• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2013

Background: Recently, substances from seaweeds have been widely used in hair growth solutions, and have been proven to be effective. Seaweeds have been documented to possess hair growth activity; however, no report on the effect of seaweed on hair regeneration has been issued to date. In this study, we investigated which exact substance of hair tonic made by JW-bio and our institute shows effects on hair growth by studying the mechanisms of candidate substances. Methods: The study was conducted to investigate the hair restoring effect of domestic natural substances; we categorized the candidate substances as seaweed, cereal, and herbal medicine. Five experimental groups were included in the study as follows: a saline group, a 50% ethanol group, seaweed group, a cereal group, and a herbal medicine group. Results: Three extracts (seaweed, cereal, and herbal medicine) were administered to C57BL/6 mice for two weeks after depilation. Depilated areas were found to be completely covered with fully grown hair, and the hair re-growth score was highest in the seaweed group. Using a hair analysis system, hair characteristics were measured in all groups on days 10 and 14 after depilation. The width and length of hair follicles were largest in the seaweed group. Groups treated with seaweed showed significantly increased gene expression of insulin-like growth factor-1. Groups treated with all the three extracts showed decreased expression of transforming growth factor-${\beta}1$. Conclusion: Findings from our study suggest that seaweeds possess hair-growth effects and may be useful for the treatment of alopecia in the future.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.1025-1036
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• 2008

Objectives : The aim of present study was to investigate recovery effects of gypsum, which has been used clinically in diabetes therapy. Methods : We established three groups, normal, control, and gypsum, and assigned 6 rats to each group. The normal group was not treated by any process and fed normal saline. The control & gypsum groups were administered streptozotocin(STZ) to induce diabetes. Gypsum extract was orally administered to the gypsum group for 10 days. After 8 weeks, the rats were sacrificed and their body weight, 24hrs urinary protein excretion, glucose, albumin, BUN, creatinine, total-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride in blood, level of glycation end-product (AGE) and transforming growth factor ($TGF-{\beta}1$) in serum were measured. Morphological profiles and morphometric studies of the kidney cortex. renal transforming growth factor ($TGF-{\beta}1$) expression, macrophage/monocyte antigen (ED-1), and type IV collagen expression were studied. Results : The following results were obtained. The protein amount in urine per 24hrs of the gypsum-treated group as compared to the control was significantly reduced. The BUN and creatinine level in serum of the gypsum-treated group as compared to the control was significantly inhibited. The construction change in the kidneys of the gypsum-treated group as compared to the control was significantly inhibited. The factor of the gypsum-treated group as compared to the control was significantly inhibited. which induced the structural change in the kidneys. Conclusions : The above results suggest that gypsum partially improved kidney function.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.335-341
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• 2003

Carcass weight and backfat thickness are two of important elements in determining the carcass trait in pigs and are studied on animal genetics, nutrition, and endocrinology. Growth factors stimulate or inhibit the proliferation and differentiation of various cells. In particular, insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), transforming growth factor (TGF)-$\beta$, and epidermal growth factor (EGF) are involved in the growth and maintenance of muscle. Also, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S) and cortisol are known to be related to the obesity and subcutaneous fat depth in pigs. Therefore, this study was performed to relate growth factors (IGFs, TGF-${\beta}1$, and EGF) and hormones (cortisol and DHEA-S) concentrations at antemortem and postmortem periods to carcass traits including carcass weight and backfat thickness. Blood and m. Longissimus were collected in pigs at antemortem (30 days before slaughter) and postmortem periods. After slaughtered, carcass weight and backfat thickness were measured. Growth factors and hormones in serum and m. Longissimus were measured by radioimmunoassay or enzyme-linked imuunosorbent assay. Before antemortem period, serum IGF-I and -II concentrations were positively correlated with the carcass weight and backfat thickness in gilts, and the concentrations of TGF- ${\beta}1$ and cortisol in barrows show the correlation with only carcass weight. Also, the positive correlations of muscular IGFs and TGF-${\beta}1$ at postmortem 45 min with the carcass weight and backfat thickness were detected. Consequently, these results suggest that the serum and muscular endocrine factors are involved in the carcass weight and backfat thickness in pigs.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.2429-2434
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• 2016

Transforming growth factor-B1 ($TGF-{\beta}1$ )and its coreceptor endoglin (ENG) have been shown to contribute to hepatocellular tumor development and malignant progression. Our aim was to evaluate the serum expression levels of $ENG/TGF-{\beta}1$ mRNAs and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic Egyptian patients. Our study included 77 subjects. Real time polymerase chain reaction was used to evaluate the expression level of ENG and $TGF-{\beta}1$mRNAs. The relative expression ratio of ENG mRNA was 0.82 (0.1 -3.2), 0.66 (0.15-5.3), 0.38(0.007-2.8) and 0.12 (0.00-0.22) and the relative expression ratio of $TGF-{\beta}1$mRNA was 1.4 (0.19 -6.2), 1.2 (0.22-4.3), 1.0 (0.15-4.4) and 0.6 (0.00-2.2) for cirrhotic HCC cirrhotic, HCC only and healthy control groups respectively. Increased ENG and $TGF-{\beta}1$ mRNA gene expression was correlated with TNM clinical stage. The expression ratio in TNM stage III-IV 1.1 (0.07-3.2), 1.55 (0.15-6.2) was statistically significantly higher than that in stage I-II 0.47 (0.007-2.8), 1.0 (0.31-4.4) (P<0.05). Our data suggested that increased ENG and $TGF-{\beta}1$ gene expression may participate in hepatocarcinogenesis and increased risk of HCC in individuals with cirrhosis. Early screening for evidence of cirrhosis and consideration of ENG and $TGF-{\beta}1$ as targets for therapy and treatment strategies are warranted.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.66
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• pp.359-368
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• 2023

This study aims to explore the impact of Krill Oil (KO, Superba^TM Boost) on skin moisturization regulation. The research involved five groups: an intact control, a reference group (L-AA 100 mg/kg), and KO groups (400, 200, and 100 mg/kg), each comprising ten mice. Oral administration was conducted for 8 weeks (56 days), during which changes in body weight, hyaluronan, collagen type 1 (COL1), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), ceramide, and water contents were analyzed in dorsal back skin tissue. Real-time PCR was employed to assess gene expression related to hyaluronic acid synthesis (HAS1, HAS2, HAS3), COL1 synthesis (COL1A1 and COL1A2), and TGF-β1. Results demonstrated that KO administration significantly increased hyaluronan content, hyaluronic acid synthesis (HAS1, HAS2, HAS3), COL1 content, COL1 synthesis (COL1A1 and COL1A2), TGF-β1 content, TGF-β1 mRNA expression, ceramide content, and water content in a concentration-dependent manner compared to the intact control. Importantly, no discernible disparities were noted between the KO and L-AA groups, even though they received equivalent oral dosages. This study accentuates the potential utility of exogenous KO in the regulation of skin moisture, thus positioning it as a promising avenue for the development of nutricosmetics. Future research endeavors should delve into the role of KO in safeguarding against both intrinsic and extrinsic aging-related skin manifestations, as well as its potential to ameliorate skin wrinkles, in conjunction with its moisturizing attributes.

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 1996.10a
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• pp.248.2-248
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• 1996

No Abstract, See Full Text

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.84.1-84.1
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• 2002

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.381-386
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• 2011

This study investigated the effect of herbal extracts fermented by Lactobacillus plantarum (MBN) on hair growth in C57BL/6 mice and HaCaT cells. Five week old mice were applied with MBN topically (0.2 mL) once per for 21 days. Hair regrowth was evaluated by gross examination and verified by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Gene expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), and transforming growth factor-beta1 ($TGF{\beta}1$), relevant to hair growth, were examined. The data revealed that MBN successfully promoted hair growth in both male and female mice at a dose between 200-500 mg/kg and improved hair thickness. The VEGF and KGF genes were expressed in a dose-dependant manner, whereas $TGF{\beta}1$ was not expressed. Moreover, nitric oxide was significantly increased, suggesting an improvement in blood flow. These results indicate that MBN effectively promoted hair growth and gene expression relevant to hair growth in an animal model.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.183-193
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• 2018

Objectives : In Traditional Korean Medicine, Epimedium koreanum Nakai has diverse pharmacological activities to treat impotence, forgetfulness, cataract and exophthalmos. Present study investigated anti-fibrogenic effects of E. koreanum water extract (EKE) in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Methods : To study anti-fibrogenic effects of EKE, LX-2 cells, a human immortalized HSCs, were pre-treated with $3-300{\mu}g/mL$ of EKE, and then subsequently exposed to 5 ng/mL of transforming growth $factor-{\beta}1$ ($TGF-{\beta}1$). Expression level of ${\alpha}-smooth$ muscle actin was determined by immunoblot analysis. Phosphorylation of Smad, transactivation of Smad, and expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) were monitored to investigate the effect of EKE on $TGF-{\beta}1-mediated$ signaling pathway. Results : Up to $100{\mu}g/mL$, EKE did not show any cytotoxicity on LX-2 cells. Pre-treatment of EKE ($100{\mu}g/mL$) significantly inhibited ${\alpha}-smooth$ muscle actin expression induced by $TGF-{\beta}1$. In addition, EKE significantly decreased Smad2 and Smad3 phosphorylations, Smad binding element-driven luciferase activity and PAI-1 expression by $TGF-{\beta}1$. Of three flavonoid compounds found in EKE, only quercertin ($30{\mu}M$) attenuated $TGF-{\beta}1-mediated$ PAI-1 expression. Conclusion : These results suggest that EKE has an ability to suppress fibrogenic process in HSCs via inhibition of $TGF-{\beta}1/Smad$ signaling pathway.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.211-221
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• 2017

Transforming growth factor ${\beta}1$ $(TGF{\beta}1)/Smad4$ signaling plays a pivotal role in maintenance of the dynamic balance between bone formation and resorption. The microRNA miR-155 has been reported to exert a significant role in the differentiation of macrophage and dendritic cells. The goal of this study was to determine whether miR-155 regulates osteoclast differentiation through $TGF{\beta}1/Smad4$ signaling. Here, we present that $TGF{\beta}1$ elevated miR-155 levels during osteoclast differentiation through the stimulation of M-CSF and RANKL. Additionally, we found that silencing Smad4 attenuated the upregulation of miR-155 induced by $TGF{\beta}1$. The results of luciferase reporter experiments and ChIP assays demonstrated that $TGF{\beta}1$ promoted the binding of Smad4 to the miR-155 promoter at a site located in 454 bp from the transcription start site in vivo, further verifying that miR-155 is a transcriptional target of the $TGF{\beta}1/Smad4$ pathway. Subsequently, TRAP staining and qRT-PCR analysis revealed that silencing Smad4 impaired the $TGF{\beta}1$-mediated inhibition on osteoclast differentiation. Finally, we found that miR-155 may target SOCS1 and MITF to suppress osteoclast differentiation. Taken together, we provide the first evidence that $TGF{\beta}1/Smad4$ signaling affects osteoclast differentiation by regulation of miR-155 expression and the use of miR-155 as a potential therapeutic target for osteoclast-related diseases shows great promise.