• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.295-304
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• 2013

Extracellular acidification occurs not only in pathological conditions such as inflammation and brain ischemia, but also in normal physiological conditions such as synaptic transmission. Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) can detect a broad range of physiological pH changes during pathological and synaptic cellular activities. ASICs are voltage-independent, proton-gated cation channels widely expressed throughout the central and peripheral nervous system. Activation of ASICs is involved in pain perception, synaptic plasticity, learning and memory, fear, ischemic neuronal injury, seizure termination, neuronal degeneration, and mechanosensation. Therefore, ASICs emerge as potential therapeutic targets for manipulating pain and neurological diseases. The activity of these channels can be regulated by many factors such as lactate, $Zn^{2+}$, and Phe-Met-Arg-Phe amide (FMRFamide)-like neuropeptides by interacting with the channel's large extracellular loop. ASICs are also modulated by G protein-coupled receptors such as CB1 cannabinoid receptors and 5-$HT_2$. This review focuses on the physiological roles of ASICs and the molecular mechanisms by which these channels are regulated.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.448-454
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• 2000

Microglia, brain resident macrophages, play a central role in the inflammatory responses of the brain and are activated in brain injuries and several neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, thereby aggravating the course of these diseases. In this study, the effects of plantderived compounds such as curcumin or gingerol on the microglial activation were examined. Microglial cultures were prepared from 2~3 week mixed primary glial cultures obtained from the cerebral cortex of 1~2 day old rats and identified by immunocytochemistry using microglial-specific antibody OX-42. Microglia were activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon-${\gamma}$ (IFN-${\gamma}$) and the effect of curcumin or 6-gingerol on the microglial activation was examined. Specific parameters measured to monitor microglial activation were nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E$_2$(PGE$_2$) and tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$) release. Curcumin (1~10 $\mu$M) inhibited NO release induced by LPS and IFN-${\gamma}$ in a dose-dependent manner whereas 6-gingerol (2~20 $\mu$M) did not have any effect on LPS/IFN-${\gamma}$-induced NO release. The levels of PGE$_2$and TNF-$\alpha$ induced by LPS and IFN-${\gamma}$ were also inhibited by 1~10 $\mu$M curcumin in a dose-dependent manner. These results showed that curcumin could modulate microglial activation.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.499-505
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• 2003

Background : The brain is a common site of a metastasis in lung cancer patients. If left untreated, the patients succumb to progressive neurological deterioration with a lower survival rate than with other metastases sites. Contrast-enhanced MR imaging in the absence of symptoms or clinical signs is not recommended for identifying a cerebral metastasis in lung cancer patients because of management effectiveness. This pilot study was performed to estimate whether or not limited brain MR imaging, which has a lower cost, could be used to replace conventional brain MR imaging. Method : Between April 1999 and March 2001, 43 patients with a primary lung cancer and the others (breast cancer, stomach cancer, colon cancer, malignant melanoma etc), who had neurological symptoms and signs, were examined using conventional brain MR imaging to examine brain metastases. The control group involved four patients who had no evidence of brain metastases the sensitivity, specificity and correlation of limited brain MR imaging were compared with conventional brain MR imaging. Results : All the 43 patients who were examined with conventional brain MR imaging showed evidence of brain metastases, whereas limited brain MR imaging indicated that 42 patients had brain metastases(sensitivity=97.67%). One patient in whom limited brain MR imaging showed no brain metastasis had a metastasis in the cerebellum, as shown by the contrast-enhanced T1 weighted axial view using conventional brain MR imaging. The conventional brain MR imaging and the limited brain MI imaging of the 4 control patients both indicated no brain metastases (specificity=100 %). The Pearson Correlation of the two groups was 0.884(Confidence Interval : 99%) observed. Conclusion : Limited brain MR imaging can detect a brain metastasis with the same accuracy. In addition, it is cost-effective (229,000 won, 180$) compared to conventional brain MR imaging(529,000 won, 480$) when patients had neurological symptoms and signs or staging.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.286-293
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• 1996

The studying and teaching of behavioral neurology remain in their infancy. As the arena for studying how the brain subserves cognition, emotion and consciousness, behavioral neurology straddles the boundaries of numerous, more established disciplines-extending from the most fundamental explorations of molecular biology to the broadest questions of philosophy. In behavioral neurology, the area of neural dysfunction as well as the pathogenesis must be determined. There are cases in which a more thorough mental status examination must be performed. These are practically the cases with known or suspected brain lesions and acute psychiatric disorders.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.350-357
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• 2018

Glial cells are receiving much attention since they have been recognized as important regulators of many aspects of brain function and disease. Recent evidence has revealed that two different glial cells, astrocytes and microglia, control synapse elimination under normal and pathological conditions via phagocytosis. Astrocytes use the MEGF10 and MERTK phagocytic pathways, and microglia use the classical complement pathway to recognize and eliminate unwanted synapses. Notably, glial phagocytosis also contributes to the clearance of disease-specific protein aggregates, such as ${\beta}$-amyloid, huntingtin, and ${\alpha}$-synuclein. Here we reivew recent findings showing that glial cells are active regulators in brain functions through phagocytosis and that changes in glial phagocytosis contribute to the pathogenesis of various neurodegenerative diseases. A better understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of glial phagocytosis in healthy and diseased brains will greatly improve our current approach in treating these diseases.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.153-161
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• 2013

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are the major components of brain and retina, and are the essential fatty acids with important physiologically active functions. Thus, PUFAs should be provided to children, and are very important in the brain growth and development for fetuses, newborn infants, and children. Omega-3 fatty acids decrease coronary artery disease and improve blood flow. PUFAs have been known to have anti-inflammatory action and improved the chronic inflammation such as auto-immune diseases or degenerative neurologic diseases. PUFAs are used for metabolic syndrome related with obesity or diabetes. However, there are several considerations related with intake of PUFAs. Obsession with the intake of unsaturated fatty acids could bring about the shortage of essential fatty acids that are crucial for our body, weaken the immune system, and increase the risk of heart disease, arrhythmia, and stroke. In this review, we discuss types, physiologic mechanism of action of PUFAs, intake of PUFAs for children, recommended intake of PUFAs, and considerations for the intake of PUFAs.

• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.7
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• pp.369-375
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• 2014

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a pleiotropic bioactive peptide that was first isolated from an ovine hypothalamus in 1989. PACAP belongs to the secretin/glucagon/vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) superfamily. PACAP is widely distributed in the central and peripheral nervous systems and acts as a neurotransmitter, neuromodulator, and neurotrophic factor via three major receptors (PAC1, VPAC1, and VPAC2). Recent studies have shown a neuroprotective role of PACAP using in vitro and in vivo models. In this review, we briefly summarize the current findings on the neurotrophic and neuroprotective effects of PACAP in different brain injury models, such as cerebral ischemia, Parkinson's disease (PD), and Alzheimer's disease (AD). This review will provide information for the future development of therapeutic strategies in treatment of these neurodegenerative diseases.

• Journal of mucopolysaccharidosis and rare diseases
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.38-40
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• 2016

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare genetic disorder often caused by a deletion of the chromosome 15q11-q13 region inherited from the father or by maternal disomy 15. Growth hormone deficiency with short stature, hypogonadism, cognitive and behavioral problems, analgesia, decreased gastric motility and decreased ability to vomit with hyperphagia are common in PWS leading to severe obesity in early childhood, if not controlled. The goal of this study is to investigate the effects of recombinant human GH (rhGH, henceforth designated GH) on the gene expression related to cognitive function in the brain of PWS mouse model (Snord116del). GH restored the mRNA expression level of several genes in the cerebellum. These data suggest the effect of GH on the expression of cognitive function related genes in cerebellum may provide a mechanism for the GH-induced brain function in PWS patients.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.981-995
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• 2022

Cognitive dysfunction is a common symptom of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease, and is known to be caused by the structural and functional loss of neurons. Many natural agents that can improve cognitive function have been developed and assessed for efficacy using various cognitive deficit animal models. As the gut environment is known to be closely connected to brain function, probiotics are attracting attention as an effective treatment target that can prevent and mitigate cognitive deficits as a result of neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, the objective of this review is to provide useful information about the types and characteristics of cognitive deficit animal models, which can be used to evaluate the anti-cognitive effects of probiotics. In addition, this work reviewed recent studies describing the effects and treatment conditions of probiotics on cognitive deficit animal models. Collectively, this review shows the potential of probiotics as edible natural agents that can mitigate cognitive impairment. It also provides useful information for the design of probiotic treatments for cognitive deficit patients in future clinical studies.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.47.1-47.20
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• 2022

In the face of an endlessly expanding repertoire of Ags, vaccines are constantly being tested, each more effective than the last. As viruses and other pathogens evolve to become more infectious, the need for efficient and effective vaccines grows daily, which is especially obvious in an era that is still attempting to remove itself from the clutches of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, the cause of coronavirus pandemic. To continue evolving alongside these pathogens, it is proving increasingly essential to consider one of the main effector cells of the immune system. As one of the chief orchestrators of the humoral immune response, the B cell and other lymphocytes are essential to not only achieving immunity, but also maintaining it, which is the vital objective of every vaccine.