• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제9권4호
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• pp.239-246
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• 2005

In the central nervous system, nitric oxide (NO) is associated with many pathological diseases such as brain ischemia, neurodegeneration and inflammation. The epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a major compound of green tea, is recognized as protective substance against neuronal diseases. This study is aimed to investigate the effect of EGCG on NO-induced cell death in PC12 cells. Administration of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a NO donor, decreased cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner and induced genomic DNA fragmentation with cell shrinkage and chromatin condensation. EGCG diminished the decrement of cell viability and the formation of apoptotic morphologenic changes as well as DNA fragmentation by SNP. EGCG played as an antioxidant that attenuated the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by SNP. The cells treated with SNP showed downregulation of Bcl-2, but upregulation of Bax. EGCG ameliorated the altered expression of Bcl-2 and Bax by SNP. The release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into cytosol and expression of voltage -dependent anion channel (VDAC)1, a cytochrome c releasing channel in mitochondria, were increased in SNP-treated cells, whereas were attenuated by EGCG. The enhancement of caspase-9, preceding mitochondria-dependent pathway, caspase-8 and death receptor-dependent pathway, as well as caspase-3 activities were suppressed by EGCG. SNP upragulated Fas and Fas-L, which are death receptor assembly, whereas EGCG ameliorated the expression of Fas enhanced by SNP. These results demonstrated that EGCG has a protective effect against SNP-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells, through scavenging ROS and regulating the mitocondria- and death receptor-mediated signal pathway. The present study suggest that EGCG might be a natural neuroprotective substance.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제29권12호
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• pp.1329-1336
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• 2019

뇌에서 뇌실하 영역은 자가 복제 및 신경세포와 교세포로 분화하는 신경줄기세포가 위치한 곳이다. 이러한 신경줄기세포는 태어난 직후 뿐만 아니라, 성인기까지 존재한다. 세포 증식과 분화에 대한 결정은 세포 안과 밖의 상황에 따라 조절될 필요가 있기에, 많은 세포 내부 또는 세포 외부의 인자들이 이러한 결정에 관여한다. 이러한 인자들 중에서 미토콘드리아는 신경줄기세포의 운명 결정에 관여함이 보고된 바 있다. 본 저자들의 이전 논문에서, 미토콘드리아 저해제인 rotenone을 장시간 처리했을 때, 신경세포로의 분화가 거의 일어나지 않았음을 보여주었다. 이번 연구에서, rotenone을 뇌실하 영역 신경줄기세포에 단기간 처리했을 때의 영향에 대해 조사하였다. 이를 통해 다음과 같은 결과를 관찰하였다. (1) 하루 동안 rotenone을 처리하자 신경세포로의 분화가 크게 감소하였고, 특히 분화 초기 단계가 더 민감하게 억제되었다. (2) 일시적 증식세포인 Mash1+ 세포의 수가 rotenone을 하루 처리한 후 감소하였다. (3) 분화가 된 Tuj1+ 신경세포와 Olig2+ 희소 돌기 아교 세포 (oligodendrocytes) 모두 rotenone을 단기간 처리하자 감소하였다. 반면, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)+성상 세포 (astrocytes)의 수는 변화하지 않았다. (4) sulfiredoxin 1 (Srxn1) 유전자 발현이 rotenone을 하루 처리한 후 증가하였는데, 이는 nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) 신호전달 경로가 활성화 되었음을 말해준다. 이러한 실험 결과는 기능을 갖춘 미토콘드리아가 신경세포 또는 희소 돌기 아교 세포로의 분화 뿐 아니라, 이미 분화가 끝난 신경세포의 유지에도 필요함을 확인해 주었다. 또한, 이러한 결과는 rotenone과 같은 미토콘드리아의 저해제에 짧은 시간 노출 되더라도 신경줄기세포의 신경세포로의 분화 가능성에 장기적인 영향을 미칠 수 있음을 시사한다.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.63-76
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• 2005

Objectives: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of a wide range of acute and longterm neurodegenerative diseases. This study was undertaken to examine whether Sunghyangchungisan(SHCS), a well-known prescription in Korean traditional medicine, might have beneficial effects on ROS-induced brain cell injury. Methods: Human neuroglioma cell line A172 and H2O2 were employed as an experimental model cell and oxidant. Results: SHCS effectively protected the cells against both the necrotic and apoptotic cell death induced by H2O2. The effect of SHCS was dose-dependent at concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 5mg/ml. SHCS significantly prevented depletion of cellular ATP and activation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase induced by H2O2. It also helped mitochondria to preserve its functional integrity estimated by MTT reduction ability. Furthermore, SHCS significantly prevented H202-induced release of cytochrome c into cytosol. Determination of intracellular ROS showed that SHCS might exert its role as a powerful scavenger of intracellular ROS. Conclusions: The present study provides clear evidence for the beneficial effect of SHCS on ROS-induced neuroglial cell injury. The action of SHCS as an ROS-scavenger might underlie the mechanism.

• 대한자기공명의과학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한자기공명의과학회 1999년도 춘계학술대회 제3차 심포지움
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• pp.99-108
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• 1999

선천성 대사 이상은 다양한 뇌질환으로 나타낸다. 일반적으로 이 질환들은 하나 또는 둘이상의 대사경로에 대한 생화학적 이상에 원인이 있다. 정상적 생화학적 산물의 결핍이나 비정상적 산물의 축적에 의한 뇌기능 이상에 의해 임상증상이 나타내게 되는데 그 증상은 대개 경기, 경직성, 발육지연 등으로 비특이적이고 영상소견도 마찬가지로 비특이적이다. 대사 이상에 있어서의 신경병변은 일부 뇌백질을 주로 침범하는 경우를 제외하면 대부분 뇌백질을 침범하고 따라서 일반적으로 일차성 뇌백질 질환이 대사성 뇌질환을 일컫는다고 할 수가 있다. 뇌백질 질환은 뇌백질의 구성원중 가장 큰 부분을 차지하는 수초(myelin)를 침범하는 질환을 일컫는다. 중추신경계의 백질은 수초로 싸여있는 축삭(axon)과 선경교세포 (neuroglial cell) 및 혈관 등으로 구성되어 있으며, 이중 대부분을 수초가 차지하고 이 수초로 인하여 정상 뇌백질이 흰색을 나타낸다. 백질내의 신경교세포로는 성상세포 (astrocyte) 와 핍지세포 (oligodendrocyte)가 있으며 신 경교세포의 가장 중요한 기능은 핍지세포에 의한 축삭의 외피화 (ensheathment) 즉, 수초이다. 수초는 핍지세포의 세포질 돌기 (cytoplasmic process)의 일부이며 따라서 수초의 생존과 대사는 핍지세포와 운명을 같이한다. 일반적으로 세포의 생존, 대사와 가장 관련있는 기능은 세포질내에 함유되어 있는 구조물인 소기관(organelle)에 의하여 수행된다. 따라서, 비록 모든 소기관들이 백질 질환을 이르키는데 직접 연관되어 있지는 않더라도 수초의 생존과 대사에는 핍지세포의 소기관들이 매우 중요한 역할을 하게 된다. 세포질내 중요한 소기관으로는 세포 막, 미토콘드리아 (mitochondria), endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi 체, lysosome, peroxisome 그리고 세포질등이 있으며, 이들중에서 lysosomes, peroxisomes, 그리고 미토콘드리아가 특정한 유전성 백질질환에 중요한 역할을 하는 것이 밝혀졌다. 이러한 질환들은 최소한 각 소기관에 의한 질환군으로 분류될 수 있다.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.99-109
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• 1992

Pathological studies by light and electron microscope were carried out on the twenty piglets naturally affected by encephalomyocarditis virus infection. Gross findings included pale or yellow, small necrotic foci on myocardium, together with pulmonary edema and liver congestion in some cases. On light microscopy, nonsuppurative interstitial endocarcitis, epicarditis and myocarditis, myocardial infarction, and dystrophic calcification or fibtosis were observed in heart. Perivascular cuffings, gliosis and nonsuppurative meningitis were appeared in brain. Focal or diffuse necrosis with mononuclear cell infiltration in lacrimal gland and multifocal necrosis in liver were observed in some cases. Congestion and edema of lung, hyperemia, hemorrhage and deletion of lymphocytes of lymph nodes and spleen were recognized. On electron microscopy, severe swelling and vacuolization of mitochondria and sarcoplasmic reticulum, large intracellular vacuolation and edema, separation and fragmentation of myofibrils were observed. Virus particles were seen in the sarcoplasm of degenerated cardiac muscle cell.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제43권8호
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• pp.671-685
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• 2020

The regulator of calcineurin (RCAN) was first reported as a novel gene called DSCR1, encoded in a region termed the Down syndrome critical region (DSCR) of human chromosome 21. Genome sequence comparisons across species using bioinformatics revealed three members of the RCAN gene family, RCAN1, RCAN2, and RCAN3, present in most jawed vertebrates, with one member observed in most invertebrates and fungi. RCAN is most highly expressed in brain and striated muscles, but expression has been reported in many other tissues, as well, including the heart and kidneys. Expression levels of RCAN homologs are responsive to external stressors such as reactive oxygen species, Ca²⁺, amyloid β, and hormonal changes and upregulated in pathological conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, cardiac hypertrophy, diabetes, and degenerative neuropathy. RCAN binding to calcineurin, a Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent phosphatase, inhibits calcineurin activity, thereby regulating different physiological events via dephosphorylation of important substrates. Novel functions of RCANs have recently emerged, indicating involvement in mitochondria homeostasis, RNA binding, circadian rhythms, obesity, and thermogenesis, some of which are calcineurin-independent. These developments suggest that besides significant contributions to DS pathologies and calcineurin regulation, RCAN is an important participant across physiological systems, suggesting it as a favorable therapeutic target.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.64-75
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• 2009

Objective: This study was designed to investigate the effect of Samultang (SMT) under hippocampus cells ischemia both in vitro and in vivo. Methods: In the in vitro study, HT22 cells, predominantly detected in the cytoplasm, which coincides with the location of the mitochondria, were used as indicators. In the in vivo study, permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was induced on rats. SMT was given orally 2 h before induction of permanent focal brain ischemic injury. Result: In the in vitro study, SMT had protective effects in glutamate-induced cytotoxicity, which was revealed as apoptosis characterized by chromatic condensation and the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential in HT22 cells. In the in vivo study, TTC (2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride) staining showed a marked ischemic injury in blood supply territory of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) such as the cerebral cortex and striatum. However, treatment with SMT significantly reduced infarcted volume. SMT increased marked survival of HT22 cells against glutamate-induced cytotoxicity in MTT assay. Conclusion: These results suggest that water extract of SMT provides neuroprotection against ischemic or oxidative injury by inhibition of apoptotic cell death.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.93-101
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• 2002

The extract of European mistletoe ( Viscum album, L) has been used in adjuvant chemotherapy of cancer and mistletoe lectins are considered to be major active components. The present work was performed to investigate the effects of Korean mistletoe lectin (Viscum album L. coleratum agglutinin, VCA) on proliferation and apoptosis of human hepatoma cells as well as the underlying mechamisns for these effects. We showed that VCA induced atoptosis in both SK-Hep-1 and Hep 3B (p53-negative) cells through p53- and p21 -independent pathways. VCA induced apoptosis by down-regulation of Bcl-2 and by up-regulation of Bax functioning upstream of caspase-3 in both cell lines. In addition, we observed down-regulation of telomerase activity in both VCA-treated cells. Our results provide direct evidence of the anti-tumor potential of this biological response which comes from inhibition of telomerase and consequent inducing apoptosis. VCA-induced apoptosis is regulated by mitochondria controlled pathway independently of p53. These findings are important for the therapy with preparation of mistletoe because they show that telomerase-dependent mechanism can be targeted by VCA in human hepatocarcinoma. Taken together, our results suggest that the VCA, considered as a telomerase-inhibitor, can be envisaged as a candidate for enhancing sensitivity of conventional anticancer drugs.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제31권12호
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• pp.3623-3631
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• 2010

We prepared several novel molecular transporters built on myo- and scyllo-inositol scaffolds with variations in the number of guanidine residues, linker chain lengths and patterns. Some of these transporters were found to localize in mitochondria, and the mitochondrial affinity seems to be substantially related to the scaffold stereochemistry.

• BMB Reports
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• 제52권10호
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• pp.601-606
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• 2019

Arginine methylation plays crucial roles in many cellular functions including signal transduction, RNA transcription, and regulation of gene expression. Protein arginine methyltransferase 8 (PRMT8), a unique brain-specific protein, is localized to the plasma membrane. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms underlying PRMT8 plasma membrane targeting remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that the N-terminal 20 amino acids of PRMT8 are sufficient for plasma membrane localization and that oligomerization enhances membrane localization. The basic amino acids, combined with myristoylation within the N-terminal 20 amino acids of PRMT8, are critical for plasma membrane targeting. We also found that substituting Gly-2 with Ala [PRMT8(G2A)] or Cys-9 with Ser [PRMT8(C9S)] induces the formation of punctate structures in the cytosol or patch-like plasma membrane localization, respectively. Impairment of PRMT8 oligomerization/dimerization by C-terminal deletion induces PRMT8 mis-localization to the mitochondria, prevents the formation of punctate structures by PRMT8(G2A), and inhibits PRMT8(C9S) patch-like plasma membrane localization. Overall, these results suggest that oligomerization/dimerization plays several roles in inducing the efficient and specific plasma membrane localization of PRMT8.