• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.47-56
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• 2016

Objectives : This study examined the effects of Bee venom on apoptosis in NCI-H157 human lung cancer cells and for promoting the apoptosis effects of Natural killer cell. Methods : Bee venom and Natural killer-92 cells were cultured either separately from or together with NCI-H157 cells for 24 hours. To figure out whether Bee venom enhances the cytotoxic effect of Natural Killer-92 cells, a cell viability assay was conducted. To observe the changes in Death receptors, apoptotic regulatory proteins and Nuclear $Factor-{\kappa}B$, western blot analysis was conducted. To observe the effect of Bee venom through an extrinsic mechanism, a transfection assay was conducted. Results : 1. Natural killer-92 cells and Bee venom significantly inhibited the growth of NCI-H157 cells and co-culture had more inhibitory effect than the separate culture. 2. Expressions of Fas, DR3, DR6, Bax, caspase-3, caspase-8, cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-8 were increased, and expressions of Bcl-2 and cIAP were decreased. More efficacy was observed in co-culture than in separate culture. 3. Nuclear $Factor-{\kappa}B$ activation was clearly decreased. And co-culture showed much less activation than separate culture. 4. As a result of treatment for DR-siRNA, the reduced cell viability of NCI-H157 cells and the activity of Nuclear $Factor-{\kappa}B$ were increased. With this, it can be seen that Bee venom and Natural killer-92 cells have an effect on the cancer cells through the extrinsic mechanism. Conclusion : Bee venom is effective in inhibiting the growth of human lung cancer cells. Furthermore Bee venom effectively enhances the functions of Natural killer cells.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.241-250
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• 2004

We previously found that bisphenol A (BPA) caused neurotoxic behavioral alteration. Since disturbance of calcium homeostasis is an implicated contributor in the neurotoxic mechanism of environmental toxicants, we investigated whether BPA alters calcium homeostasis. Unlike other neurotoxic agents which cause increase of intracellular calcium level, BPA decreased $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ dose-dependently in PC12 cells and cortical neuronal cells regardless of the calcium existence in buffer. BPA at greater concentrations than 100 $\mu\textrm{M}$ reduced cell viability significantly in both types of cells. BPA also suppressed L-glutamate (L-type channel activator, 30 mM) and trifluoperazine (calmodulin antagonist, 30 $\mu\textrm{M}$)-induced increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$. BPA further lowered caffeine (RYR activator, 100 $\mu\textrm{M}$)-decreased $[Ca^{2+}]_i$, but did not alter dantrolene (RYR inhibitor, 100 $\mu\textrm{M}$), heparin (IP3 inhibitor, 200 units/ml) and xestospongin C (IP3 inhibitor, 5 $\mu\textrm{M}$)-decreased $[Ca^{2+}]_i$. Cell viability was not directly related to intracellular calcium change by bisphenol A that alternation of intracellular calcium may not be a direct causal factor of BPA-induced neuronal cell death.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2006

Background: Testosterone is reported to have neuroprotective effect in various neurological diseases. Recently, the mechanism involved in nitric oxide (NO)-mediated motor neuron death is under extensive investigation. The Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1) mutations has been implicated in selective motor neuron death of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and it is said to play an important role in NO-mediated motor neuron death. However, neuroprotective effect of testosterone on motor neuron exposed to NO has rarely been studied. Methods: Motor neuron-neuroblastoma hybrid cells expressing wild-type or mutant (G93A or A4V) SOD gene were treated with $200{\mu}M$ S-nitrosoglutathione. After 24 hr, cell viability was measured by MTT assay. To see the neuroprotective effect of testosterone, pretreatment with 1 nM testosterone was done 1 hr before S-nitroglutathione treatment. To study the mechanism of protective effect, $20{\mu}M$ flutamide (androgen receptor antagonist) was also pretreated with testosterone 1 hr before S-nitroglutathione treatment. Results: S-nitrosoglutathione showed significant neurotoxic effect in all three cell lines. Percentage of cell death was somewhat different in each cell line. 1 nM testosterone showed neuroprotective effect in G93A and wild-type cell line. In A4V cell line, testosterone did not showed neuroprotective effect. The neuroprotective effect of testosterone was reversed by $20{\mu}M$ flutamide. Conclusions: These results indicate that testosterone induces neuroprotection in NO-mediated motor neuron death directly through the androgen receptor. This neuroprotective effect of testosterone varies according to the types of SOD1 gene mutation. These data suggest that testosterone may be of therapeutic value against ALS.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.629-650
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• 2013

This study reviews geographical research trends on 'New industrial agglomeration' in Korea and recommends research issues for further studies. Recent studies on industrial agglomeration region have typically concentrated on empirical case studies from new 'perspectives'. As a result, the establishment and theorizing of frameworks for analysis on industrial agglomeration have been given too little attention. To solve this problem research should be conducted to develop frameworks for analysis integrating noneconomic factors and existing economic factors, a strategy emphasized in new industrial agglomeration theory. By doing so, research investigating viability mechanism and generalization will be invigorated. Meanwhile, research focused excessively on social and cultural conditions of region-related networks between actors in economic space at specific scales should be excluded. In addition, academic research on vitalizing industrial agglomeration region, such as cluster policy, should be strengthened. In order to conduct these research objectives effectively, it is necessary to vitalize overall understanding among researchers of industrial agglomeration and provide a place for collaborative learning.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.267-274
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• 2019

This study aims to evaluate the effects of Shengmaisan (SMS) and three types of ShengmaisanJiaweifang on the inhibitory effect of melanin synthesis in B16F10 cells, the mechanism of action through tyrosinase, and the antioxidant effect through superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. In this study, we used ShengmaisanJiaweifangs (SMS, SMSRR, SMSAD, SMSAR) to research the whitening effects in B16F10 cell lines. Shengmaisan (SMS) was a herbal medicine composed of Ginseng Radix, Liriopis Tuber, and Schisandrae Fructus. ShengmaisanJiaweifangs included SMSRR (SMS added with Rehmanniae Radix), SMSAD (SMS added with Asparagi Radix) and SMSAR (SMS added with Astragali Radix). We measured the cell viability, the inhibition rate of the melanin biosynthesis, and the activity of tyrosinase and SOD in malignant melanoma, B16F10 cells, to survey the whitening effect and the mechanism of the impact on the sample. As a result, SMSRR significantly suppressed the cell viability of B16F10 at more than $500{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ and significantly inhibited the generation of melanin induced by ${\alpha}$-MSH at more than $250{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. SMSRR ($500{\mu}g/m{\ell}$) decreased the activity of tyrosinase while increased the activity of SOD. Therefore, we considered that the SMSRR would be able to produce high value-added products more SMS if used as a commercial.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2019.10a
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• pp.8-8
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• 2019

The stringent response (SR) is characterized as a bacterial defense mechanism in response to various growth-inhibiting stresses. It is activated by accumulation of a small nucleotide regulator, (p)ppGpp, and induces global changes in bacterial transcription and translation. Recent work from our group has shown that (p)ppGpp plays a critical role in virulence and survival in Vibrio cholerae. The genes, relA and relV, are involved in the production of (p)ppGpp, while the spoT gene encodes an enzyme that hydrolyzes it in V. cholerae. A mutant strain defective in (p)ppGpp production (i.e. ${\Delta}relA{\Delta}relV{\Delta}spoT$ mutant) lost the ability to produce cholera toxin (CT) and lost their viability due to uncontrolled production of organic acids, when grown with extra glucose. In contrast, the ${\Delta}relA{\Delta}spoT$ mutant, a (p)ppGpp overproducer strain, produced enhanced level of CT and exhibited better growth in glucose supplemented media via glucose metabolic switch from organic fermentation to acetoin, a neutral fermentation end product, fermentation. These findings indicates that (p)ppGpp, in addition to its well-known role as a SR mediator, positively regulates CT production and maintenance of growth fitness in V. cholerae. This implicates SR as a promising drug target, inhibition of which may possibly downregulate V. cholerae virulence and survival fitness. Therefore, we screened a chemical library and identified a compound that induces medium acidification (termed iMAC) and thereby loss of wild type V. cholerae viability under glucose-rich conditions. Further, we present a potential mechanism by which the compound inhibits (p)ppGpp accumulation. Together, these results indicate that iMAC treatment causes V. cholerae cells to produce significantly less (p)ppGpp, an important regulator of the bacterial virulence and survival response, and further suggesting that it has a therapeutic potential to be developed as a novel antibacterial agent against cholera.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.499-507
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• 2024

Specific sensitivity of the skin to ultraviolet B (UVB) rays is one of the mechanisms responsible for widespread skin damage. This study tested whether 1,3,5-trihydroxybenzene (THB), a compound abundant in marine products, might inhibit UVB radiationinduced NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) in both human HaCaT keratinocytes and mouse dorsal skin and explore its cytoprotective mechanism. The mechanism of action was determined using western blotting, immunocytochemistry, NADP⁺/NADPH assay, reactive oxygen species (ROS) detection, and cell viability assay. THB attenuated UVB-induced NOX4 expression both in vitro and in vivo, and suppressed UVB-induced ROS generation via NADP⁺ production, resulting in increased cell viability with decreased apoptosis. THB also reduced the expression of UVB-induced phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). THB suppressed UVB-induced NOX4 expression and ROS generation by inhibiting AMPK and JNK signaling pathways, thereby inhibiting cellular damage. These results showed that THB could be developed as a UV protectant.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.265-281
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• 2023

Objectives : Ukgan-san plus Citri Pericarpium and Pinelliae Rhizoma (UCP) is used as a traditional herbal formula in Korea and Japan for treatment of fever, fever-induced convulsions, and liver dysfunction and so on. In this study, we investigated the cytoprotective effect and underlying mechanism of UCP against oxidative stress induced by cotreatment of arachidonic acid (AA) and iron. Methods : To evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of UCP against AA + iron-induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cell, cell viability and changes on apoptosis-related proteins were assessed by MTT and immunoblot analyses. The changes in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione (GSH), and mitochondrial membrane permeability (MMP) were investigated against to the oxidative stress. Furthermore, to verify underlying molecular mechanism, NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and its downstream target genes were examined by immunoblot analysis. Results : Treatment of UCP increased the cell viability and altered the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins such as PARP, caspase-9, caspase-3, Bcl-2. UCP also inhibited the GSH depletion, excessive ROS production and mitochondrial dysfunction induced by AA + iron. In addition, the Nrf2 and the Nrf2 target genes activation were increased by UCP. Conclusions : These results indicated that UCP has the ability to protect against oxidative stress-induced hepatocyte damage, which may be mediated with Nrf2 pathway.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.23-34
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• 2007

We performed the present study to investigate whether Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch (RG) extracts (RGX) and Eleutherococcus senticosus Max (ES) extracts (ESX) play any roles in bone metabolism. We examined cellular activities of bone cells by measurement of osteoblastic cell viability, osteoprotegerin (OPG) secretion from osteoblasts, osteoclastogenesis, and osteoclastic activity. There is no cytotoxicity from osteoblasts after treatment with RGX and ESX. The secretion of OPG from the osteoblasts showed marked increases after treatment with RGX and ESX. In addition, RGX and ESX treatment decreased the number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive multinucleated cells and the resorption areas. RGX and ESX, when mixed at optimal ratios, induced synergic effects, in vitro. OPB, which showed synergic effects, is the extract of natural ingredients RG and ES mixed at a raw material weight ratio of 4 : 1. It can be suspected that extracts of RG and ES mixtures contains active ingredients involved in bone tissue metabolism and may be effective in improving osteoporosis.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2013.01a
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• pp.107-110
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• 2013

Recently, Korea parliament legislated the Low Carbon Green Growth Act (April, 2012) and approved a bill (May, 2012) to start carbon emission trading system in 2015. It means that for the first time, government would regulate the amounts of carbon emission in private entities, and private entities should attain predefined emission reduction goals by implementing clean development mechanism (CDM) project or buy the Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) from the trading market to avoid penalty. Under these circumstances, it is not easy for them to determine when or how to implement the CDM project because the governmental energy policies about the level of governmental subsidies, periods for free emission allocation, etc. are still under discussion and the future price of the CERs is quite uncertain. Thus, this study presents a real-option based model to assess the financial viability of the CDM project which switches bunker-C oil to liquefied natural gas (LNG). The proposed model is expected to assist private entities in establishing the investment strategy for CDM project under uncertain government energy policies.