• Molecules and Cells
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• 제39권7호
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• pp.543-549
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• 2016

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to be involved in many neurodegenerative diseases. The present study focused on the role of hsa-miR-144-3p in one of the neuro-degenerative diseases, Parkinson's disease (PD). Our study showed a remarkable down-regulation of miR-144-3p expression in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-treated SH-SY5Y cells. MiR-144-3p was then overexpressed and silenced in human SH-SY5Y cells by miRNA-mimics and miRNA-inhibitor transfections, respectively. Furthermore, ${\beta}$-amyloid precursor protein (APP) was identified as a target gene of miR-144-3p via a luciferase reporter assay. We found that miR-144-3p overexpression significantly inhibited the protein expression of APP. Since mitochondrial dysfunction has been shown to be one of the major pathological events in PD, we also focused on the role of miR-144-3p and APP in regulating mitochondrial functions. Our study demonstrated that up-regulation of miR-144-3p increased expression of the key genes involved in maintaining mitochondrial function, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ coactivator-$1{\alpha}$(PGC-$1{\alpha}$), nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF-1) and mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM). Moreover, there was also a significant increase in cellular ATP, cell viability and the relative copy number of mtDNA in the presence of miR-144-3p overexpression. In contrast, miR-144-3p silencing showed opposite effects. We also found that APP overexpression significantly decreased ATP level, cell viability, the relative copy number of mtDNA and the expression of these three genes, which reversed the effects of miR-144-3p overexpression. Taken together, these results show that miR-144-3p plays an important role in maintaining mitochondrial function, and its target gene APP is also involved in this process.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제40권2호
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• pp.133-142
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• 2017

Previous studies have shown that bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) transplantation significantly improves the recovery of neurological function in a rat model of intracerebral hemorrhage. Potential repair mechanisms involve anti-inflammation, anti-apoptosis and angiogenesis. However, few studies have focused on the effects of MSCs on inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression and subsequent peroxynitrite formation after hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage (HICH). In this study, MSCs were transplanted intracerebrally into rats 6 hours after HICH. The modified neurological severity score and the modified limb placing test were used to measure behavioral outcomes. Blood-brain barrier disruption and neuronal loss were measured by zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and neuronal nucleus (NeuN) expression, respectively. Concomitant edema formation was evaluated by H&E staining and brain water content. The effect of MSCs treatment on neuroinflammation was analyzed by immunohistochemical analysis or polymerase chain reaction of CD68, Iba1, iNOS expression and subsequent peroxynitrite formation, and by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of pro-inflammatory factors (IL-$1{\beta}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$). The MSCs-treated HICH group showed better performance on behavioral scores and lower brain water content compared to controls. Moreover, the MSC injection increased NeuN and ZO-1 expression measured by immunochemistry/immunofluorescence. Furthermore, MSCs reduced not only levels of CD68, Iba1 and pro-inflammatory factors, but it also inhibited iNOS expression and peroxynitrite formation in perihematomal regions. The results suggest that intracerebral administration of MSCs accelerates neurological function recovery in HICH rats. This may result from the ability of MSCs to suppress inflammation, at least in part, by inhibiting iNOS expression and subsequent peroxynitrite formation.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제33권2호
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• pp.89-101
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• 2019

In recent times, the number of men with late-onset hypogonadism has increased, and interest on this topic has also increased. This study was conducted to investigate effects of the mixture extract of Fructus amomi Amari, Eucommiae cortex, Bombyx batryticatus on improve late-onset hypogonadism. The experimental subjects consisted of three groups: a control group consisting of 8-week-old male ICR mice that had undergone no treatment, an aging-elicited group (AE group) consisting of 50-week-old ICR male mice that had undergone no treatment, and a Mixed herbal extract treatment group (MT group) consisting of 50-week-old ICR male mice that had undergone the mixture extract of Fructus amomi Amari, Eucommiae cortex, Bombyx batryticatus treatment (0.1 g/kg/day) for 6 months. After the experiment, the mice from all the experimental groups were dissected, and they were analyzed through histochemical and immunohistochemical methods. The mixture extract of Fructus amomi Amari, Eucommiae cortex, Bombyx batryticatus reduces aging-induced cell damage and oxidative stress and increases the secretion of serotonin and B-endorphin in aged mice, and promotes spermatogenesis in seminiferous tubules and reduces apoptosis and oxidative stress, and increases androgen receptor, $17{\beta}-HSD$ and GnRH, increases the ratio of smooth muscle to collagen fibers in the corpus cavernosum, increases eNOS, decreases PDE-5 and oxidative stress in aged mice, so it improves depression, reproductive, sexual problems caused by Late-onset hypogonadism. the mixture extract of Fructus amomi Amari, Eucommiae cortex, Bombyx batryticatus inhibits the induction of osteoporosis by increasing decreased bone matrix distribution due to aging, increasing the activities of OPC and OPN, which are produced in osteoblasts, and decreasing RANKL, MMP-3 activity, increasing OPG activity. It also reduces muscle damage, oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis of muscle tissue, and increases Myo-D in the sartorius muscle of aged mice for improving muscle atrophy caused by by Late-onset hypogonadism.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.147-157
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• 2021

Coronary microembolization (CME) is associated with cardiomyocyte apoptosis and cardiac dysfunction. Puerarin confers protection against multiple cardiovascular diseases, but its effects and specific mechanisms on CME are not fully known. Hence, our study investigated whether puerarin pretreatment could alleviate cardiomyocyte apoptosis and improve cardiac function following CME. The molecular mechanism associated was also explored. A total of 48 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into CME, CME + Puerarin (CME + Pue), sham, and sham + Puerarin (sham + Pue) groups (with 12 rats per group). A CME model was established in CME and CME + Pue groups by injecting 42 ㎛ microspheres into the left ventricle of rats. Rats in the CME + Pue and sham + Pue groups were intraperitoneally injected with puerarin at 120 mg/kg daily for 7 days before operation. Cardiac function, myocardial histopathology, and cardiomyocyte apoptosis index were determined via cardiac ultrasound, hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and hematoxylin-basic fuchsin-picric acid (HBFP) stainings, and TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining, respectively. Western blotting was used to measure protein expression related to the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) pathway. We found that, puerarin significantly ameliorated cardiac dysfunction after CME, attenuated myocardial infarct size, and reduced myocardial apoptotic index. Besides, puerarin inhibited cardiomyocyte apoptosis, as revealed by decreased Bax and cleaved caspase-3, and up-regulated Bcl-2 and PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β pathway related proteins. Collectively, puerarin can inhibit cardiomyocyte apoptosis and thus attenuate myocardial injury caused by CME. Mechanistically, these effects may be achieved through activation of the PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β pathway.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제84권2호
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• pp.96-104
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• 2021

Background: Many chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients receiving monotherapy continue to experience symptoms, exacerbations and poor quality of life. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of direct switch from once-daily tiotropium (TIO) 18 ㎍ to indacaterol/glycopyrronium (IND/GLY) 110/50 ㎍ once daily in COPD patients in Korea. Methods: This was a randomized, open-label, parallel group, 12-week trial in mild-to-moderate COPD patients who received TIO 18 ㎍ once daily for ≥12 weeks prior to study initiation. Patients aged ≥40 years, with predicted post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁) ≥50%, post-bronchodilator FEV₁/forced vital capacity <0.7 and smoking history of ≥10 pack-years were included. Eligible patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either IND/GLY or TIO. The primary objective was to demonstrate superiority of IND/GLY over TIO in pre-dose trough FEV₁ at week 12. Secondary endpoints included transition dyspnea index (TDI) focal score, COPD assessment test (CAT) total score, and rescue medication use following the 12-week treatment, and safety assessment. Results: Of the 442 patients screened, 379 were randomized and 347 completed the study. IND/GLY demonstrated superiority in pre-dose trough FEV₁ versus TIO at week 12 (least squares mean treatment difference [Δ], 50 mL; p=0.013). Also, numerical improvements were observed with IND/GLY in the TDI focal score (Δ, 0.31), CAT total score (Δ, -0.81), and rescue medication use (Δ, -0.09 puffs/day). Both treatments were well tolerated by patients. Conclusion: A direct switch from TIO to IND/GLY provided improvements in lung function and other patient-reported outcomes with an acceptable safety profile in patients with mild-to-moderate airflow limitation.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.233-241
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• 2022

Objectives: Asthma is a chronic disease, and the demand for herbal medicines in this field has increased in recent years. The new findings highlight the role of the gut-lung axis in the pathophysiology of asthma. Hence, this study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of Glasthma syrup, an herbal formula based on Persian medicine, in improving asthma and regulating intestinal permeability. The formula consists of five herbal ingredients that have anti-inflammatory effects on the respiratory tract, also known as gut tonics. Methods: The study will be conducted as a placebo-controlled, triple-blind, randomized trial. It will consist of a 4-week intervention followed by a 4-week follow-up period. The target sample size is 20 patients with moderate asthma aged 18 to 60 years. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to either the experimental group or the control group in equal numbers. Patients in the experimental group will take Glasthma syrup (7.5 mL, twice a day), while patients in the control group will take a matching placebo. Both groups will receive a 4-week combination of a long-acting beta2 agonist and a leukotriene modulator as standard of care. Inhaled corticosteroids can be used as rescue medication as needed. Results: The primary outcomes are asthma symptom scale, lung function, and intestinal permeability. Secondary outcomes include quality of life, symptom recurrence rates, and blood tests. A safety assessment will also be conducted during the trial. Conclusion: In this trial, the effects of Glasthma syrup in patients with moderate asthma will be examined. The study will also assess the effects of the formulation on the gut-lung axis by simultaneously monitoring the gut permeability index, asthma symptoms, and lung function.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.25.1-25.16
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• 2021

Asthma is a heterogeneous disease whose development is shaped by a variety of environmental and genetic factors. While several recent studies suggest that microbial dysbiosis in the gut may promote asthma, little is known about the relationship between the recently discovered lung microbiome and asthma. Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) have also been shown recently to participate in asthma. To investigate the relationship between the lung microbiome, ILCs, and asthma, we recruited 23 healthy controls (HC), 42 patients with non-severe asthma, and 32 patients with severe asthma. Flow cytometry analysis showed severe asthma associated with fewer natural cytotoxicity receptor (NCR)⁺ILC3s in the lung. Similar changes in other ILC subsets, macrophages, and monocytes were not observed. The asthma patients did not differ from the HC in terms of the alpha and beta-diversity of the lung and gut microbiomes. However, lung function correlated positively with both NCR⁺ILC3 frequencies and microbial diversity in the lung. Sputum NCR⁺ILC3 frequencies correlated positively with lung microbiome diversity in the HC, but this relationship was inversed in severe asthma. Together, these data suggest that airway NCR⁺ILC3s may contribute to a healthy commensal diversity and normal lung function.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제28권4호
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• pp.313-322
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• 2024

Mutations within the SCN5A gene, which encodes the α-subunit 5 (Na_V1.5) of the voltage-gated Na⁺ channel, have been linked to three distinct cardiac arrhythmia disorders: long QT syndrome type 3, Brugada syndrome (BrS), and cardiac conduction disorder. In this study, we have identified novel missense mutations (p.A385T/R504T) within SCN5A in a patient exhibiting overlap arrhythmia phenotypes. This study aims to elucidate the functional consequences of SCN5A mutants (p.A385T/R504T) to understand the clinical phenotypes. Whole-cell patch-clamp technique was used to analyze the Na_V1.5 current (I_Na) in HEK293 cells transfected with the wild-type and mutant SCN5A with or without SCN1B co-expression. The amplitude of I_Na was not altered in mutant SCN5A (p.A385T/R504T) alone. Furthermore, a rightward shift of the voltage-dependent inactivation and faster recovery from inactivation was observed, suggesting a gain-of-function state. Intriguingly, the co-expression of SCN1B with p.A385T/R504T revealed significant reduction of I_Na and slower recovery from inactivation, consistent with the loss-of-function in Na⁺ channels. The SCN1B dependent reduction of I_Na was also observed in a single mutation p.R504T, but p.A385T co-expressed with SCN1B showed no reduction. In contrast, the slower recovery from inactivation with SCN1B was observed in A385T while not in R504T. The expression of SCN1B is indispensable for the electrophysiological phenotype of BrS with the novel double mutations; p.A385T and p.R504T contributed to the slower recovery from inactivation and reduced current density of Na_V1.5, respectively.

• 한국과학예술포럼
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• 제31권
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• pp.21-32
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• 2017

지역축제는 문화를 형성하는 소통의 장으로 국내 관광 사업의 수요를 증가시키고, 지역의 이미지 창출, 전통 문화의 보존, 관광객 유입, 일자리 창출, 지역문화의 콘텐츠 개발, 지역특산품 판매 촉진 등 지역경제에 많은 파급효과와 지역경제 활성화에 중요한 가치를 지니고 있다. 무선통신 기술인 사물인터넷(IoT, Internet of Thing) 요소기술은 점차적으로 발전하고 있고, 특히 사물인터넷 서비스 중 하나인 비콘은 국내·외에서 다양한 서비스 형태로 활용되고 있다. 그러나 이러한 사물인터넷 서비스, 디지털 및 모바일 기술의 확산에도 불구하고, 수 없이 많은 지역축제에 대한 정보를 개인이 하나하나 찾기란 쉽지 않고, 기존에 개발된 축제 관련 애플리케이션은 단순 정보전달 수준에 국한되어 있거나 일회성인 축제 정보제공, 축제장 내의 정보제공 방식, 개발 축제마다 별도의 애플리케이션 형태제공, 단발성 사용 등의 문제점을 안고 있다. 이러한 배경 하에 본 연구는 비콘을 활용한 위치기반 지역축제 모바일 애플리케이션과 데이터 분석 시스템 개발하여 축제 방문객에게 맞춤형 정보를 제공하는데 그 목적이 있다. 본 연구의 기술개발을 통해 '축제장 혼잡도 알고리즘', '방문객 통계분석 알고리즘', '맞춤형 정보 알고리즘'의 총 3개의 알고리즘 및 데이터분석 시스템을 개발했고, 개발된 애플리케이션과 데이터 분석 시스템을 통해 실제 축제장에서 베타테스트를 실시했다. 그 결과, 방문객 행태 DB 구축, 지역축제 방문객에게 Hot place 기능, 대기시간 기능, 맞춤형 정보제공의 서비스와 기능을 제공할 수 있었다. 또한, 출시 3개월 간 1만 3천 건 이상의 다운로드 실적 달성, 구글플레이스토어에 '축제' 관련 애플리케이션 중 노출 1위를 달성하는 등 지역 관광 축제 플랫폼으로서의 시장성과 우수성을 인정받았다. 본 연구는 다음과 같은 순서로 기술한다. 2장에서는 본 연구의 기술개발과 관련된 지역축제, 사물인터넷, 비콘 서비스, 축제 관련 애플리케이션의 선행연구를 살펴보고, 3장에서는 지역축제 모바일 애플리케이션 설계와 데이터 분석 시스템의 구현환경을 상세히 기술한다. 4장에서는 본 연구에서 개발한 모바일 애플리케이션과 데이터 분석 시스템이 제대로 적용되지는 실험하기 위해 베타테스를 실시하여 제품의 성능평가를 기술하고, 마지막으로 5장에서는 결론과 향후 연구과제에 대해 기술한다.

• 미생물학회지
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• 제41권2호
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• pp.99-104
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• 2005

유전자 lacZYA가 aces 유전자의 프로모터 하단에 연계된 $(P_{aceB}-lacZYA)$ 리포터 플라스미드를 함유하는 Escherichia coli를 이용하여 glyoxylate bypass를 매개하는 유전자중하나인 aceB의 발현을 조절하는 것으로 여겨지는 Corynebacterium glutamicum클론들을 색판독에 의해 분리하였다. 이 중 한 개의 클론을 선택하여 분석할 결과 이 클론을 함유한 E. coli는 리포터 플라스미드에서 발현되는 $\beta-galactosidase$의 활성 이 약 $40\%$ 감소하였고 이는 클론에서 발현되는 단백질이 aceB프로로터에 작용함에 기인한 것으로 판단되었다. 서열분석결과 ORF1과 ORF2의 두 개의 인접한 ORF가 발견되었고 이중 ORF2가 reporter plasmid의 $\beta-galactosidase$의 활성 감소에 직접적으로 기여함을 알 수 있었다. ORF1은 206아미노산으로 구성된 23,218 Dalton의 단백질을 발현하는 것으로 여겨졌고, 유사성 분석결과 ECF-type에 해당되는 RNA polymerase의 sigma factor를 암호화하는 것으로 보여 sigH로 명명하였다. 유전자 sigH의 기능을 밝히기 위해 gene disruption technique을 이용하여 sigH 유전자가 기능을 하지 못하는 돌연변이 균을 제작하였으며 이 균주는 야생형에 비해 성장속도가 저하됨을 관찰하였다. 또한 변이균은 oxidative stress를유발하는 pumbagin둥에 대해서도 민감성을 나타내었다. 이들 결과는, 유사성 분석결과에서도 볼 수 있듯이 sigH유전자가 세포성장과정 중 처하게 되는 각종 stress중 특히 oxidative stress에 대한 대응과 관련되어 발현될 수 있음을 암시한다.상관관계는 공간적인 범위가 10$\times$10km 이하인 경우에 높게 나타났다. 하지만 공간범위가 그 이상이 될 경우에는 그 내부에서 나타나는 다양성으로 인해 통계적인 상관성이 현격하게 낮아지는 것을 관찰할 수 있었다. 이러한 결과는 지역 및 국가 단위의 환경변화모델에서 모델의 공간적인 구성범위가 일정한 수준을 넘으면, 그 내부에서 발생하고 있는 다양성이 급격하게 증가하여 지표피복변화의 원인과 결과를 정확하게 파악하기 힘들게 된다는 것을 의미한다. 10$\times$10km의 공간적인 범위는 농업생산이 위주가 되는 사바나 지역에서는 주로 개별 마을이 차지하고 있는 공간적인 범위와 대체적으로 일치한다. 따라서 사바나 지역에서 나타나는 지표피복변화의 다양성을 고려하면서 보다 정확하게 모형화하기 위해서는 마을단위에서 나타나는 지표피복변화과정이 최소의 모델단위가 되어야 함을 시사한다. 아니라 다른 방법으로 영향을 미치고 있다는 것을 알 수 있었다., 계절별로는 여름철에 강수가 집중됨으로서 습성강하물 침착량이 총량적으로 증가하였으며, 그 값은 $SO_4^{2-}\;2.118g/m^2/season,\;NO_3^-\;1.509g/m^2/season,\;Cl^-\;2.185g/m^2/season,\;NH_4\;^+\;1.096g/m^2/season$로. 나타났다. 계절별 잎의 평균 pH의 변화는 봄 pH $5.9\pm0.5$, 여름 pH $5.5\pm0.4$, 가을 pH $5.1\pm0.3$을 나타내었고, 엽중 수용성 황함량의 계절별 평균값은 봄 $0.012\pm0.004\%$, 여름 $0.012\pm0.002\%$, 가을 $0.020\pm0.007\%$ 수준을 보이고 있다. 수피 내 함유되어