 비임신의 경우 임신우의 비장 macrophage가 비임신보다는 약간 상승하는 거스로 나타났다. 이상의 결과로 볼 때 IL-I $\alpha$ 는$\bet

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.63 no.1
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• pp.75-82
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• 2020

In this study, extracts from the Green ball apple peel (GBE) and the newly bred green ball apple from Korea showed inhibition effects on photo-aging factor regulation associated with skin aging. To investigate the inhibition effect on photo-aging factor regulation in skin, GBE was treated with UVB to induce photo-aging related factors in CCD986sk fibroblast cells. Photo-aging factor regulation effects showed that GBE inhibited UVB-stimulated matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and MMP-9 protein synthesis in collagen type I alpha 2 chain (COL1A2), MMP-1, MMP-9, and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 protein expression. The expression of COL1A2 and TIMP-1 protein was significantly increased. The mRNA expression levels of COL1A2, MMP-1, MMP-9, hyaluronan synthase (HAS)2, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, and TIMP-1 were decreased by GBE. The expression of TIMP-1 and TGF-β, which are regulators involved in matrix metalloproteinase and type I procollagen expression, was found to increase with increasing expression of COL1A2. The expression of HAS2, which is involved in the production of hyaluronic acid, one of the structural proteins constituting the skin, was also confirmed. Therefore, GBE showed excellent efficacy against photo-aging factor regulation and could be used as functional material to prevent and treat skin aging.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.1127-1134
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• 2007

The study was designed to investigate the mechanism of Patholoobi Caulis freeze dried powder (PCF) on the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) in normal rats and cytokines production ($IL-1{\beta}$, $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-10, $TGF-{\beta}$) in cerebral ischemic rats. The results in normal rats were as follows ; Increase of PCF-induced rCBF was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with methylene blue (10 ${\mu}g/kg$, I.p.), an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase, and was inhibited by indomethacin (1 mg/kg, i.p.), an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase. Increase of PCF-induced MABP was decreased by pretreatment with methylene blue, but was increased by indomethacin. These results suggested that the mechanism of action PCF was mediated by cyclic 3',5'-guanosine monophosphate. The results in cerebral ischemic rats were as follows ; In cytokine production in serum from femoral arterial blood 1 hr after middle cerebral arterial occlusion, PCF (10 mg/kg. i.p.) significantly decreased $IL-1{\beta}$ and $TNF-{\alpha}$ production, and increased IL-10 production compared with control group. In cytokine production in serum from femoral arterial blood 1 hr 1 hr after reperfusion, PCF (10 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly decreased $IL-1{\beta}$ production, and incresed IL-10 production compared with control group. These results suggested that PCF was significantly and stably increased regional cerebral blood flow by inhibiting $IL-1{\beta}$ production, and by accelerating IL-10 production.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.194-204
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• 2011

This study was carried out to compare the histopathological differences of liver lesions in carbon tetrachloride ($CCI_4$), dimethylnitrosamine (DMN), thioacetamide (TAA) and bile duct ligation (BDL)-induced rats. $CCl_4$, DMN and TAA were administered intraperitoneally and conducted bile duct ligation for 4 weeks to induce hepatic fibrosis. Indices of liver cell injury (steatosis, hydropic degeneration, bile duct hyperplasia, hemorrhage & hemosiderin deposition), the extent of liver fibrosis (fibrotic area) and the rate of regeneration (number of PCNA-positive cells) were investigated in each group. Liver tissues were stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE), sirius red, prussian blue and immunostained with ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin (${\alpha}$-SMA), transforming growth factor-${\beta}1$ (TGF-${\beta}1$), proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and quantified using a computerized image analysis system. Liver cell steatosis was significantly increased in $CCl_4$ and TAA groups, and hydropic degeneration and bile duct hyperplasia were significantly increased in TAA and BDL groups when compared with that in normal control, respectively. Fibrosis area was significantly increased in all four groups, especially in $CCl_4$ group. Correlation between ${\alpha}$-SMA and TGF-${\beta}1$ expressions in four groups was good. Hemorrhage area in liver parenchyma was significantly increased in DMN group only when compared with that in normal control, while hemosiderin deposition area was significantly increased in TAA and BDL groups as well as DMN group. The Number of PCNA-positive cells was significantly increased in all four groups, especially in TAA group. These results indicate that the duration and methods of hepatotoxic drug treatment are very important factors to make plans for animal experimentation on the induction of hepatic fibrogenesis in rats.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-17
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• 2018

Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of Jeopgolsan (JGS) extract on anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory activities in RAW 264.7 cells and on factors related with fracture healing in skull fractured rat. Methods Experimental animals were divided into four groups: normal group without any treatment (Normal), contral group were treated orally with distilled water (Control), Experimental group were treated orally with JGS at a concentration of 200 mg/kg/day (JGS 200) and Experimental group were treated orally with JGS at a concentration of 200 mg/kg/day (JGS 400). Rats in each group except the normal group were induced fractures in the skull. The 1,1-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging activity were measured to evaluate antioxidant activity. The production of nitric oxide (NO), $interleukin-1{\beta}$ ($IL-1{\beta}$), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$) in the RAW 264.7 cells were measured to evaluate anti-inflammatory activity. The production of osteocalcin calcitonin, carboxy-terminal telepeptides of type II collagen (CTX II), transforming growth $factor-{\beta}$ ($TGF-{\beta}$), bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), Insulin and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in serum of rats were measured to evaluate the effects of fracture healing at 0, 2, 4, and 6th week. X-rays were taken every 3 week from 0 to 6th week to evaluate fracture healing effect. Results 1. No cytotoxicity was observed. 2. DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity were increased in a concentration dependent manner, indicating anti-oxidant effect. 3. NO, $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, and $TNF-{\alpha}$ were not significantly changed, indicating no anti-inflammatory effect. 4. Osteocalcin, Calcitonin, $TGF-{\beta}$ and ALP were significantly increased in the experimental groups. 5. CTX II, insulin were significantly decreased in the expermental groups. 6. Radiologic examination showed that union of fracture was promoted. Conclusions From above results, JGS showed significant results in factors related with fracture healing and radiologic examination. Threfore, JGS is expected to be effective in the treatment of fracture.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.31-49
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• 2016

Objectives The study was designed to evaluate the healing effects of Joaguihwan (JGH) extract on Anti-oxidation, Anti-inflammatory in RAW 264.7 Cells and factors related with bone metabolism in skull fractured Rat. Methods The fracture healing effect of JGH was measured by scavenging activities of1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) and nitric oxide (NO) in RAW 264.7 cells. The inhibitory effect against the production of inflammatory mediators including interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necosis factors-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) expression was inhibited in RAW 264.7 cells was experimented using JGH. The effects of JGH on healing fractured rats was measured by osteocalcin, calcitonin, CTXII, TGF-${\beta}$, BMP-2, Insulin, ALP in the serum. and was checked every 3 weeks from 0 week to 6week using x-ray. Results 1. DPPH free radica and ABTS scavenging activity of JGH were increased according to concentration of JGH in RAW 264.7 Cells. 2. In the experiment, NO, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$ all showed decrease, in general. Especially NO and IL-$1{\beta}$ showed significantly decrease at a concentration of 10, 100 (${\mu}g/ml$). 3. In the production of osteocalcin in the serum, JGH 200, 400 mg/kg experimental group showed significant increased effect at 2 weeks. 4. In the production of calcitonin in the serum. JGH 200 mg/kg experimental group showed significant increased effect at 4, 6 weeks. JGH 400 mg/kg experimental group showed significant increased effect at 2, 4, 6 weeks. 5. In the production of CTX, TGF-${\beta}$, BMP-2 in the serum, experimental group showed increased effect. but no significant effect. 6. In the production of insulin in the serum. JGH 200, 400 mg/kg experimental group showed significant decrease effect at 2, 4, 6 weeks. 7. In the production of ALP in the serum. JGH 200 mg/kg experimental group showed significant increased effect at 2, 4, 6 weeks. JGH 400 mg/kg experimental group showed significant increased effect at 4, 6 weeks. 8. In the change of X-ray, the experimental group showed better healing effects on skull fractured rats than control group. Conclusions From above results, JGH showed healing effect on Anti-oxidation, Anti-inflammatory in RAW 264.7 Cells, factors related with bone metabolism in the serum of skull fractured rat and x-ray, which is expected to be applied in clinics.

• Gut and Liver
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.664-673
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• 2018

Background/Aims: Regulatory dendritic cells (rDCs), which can be induced by mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), play an important role in inducing and maintaining homeostasis of regulatory T cells and exhibit anti-inflammatory functions. In this study, we investigated whether MSCs could differentiate DCs into rDCs and compared the therapeutic effects of rDCs and MSCs on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced chronic colitis mice. Methods: Immature DCs (imDCs) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated mature DCs (mDCs) were co-cultured with MSCs for 48 hours, and then the profiles of surface markers and cytokines and regulatory roles of these DCs for primary splenocytes were analyzed. In addition, the therapeutic effects of MSCs and DCs co-cultured with MSCs were compared in chronic colitis mice. Results: After co-culture of imDCs (MSC-DCs) or LPS-treated mDCs (LPS+MSC-DCs) with MSCs, the expression of CD11c, CD80, CD86, interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), and interferon-${\gamma}$ (IFN-${\gamma}$), was decreased, but that of CD11b, IL-10, and transforming growth factor-${\beta}$ (TGF-${\beta}$) was increased. Furthermore, MSC-DCs and LPS+MSC-DCs induced the expression of CD4, CD25, and Foxp3 in primary splenocytes isolated from mice. In DSS-induced colitis mice, MSCs and MSC-DCs increased colon length, body weight, and survival rate and induced histological improvement. Moreover, in the colon tissues, the expression of IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, and IFN-${\gamma}$ decreased, but that of IL-10, TGF-${\beta}$, and Foxp3 increased in the MSC- and MSC-DC-injected groups. Conclusions: Our data suggest that MSCs differentiate DCs into rDCs, which ameliorate chronic colitis. Thus, rDCs stimulated by MSCs may be therapeutically useful for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.504-518
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• 2011

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate the anti-fibrogenic effect of greater celandine on cultured rat hepatic stellate cells. Materials and Methods : Hepatic stellate cells (HSC-T6) were treated with various concentrations of greater celandine extract for 24, 48, and 72 hours. The extraction was done with distilled water. After the treatment, cell viability, proliferation, mRNA of the ${\alpha}SMA$, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, collagen I ${\alpha}$ 1, MMP-2, IL-6, TGF-${\beta}1$, PDGFr-${\beta}1$, Bcl-2, Bax, Bcl-xl, caspase-3, caspase-9 and the activities of SOD and catalase were measured by using MTT assay, BrdU assay, real-time PCR, superoxide dismutase assay and catalase assay. Results : The viability, proliferation, mRNA expression and synthesis of collagen of the hepatic stellate cells were inhibited as the concentration increased, which indicates the herb has an inhibitory effect on fibrogenesis of the liver by regulating the fibrosis associated genes in transcription. Conclusions : These results suggest that greater celandine would be beneficial in the treatment of fibrotic patients as well as for patients with chronic hepatitis.