• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2017

Amomum tsao-ko used as a traditional oriental herbal medicine, is indigenous to several Asia countries. In this study, we investigated anti-obesity activity of the ethanol extract of Amomum Taso-ko (A. tsao-ko). The ethanol extract of A. tsao-ko inhibited adipocyte differentiation using Oil Red O assay in 3T3-L1 cells. Inhibitory effect of the ethanol extract of A. tsao-ko on adipogenesis was modulated by down-regulation adipogenic transcriptional factor such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$), CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$) and suppressed expression of fatty acid synthase, aP2, and resistin. We demonstrated that A. tsao-ko significantly inhibited adipogenesis and reduced $PPAR{\gamma}$ and $C/EBP{\alpha}$ expression in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that A. tsao-ko has an anti-obesity effect by inhibition of adipogenic transcription factor and adipocyte-specific genes in 3T3-L1 cells.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.329-335
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• 2006

Echinostoma hortense (E. hortense) is an intestinal trematode with the highest infection rate in South Korea. However, the immune response against E. hortense infection has not been explained well. In the present study, we investigated the effect of treatment with cyclosporin A (CsA) and histamine receptor antagonists on the cytokine expression and mucosal goblet cells in E. hortense-infected C3H/HeN mice. The alteration of cytokine mRNA expression ($TNF-{\alpha},\;IL-l{\beta},\;IL-4\;and\;IL-5$), intestinal worm recovery rate and goblet cell responses were measured weekly from 0 to 5 weeks post-infection (P.I.) in the control and the following three drug-treated groups: CsA, hydroxyzine and cimetidine. Compared with the control group, the expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-4 and IL-5 mRNAs decreased in the CsA- and hydroxyzine-treated groups, but only IL-4 mRNA expression did in the cimetidine-treated group. Worm recovery rate was significantly increased in the drug-treated groups. Mucosal goblet cells and their mucin response significantly decreased in the CsA-treated group (P<0.01), but significantly increased in the cimetidine- (P<0.05) and hydroxyzine- (P<0.01) treated groups. These data suggest that CsA treatment inhibits production of Th1- and Th2-type cytokines which are necessary for the worm expulsion. Histamine receptor increases goblet cells and their mucin activation, although it remains to be elucidated whether it directly affects the worm expulsion period of E. hortense in C3H/HeN mice.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.192-202
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• 2017

In this study, factors involved in lipid and energy metabolism following treatment with ethanolic extract of the Polygonatum sibiricum rhizome (ID1216) were evaluated in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. ID1216-treated mice showed a significant reduction in weight gain compared to non-treated mice. ID1216 treatment increased the protein levels of AMP-dependent protein kinase, sirtuin1, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ coactivator 1-${\alpha}$ ($PGC1{\alpha}$), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\alpha}$ ($PPAR{\alpha}$) and uncoupling proteins in the adipose tissue, liver and muscle compared to vehicle treatment. Analysis of downstream signals of the sirtuin1 $PGC1{\alpha}$-$PPAR{\alpha}$ pathway showed that ID1216 regulates the expression of ${\beta}$-oxidation related genes such as acyl-CoA oxidase, carnitine palmitoyltransferase1, acyl-CoA dehydrogenase and adipocyte protein 2. In addition, ID1216 increased the expression of adipose triglyceride lipase. These results suggest that ID1216 has anti-obesity effects by regulating the genes involved thermogenesis, ${\beta}$-oxidation and lipolysis in a diet-induced obesity model.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.51-54
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• 2011

Vitamin D is present in two forms, ergocalciferol (vitamin $D_2$) produced by plants and cholecalciferol (vitamin $D_3$) produced by animal tissues or by the action of ultraviolet light on 7-dehydrocholesterol in human skin. Both forms of vitamin D are biologically inactive pro-hormones that must undergo sequential hydroxylations in the liver and the kidney before they can bind to and activate the vitamin D receptor. The hormonally active form of vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 $[1,25(OH)_2D]$, plays an essential role in calcium and phosphate metabolism, bone growth, and cellular differentiation. Renal synthesis of $1,25(OH)_2D$ from its endogenous precursor, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), is the rate-limiting and is catalyzed by the $1{\alpha}$-hydroxylase. Vitamin D dependent rickets type I (VDDR-I), also referred to as vitamin D $1{\alpha}$-hydroxylase deficiency or pseudovitamin D deficiency rickets, is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized clinically by hypotonia, muscle weakness, growth failure, hypocalcemic seizures in early infancy, and radiographic findings of rickets. Characteristic laboratory features are hypocalcemia, increased serum concentrations of parathyroid hormone (PTH), and low or undetectable serum concentrations of $1,25(OH)_2D$ despite normal or increased concentrations of 25OHD. Recent advances have showed in the cloning of the human $1{\alpha}$-hydroxylase and revealed mutations in its gene that cause VDDR-I. This review presents the biology of vitamin D, and $1{\alpha}$-hydroxylase mutations with clinical findings.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.584-590
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• 2000

Natural products are one of the useful source of cardiovascular drugs, in particular, when they have antioxidant activity. Gagaminine, an alkaloid isolated from the roots of Cynanchum wilfordi Hemsley, has been reported to potently inhibit the aldehyde oxidase activity ({TEX}$IC_{50}${/TEX}=0.8$\mu$M) and reduce lipid peroxidation. However, the effect of gagaminine on vascular smooth muscle has not yet been investigated. In the present study, we examined whether gagaminine relaxes vascular smooth muscle by isometric tension study. In order to observe its relaxation effect on the arteries, conductivel vessel (rat thoracic aorta) and resistance vessel (pig coronary artery) were purposely used. Results indicated that gagaminine relaxed in a concentration-dependent manner $\alpha$-adrenoceptor agonist, phenylephrine (PE)-induced contraction of rat aorta. Pretreatment with gagaminine inhibited PE-induced contraction, noncompetitively. {TEX}$Ca^{2+}${/TEX}-induced contraction was significantly diminished by gagaminine. In pig coronary artery, gagaminine relaxed thromboxane receptor (U 46619)-mediated contraction in dose-dependent manner. Pretreatment with gagaminine also reduced the maximum contraction induced by KCl. These observations strongly suggest that agagminnine relaxes vascular smooth muscle, irrespective of both resistance and conductive artery. We demonstrate that gagaminine, a potent natural antioxidant, has a significant vasodilatory effect and its action mechanism van be ascribed at least in part to {TEX}$Ca^{2+}${/TEX} antagonistic action as evidenced by inhibition {TEX}$Ca^{2+}${/TEX}-induced contraction (rat aorta) and KCl-induced contraction (porcine artery). Furthermore, neither $\alpha$ -adrenoceptor nor thromboxane receptor seems responsible for the relaxation of gagaminine.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.239-248
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of NK1 receptor antagonists on the pulpal blood flow (PBF) when applied iontophoretically through the dentinal cavity of the teeth in order to understand whether iontophoretically applied NK1 receptor antagonists can control the pulpal inflammation. Eleven cats were anesthetized with alpha-chloralose and urethane, and substance P (SP) was administered to the dental pulp through the catheterized lingual artery in doses that caused PBF change without the influence of systemic blood pressure. NK1 receptor antagonists were applied iontophoretically to the prepared dentinal cavity of ipsilateral canine teeth of the drug administration, and PBF was monitored. Data were analyzed statistically with paired t-test. PBF increase after iontophoretic application of the NK1 receptor antagonists followed by the intra-arterial administration of SP was significantly less than PBF increase after iontophoretic application of the 0.9% saline followed by the intra-arterial administration of SP as a control (p < 0.05). Iontophoretic application of the NK1 receptor antagonists (0.2~3.4 mM) following the intra-arterial administration of SP resulted in less increase of PBF than the iontophoretic application of the 0.9% saline following the intra-arterial administration of SP as a control (p < 0.05). Therefore. the results of the present study provide evidences that the iontophoretic application is an effective method to deliver drugs to the dental pulp. and that iontophoretically applied NK1 receptor antagonists block SP-induced vasodilation effectively. The above results show the possibility that the iontophoretical application of NK1 receptor antagonists can control the neurogenic inflammation in the dental pulp.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.231-236
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• 2000

Recent studies have clearly shown that the expression of genes for gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and its receptor in the rat reproductive organs including ovary, testis, placenta uterus and mammary gland. Moreover, luteinizing hormone (LH) classically known to be a main target product of GnRH in anterior pituitary has been found in rat gonads. These findings suggested the presence of local circuit composed of GnRH and LH in the rat gonads. The present study was undertaken to elucidate whether the genes for LH and its receptor are expressed in rat mammary gland. Expression of LH and its receptor genes in the rat mammary gland was demonstrated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and specific LH radioimmunoassay (RIA). The LH${\beta}$ transcripts in the mammary gland from cycling rats contained the pituitary type of LH${\beta}$ exons 1~3 encoding the entire LH${\beta}$ polypeptide but lacked the rat testis-specific LH${\beta}$ exon(s). Presence of ${\alpha}$ -subunit transcripts in the rat mammary gland were determined by RT-PCR. The cDNA fragments encoding exons 2~7 of rat LH receptor transcripts were amplified in both rat ovary and mammary gland samples. We could detect the GnRH expression in mammary gland from cycling virgin rats, and this result disagreed with previous report that mammary GnRH expression is occured in lactating rats only. Considerable amounts of immunoreactive LH molecules with good RIA parallelism in standard curve were detected in crude extracts from the rat mammary gland, indicating that the immunoreactive LH materials in the gland might be identical to authentic pituitary LH. To our knowledge, the present study demonstrated for the first time the expression of LH subunits and LH receptor in the rat mammary gland. Our findings suggested that the mammary gland might be the novel source and target of LH and the mammary LH could be act as a local regulator with auto-and/or paracrine manner under the regulation of local GnRH.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.154-162
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• 1996

The effcets of adenosine 5'-triphosphate(ATP) were investigated on the uterine smooth muscle motility in the pig. The results were summarized as follows: 1. The effects of the porcine uterine smooth muscle and the contractile responses increased between the concentration of ATP $10^{-5}$ and $10^{-3}$ M with a dose-dependent manner. 2. The contractile response induced by ATP($10^{-4}$ M) was not blocked by pretreatment with cholinergic receptor blocker, atropine ($10^{-6}$ M) 3. The contractile response induced by ATP ($10^{-4}$ M) was not blocked by pretreatment with $\alpha$ -adrenergic receptor blocker, phentolamine(10$^{-6}$ M) and ${\beta}$-adrenergic blocker, propranolol ($10^{-6}$ M). 4. The contractile response induced by ATP($10^{-4}$ M) was not appeared in 4Ca^{++}$ -free medium. As the concentration of $Ca^{++}$ in $Ca^{++}$ -free medium was increased, the contractile response induced by ATP ($10^{-4}$ M) was enhenced but was completely inhibited by pretreatment with $Ca^{++}$ -channel blocker, papaverine($10^{-6}$ M) or verapamil($10^{-6}$ M). From these results, it was conclued that the effects of ATP were the contraction mediated by purinergic receptor in uterine smooth muscle of pig.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2001.05a
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• pp.167-167
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• 2001

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors(PPARs) are member of the neuclear hormone receptor superfamiliy of ligand-dependent transcription factors that heterodimerizes with the retinoid X receptor to function as a transcriptional regulator. They are divided into three subtypes(PPAR-$\alpha$, $\beta$ and ${\gamma}$).(omitted)

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.304-310
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• 1999

Background: IFN-$\gamma$ plays an important role in host response to intracellular organisms such as mycobacterium. Human infection with mycobacterium leads to a wide variety of outcomes, ranging from asymptomatic infection to widespread and rapidly fatal disease. Recent reports suggest that alteration of the function of IFN-$\gamma$ caused by a defective IFN-$\gamma$ receptor gene can explain different host response to mycobacterium. In this study, we investigated the role of IFN-$\gamma$ in the development of chronic refractory tuberculosis. Methods: The LPS-induced TNF-$\alpha$ production with or without IFN-$\gamma$ priming was compared by using monocytes taken from recently diagnosed tuberculosis, chronic refractory tuberculosis patients and controls. And the IFN-$\gamma$ receptor was measured by indirect fluorescent antibody technique to know whether change in the priming effect of IFN-$\gamma$ is related to IFN-$\gamma$ receptor deficiency or not. Results: The ratio of TNF-$\alpha$ produced in response to stimulation with INF-$\gamma$ and LPS to LPS alone was $13.5{\pm}7.6$ in controls, $10.8{\pm}6.4$ in recently diagnosed tuberculosis patients and $6.7{\pm}3.9$ in chronic refractory tuberculosis patients. The priming effect of IFN-$\gamma$ significantly decreased in chronic refractory tuberculosis patients compared with that in controls(p=0.002). However, IFN-$\gamma$ receptor deficiency was detected in one of chronic refractory tuberculosis patients. Conclusion: The decrease of the priming effect of IFN-$\gamma$ may play an important role in the development of chronic refractory tuberculosis, and in some patients, this may be related to the IFN-$\gamma$ receptor deficiency.