• Genomics & Informatics
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.224-229
• /
• 2013

Receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE) is a multi-ligand receptor that is able to bind several different ligands, including advanced glycation endproducts, high-mobility group protein (B)1 (HMGB1), S-100 calcium-binding protein, amyloid-${\beta}$-protein, Mac-1, and phosphatidylserine. Its interaction is engaged in critical cellular processes, such as inflammation, proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, and migration, and dysregulation of RAGE and its ligands leads to the development of numerous human diseases. In this review, we summarize the signaling pathways regulated by RAGE and its ligands identified up to date and demonstrate the effects of hyper-activation of RAGE signals on human diseases, focused mainly on renal disorders. Finally, we propose that RAGE and its ligands are the potential targets for the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of numerous renal diseases.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.45-49
• /
• 2005

Background: Inflammation in the brain has known to be associated with the development of a various neurological diseases. The hallmark of neuro-inflammation is the activation of microglia, brain macrophage. Pro-inflammatory compounds including nitric oxide (NO) are the main cause of neuro-degenerative disease such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) which is resulted in cell death. Among those pro-inflammatory compounds, NO contributes to the cell death by directly or indirectly. Methods: In the study, we examined whether ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), a non-toxic hydrophilic bile acid, inhibits the NO production by a direct method using Griess reagent and by RT-PCR in the gene expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). In signal transduction, we also examined the NF-${\kappa}B$ (p65/p50), IKK, and I ${\kappa}B$, which are associated with the expression of iNOS gene using western blots. Results: In the present study, we found that UDCA effectively inhibited NO production in BV-2 microglial cell, and NF-${\kappa}B$ activation was reduced by suppressing IKK gene expression and by increasing the I${\kappa}B$ in cytosol comparing those to the positive control LPS. Conclusion: Taken together, these data suggested that UDCA may playa crucial role in inhibiting the NO production and the results imply that UDCA suppresses a cue signal of the microglial activation via stimulators, such as ${\beta}$-amyloid peptides which are known to stimulate microglia in AD pathogenesis.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.503-512
• /
• 2001

Objective : This study was carried out to investigate the effects of DDT on the brain damage and hypertension. Methods : We observed the effect of Dodamtang(DDT) extract on KCN-induced coma, focal brain ischemia by MCA occlusion, cytotoxicity and protection of PC12 cells and B103 cells induced by amyloid ${\beta}$ protein(25-35). To prove the effect of DDT as a blood pressure depressant, we measured aldosterone, renin activity, catecholamine, sodium and NO density using the seperated blood plasma. Results : DDT showed a protective effect on cytotoxicity of PC12 cells and B103 cells induced by amyloid ${\beta}$ protein(25-35) in a dose dependent manner and proved the significant abridgement of brain ischemic area and edema induced by MCA occlusion, a critical decrease of neurologic deficitic grade in the fore-limbs. DDT didn't reduce the duration of KCN(1.87mg/kg iv.)-induced coma and prolonged the survival rate in the case of KCN(3.0mg/kg iv.)-induced coma by the ratio of 20%. While DDT increased the value of NO in SHR, it significantly decreased the blood pressure of SHR and the value of aldosterone& epinephrine in SHR. Conclusions : These results suggested that DDT might be usefully applied for treatment of hypertension, cerebral infarction, and brain damage.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.30 no.7
• /
• pp.598-605
• /
• 2020

Padina gymnospora is a brown algae of the class Phaeophyceae. It has been established that P. gymnospora ameliorates amyloid-β-induced neuropathology and has an anticoagulation effect, but this study was designed to estimate its skin-whitening effect and identify its active component. The ingredients of P. gymnospora were extracted with ethanol and its activity was compared with arbutin. First, the P. gymnospora extract was observed to inhibit tyrosinase activity in a dose-dependent manner, tyrosinase being the rate-limiting enzyme of melanin synthesis. Notably, where 200 μM of arbutin inhibited tyrosinase activity by 58.1%, P. gymnospora extract (0.5%) achieved 76.7%. The P. gymnospora extract also significantly reduced α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone-induced TRP-1 and TRP-2 mRNA expression. In addition, it significantly inhibited melanin synthesis in B16F10 melanoma cells. We identified the 0.66% fucosterol content that inhibited melanin synthesis as comparable to that of arbutin. Additionally, we tested the potential cytotoxicity of P. gymnospora by MTT and LDH release assay and found that the extract significantly reduced LDH release in CCD-986sk cells. These results indicate that P. gymnospora extract could be a potential active ingredient of cosmetics with a skin-whitening effect.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.22 no.12
• /
• pp.1608-1613
• /
• 2012

A conventional kinesin, KIF5/Kinesin-I, transports various cargoes along the microtubule through interaction between its light chain subunit and the cargoes. Kinesin light chains (KLCs) interact with many different cargoes using their tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) domain, but the mechanism underlying recognition and binding of a specific cargo has not yet been completely elucidated. We used the yeast two-hybrid assay to identify proteins that interact with the TPR domain of KLC1. We found an interaction between the TPR domain of KLC1 and an amyloid precursor protein (APP)-binding protein PAT1 (protein interacting with APP tail 1). The yeast two-hybrid assay demonstrated that the TPR domain-containing region of KLC1 mediated binding to the C-terminal tail region of PAT1. PAT1 also bound to KLC2 but not to kinesin heavy chains (KIF5A, KIF5B, and KIF5C) in the yeast two-hybrid assay. These protein-protein interactions were also observed in the glutathione S-transferase (GST) pull-down assay and by co-immunoprecipitation. Anti-PAT1 antibody as well as anti-APP anti-body co-immunoprecipitated KLC and KHCs associated with PAT1 from mouse brain extracts. These results suggest that PAT1 could mediate interactions between Kinesin-I and APP containing vesicles.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.153-159
• /
• 2023

The copper ion, Cu(II), binding sites for amyloid fragment Aβ1-16 (=Aβ16 ) were investigated to explain the biological activity difference in the Aβ16 aggregation process. The [M+Cu+(z-2)H]^z+ (z = 2, 3 and 4, M = Aβ16 monomer) and [D+Cu+(z-2)H]^z+ (z = 3 and 5, D = Aβ16 dimer) structures were investigated using electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry (MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Fragment ions of the [M+Cu+(z-2)H]^z+ and [D+Cu+(z-2)H]^z+ complexes were observed using collision-induced dissociation MS/MS. Three different fragmentation patterns (fragment "a", "b", and "y" ion series) were observed in the MS/MS spectrum of the (Aβ16 monomer or dimer-Cu) complex, with the "b" and "y" ion series regularly observed. The "a" ion series was not observed in the MS/MS spectrum of the [M+Cu+2H]⁴⁺ complex. In the non-covalent bond dissociation process, the [D+Cu+3H]⁵⁺ complex separated into three components ([M+Cu+H]³⁺, M³⁺, and M²⁺), and the [M+Cu]²⁺ subunit was not observed. The {M + fragment ion of [M+Cu+H]³⁺} fragmentation pattern was observed during the covalent bond dissociation of the [D+Cu +3H]⁵⁺ complex. The {M + [M+Cu+H]³⁺} complex geometry was assumed to be stable in the [D+Cu+3H]⁵⁺ complex. The {M + fragment ion of [M+Cu]²⁺} fragmentation pattern was also observed in the MS/MS spectrum of the [D+Cu+H]³⁺ complex. The {M + [y₉+Cu]¹⁺} fragment ion was the characteristic fragment ion. The [D+Cu+H]³⁺ and [D+Cu+3H]⁵⁺ complexes were likely to form a monomer-monomer-Cu (M-M-Cu) structure instead of a monomer-Cu-monomer (M-Cu-M) structure.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.49 no.3
• /
• pp.213-219
• /
• 2011

This experiment was conducted to assess the changing patterns and relative values of acute phase proteins and inflammatory cytokines in experimental caprine coccidiosis. Eighteen newborn kids were allocated to 3 equal groups. Two groups, A and B, were inoculated with a single dose of $1{\times}10^3$ and$1{\times}10^5$sporulated oocysts of Eimeria arloingi, respectively. The third group, C, received distilled water as the control. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of each kid in both groups before inoculation and at days 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 post-inoculation (PI), and the levels of haptoglobin (Hp), serum amyloid A (SAA), TNF-${\alpha}$, and IFN-${\gamma}$ were measured. For histopathological examinations, 2 kids were selected from each group, euthanized, and necropsied on day 42 PI. Mean Hp concentrations in groups A and B (0.34 and 0.68 g/L) at day 7 PI were 3.2 and 6.3 times higher than the levels before inoculation. The mean SAA concentrations in groups A and B (25.6 and 83.5 ${\mu}g$/ml) at day 7 PI were 4.2 and 13.7 times higher than the levels before inoculation. The magnitude and duration of the Hp and SAA responses correlated well with the inoculation doses and the severity of the clinical signs and diarrhea in kids. These results were consistent with the histopathological features, which showed advanced widespread lesions in group B. In both groups, significant correlations were observed for TNF-${\alpha}$ and IFN-${\gamma}$ with SAA and Hp, respectively. In conclusion, Hp and SAA can be useful non-specific diagnostic indicators in caprine coccidiosis.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.173-180
• /
• 2019

Amyloid ${\beta}$-protein ($A{\beta}$) is the principal component of senile plaques characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and elicits a toxic effect on neurons in vitro and in vivo. Many environmental factors, including antioxidants and proteoglycans, modify $A{\beta}$ toxicity. It is worthwhile to isolate novel natural compounds that could prove therapeutic for patients with AD without causing detrimental side effects. In this study, we investigated the in vitro neuroprotective effects of the ethyl acetate fraction of methanol extract of Ophiophogon japonicas (OJEA fraction). We used an MTT reduction assay to detect protective effects of the OJEA fraction on $A{\beta}_{25-35}$-induced cytotoxicity to PC12 cells. We also used a cell-based ${\beta}$-secretase assay system to investigate the inhibitory effect of the OJEA fraction on ${\beta}$-secretase activity. In addition, we performed an in vitro lipid peroxidation assay to evaluate the protective effect of the OJEA fraction against oxidative stress induced by $A{\beta}_{25-35}$ in PC12 cells. The OJEA fraction had strong protective effects against $A{\beta}_{25-35}$-induced cytotoxicity to PC12 cells and was strongly inhibitory to ${\beta}$-secretase activity, which resulted in the attenuation of $A{\beta}$ generation. In addition, the OJEA fraction significantly decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) content, which is induced by the exposure of PC12 cells to $A{\beta}_{25-35}$. Our results suggested that the OJEA fraction contained active compounds exhibiting a neuroprotective effect on $A{\beta}$ toxicity.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.24-34
• /
• 2023

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) at high concentrations induce oxidative stress, an imbalanced redox state that is a prevalent cause of neurodegenerative disorders. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of Capsosiphon fulvescens (CF) extract on oxidative stress-induced impairment of cognitive function in models of neurodegenerative diseases. CF was extracted with subcritical water and several solvents and H₂O₂ (0.25 mM) or aluminum chloride (AlCl₃; 25 µM) as an inducer of ROS was treated in PC12 neuronal cells and zebrafish larvae. All statistical analyses were performed using one-way analysis of variance and Dunnett's test using GraphPad Prism. H₂O₂ and AlCl₃ were found to significantly induce ROS production in PC12 neuronal cells and zebrafish larvae. In addition, they strongly affected intracellular Ca²⁺ levels, antioxidant enzyme activity, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) signaling, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, and hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. However, treatment of H₂O₂-induced PC12 cells or AlCl₃-induced zebrafish larvae with CF subcritical water extract at 90℃ and CF water extract effectively regulated excessive ROS production, intracellular Ca²⁺ levels, and mRNA expression of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxide, glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta, β-amyloid, tau, AChE, BDNF, and TrkB. Our study suggested that CF extracts can be a potential source of nutraceuticals that can improve the impairment of cognitive function and synaptic plasticity by regulating ROS generation in neurodegenerative diseases.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
• /
• 2002.05a
• /
• pp.108-108
• /
• 2002

Mutations in the presenilin genes (PS-1 and PS-2) are linked to early onset familial Alzheimer's disease(AD), but its underlying cellular mechanisms have not been clear. 15-Deoxy-Δ12, 14-prostaglandin J2 (15-deoxy-PGJ2) is know as a naturally occurring ligand of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-${\gamma}$ (PPAR-${\gamma}$).(omitted)