• BMB Reports
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• 제57권4호
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• pp.167-175
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• 2024

Cancer progression is driven by genetic mutations, environmental factors, and intricate interactions within the tumor microenvironment (TME). The TME comprises of diverse cell types, such as cancer cells, immune cells, stromal cells, and neuronal cells. These cells mutually influence each other through various factors, including cytokines, vascular perfusion, and matrix stiffness. In the initial or developmental stage of cancer, neurotrophic factors such as nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor are associated with poor prognosis of various cancers by communicating with cancer cells, immune cells, and peripheral nerves within the TME. Over the past decade, research has been conducted to prevent cancer growth by controlling the activation of neurotrophic factors within tumors, exhibiting a novel attemt in cancer treatment with promising results. More recently, research focusing on controlling cancer growth through regulation of the autonomic nervous system, including the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, has gained significant attention. Sympathetic signaling predominantly promotes tumor progression, while the role of parasympathetic signaling varies among different cancer types. Neurotransmitters released from these signalings can directly or indirectly affect tumor cells or immune cells within the TME. Additionally, sensory nerve significantly promotes cancer progression. In the advanced stage of cancer, cancer-associated cachexia occurs, characterized by tissue wasting and reduced quality of life. This process involves the pathways via brainstem growth and differentiation factor 15-glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor receptor alpha-like signaling and hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin neurons. Our review highlights the critical role of neurotrophic factors as well as central nervous system on the progression of cancer, offering promising avenues for targeted therapeutic strategies.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제30권6호
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• pp.53-68
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• 2009

Objectives: This study demonstrates the neurological effects of Bojungikki-tang and Bojungikki-tang-gamibang on the focal cerebral ischemia of rats with ischemic damage caused by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Methods: Rats were treated with Bojungikki-tang and Bojungikki-tang-gamibang extracts for about five days after MCAO, and the size and volume of cerebral infarction and the ratio of cerebral edema were observed. From the immunohistochemical view, significant changes of outbreak of Bax, Bcl-2, c-Fos, HSP72, and iNOS were observed in the brain tissues. Results: Bojungikki-tang repressed only brain edema and iNOS revelation led by focal cerebral ischemia, when considering significance. In contrast, Bojungikki-tang-gamibang demonstrated significant suppression of cerebral infarction, brain edema, Bax, c-Fos, HSP72, and iNOS induced by focal cerebral ischemia. Conclusions: Bojungikki-tang is considered functional treatment for cerebral ischemic damage; it can be effective to relieve secondary brain edema and immune response. Bojungikki-tang-gamibang can have a direct function to alleviate brain infarct and to control the natural death of nerve cells which cerebral ischemic damage brings about.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.102-105
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• 1997

In cultivating human neuroblastoma cells maximum number of neurites per cell and length of the neurite were estimated as 5.5 and 2.2 (nm), respectively It was found that there was correlation between growth and differentiation of nerve cells. Maximum specific BDNF production rate was also calculated as 2.5$\times $10$^{-5}$(ng/cell/day) at 7$\times $ 10$^{5}$ (viable cells/ml) of maximum cell density, corresponding to 100 (ng/mL) of BDNF. The secretion of BDNF was occurred most in the later peroids of the cultivation, yielding 75 (ng/mL) of BDNF. The production of rate of BDNF was elongated in adding 1 ($\mu $g/mL) of BDNF as well as 40% increase of the length of the BDNF. It proves that BDNF can be used as one of biopharmaceuticals to treat age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Prakinson's disease. It can also provide the information of scaling-up mammalian cell cuture system to economically produce BDNF.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제48권1호
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• pp.17-26
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• 2018

The characteristic features of the arachnid central nervous system (CNS) are related to its body segmentation, and the body in the Opiliones appears to be a single oval structure because of its broad connection between two tagmata (prosoma and opisthosoma). Nevertheless, structural organization of the ganglionic neurons and nerves in the harvestman Leiobunum japonicum is quite similar to the CNS in most other arachnids. This paper describes the fine structural details of the main groups of neuropiles in the CNS ganglia revealed by the transmission electron microscopy. In particular, electron-microscopic features of neural clusters in the main neuroganglia of the CNS (supraesophageal ganglion, protocerebral ganglion, optic lobes, central body, and subesophageal ganglion) could provide indications for the nervous pathways associated with nerve terminations and plexuses. The CNS of this harvestman consists of a supraesophageal ganglion (brain) and a subesophageal mass, and there are no ganglia in the abdomen. Cell bodies of neuroganglia are found in the periphery, but central parts of the ganglia are mostly fibrous in all ganglia. Neuroglial cells occupy the spaces left by nerve cells. Since the nerve cells in the ganglia are typical composed of monopolar neurons, axons and dendrites of neurons are distributed along the same direction.

• BMB Reports
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• 제56권2호
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• pp.65-70
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• 2023

Prominin-1 (PROM1), also called CD133, is a penta-span transmembrane protein that is localized in membrane protrusions, such as microvilli and filopodia. It is known to be expressed in cancer stem cells and various progenitor cells of bone marrow, liver, kidney, and intestine. Accumulating evidence has revealed that PROM1 has multiple functions in various organs, such as eye, tooth, peripheral nerve, and liver, associating with various molecular protein partners. PROM1 regulates PKA-induced gluconeogenesis, TGFβ-induced fibrosis, and IL-6-induced regeneration in the liver, associating with Radixin, SMAD7, and GP130, respectively. In addition, PROM1 is necessary to maintain cancer stem cell properties by activating PI3K and β-Catenin. PROM1-deficienct mice also show distinct phenotypes in eyes, brain, peripheral nerves, and tooth. Here, we discuss recent findings of PROM1-mediated signal transduction.

• 약학회지
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• 제39권2호
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• pp.161-168
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• 1995

Brain dopamine systems play a central role in the control of movement, hormone release, and many complex behavior. The action of dopamine at its synapse is terminated predominately by high affinity reuptake into presynaptic terminals by dopamine transporter (DAT). The dopamine transporter(DAT) is membrane protein localized to dopamine-containing nerve terminals and closely related with cocaine abuse, Parkinsonism, and schizophrenia. In present study, the recombinant plasmid pRc/CMV-DAT, constructed by subcloning of a cDNA encoding a bovine DAT into eukaryotic expression vector pRc/CMV, was stably transfected into CV-1 cells(monkey kidney cell line). The DAT activities in the cell lines selected by Geneticin$^{R}$ were determined by measuring the uptake of $[^3H]$-dopamine. The transfected cell lines showed 30-50 fold higher activities than untransfected CV-1 cell line, and this result implies that DAT is well expressed and localized in transfected cells. The transfected cells accumulated $[^3H]$-dopamine in a dose-dependent manner with a $K_{m}$ of 991.6nM. Even though high doses of norepinephrine, epinephrine, serotonin, and choline neurotransmitters inhibited the uptake of $[^3H]$-dopamine, DAT in transfected cell line was proven to be much more specific to dopamine. The psychotropic drugs such as GBR12909, CFT, normifensine, clomipramine, desipramine, and imipramine inhibited significantly the dopamine uptake in tissue culture cells stably transfected with DAT cDNA. Radioactive in situ hybridization was done to map the cellular localization of DAT mRNA-containing cells in the adult rat central nervous system. The strong hybridization signals were detected only in the substantia nigra pars compacta and ventral tegmental area. The restricted anatomical localization of DAT mRNA-containing cells confirms the DAT as a presynaptic marker of dopamine-containing cells in the rat brain.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.117-139
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• 2022

Synucleinopathies such as Parkinson's disease (PD) are incurable neurodegenerative conditions characterised by the abnormal aggregation of α-synuclein protein in neuronal cells. In PD, fibrillary synuclein aggregation forms Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites in the substantia nigra and cortex on the brain. Dementia with Lewy bodies and multiple system atrophy are also associated with α-synuclein protein abnormalities. α-synuclein is one of three synuclein proteins, and while its precise function is still unknown, one hypothesis posits that α-synuclein propagates from the enteric nervous system through the vagus nerve and into the brain, resulting in synucleinopathy. Studies on synucleinopathies should thus encompass not only the central nervous system but must necessarily include the gut and microbiome. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a well-established model for human neuronal pathologies and have been used in studies ranging from genetic models of hereditary disorders to neurotoxin-induced neurodegeneration as well as gut-brain-axis studies. There is significant genetic homology between zebrafish and mammalian vertebrates which is what makes the zebrafish so amenable to modelling human conditions but in the case of synucleinopathies, the zebrafish notably does not possess an α-synuclein homolog. Synuclein orthologs are present in the zebrafish however, and transgenic zebrafish that carry human α-synuclein have been generated. In addition, the zebrafish is a highly advantageous model and ideal replacement for reducing the use of mammalian models. This review discusses the application of the zebrafish as a model for synucleinopathies in efforts to further understand synuclein function and explore therapeutic strategies.

• 한국수산과학회지
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• 제28권4호
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• pp.383-391
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• 1995

출산 전후의 황점볼락 및 조피볼락 어미의 뇌 조직에서 GtH 분비를 자극하는 신경호르몬으로 알려진 NPY를 검출하기 위해, 면역조직화학을 실시하고 뇌하수체내 GtH 분비세포의 활성을 서로 비교하였다. 두 어종 모두에서 뇌 조직중 NPY 양성반응을 나타내는 세포는 후각망울, 종뇌 및 중뇌에서, 신경섬유는 후각망울, 종뇌, 시각신경, 시상하부, 중뇌 및 시각엽에서 각각 관찰되었다. 뇌하수체내에서 NPY 양성반응을 나타내는 신경섬유는 성숙에 관계없이 두 어종 모두 앞원위부분의 AF 음성세포에 인접한 신경엽에 분포하였고, 성장 및 성숙기의 난모세포를 가진 어체에서는 앞원위부분의 신경엽과 중간원위부분의 GtH 분비세포에 인접한 신경엽에서 관찰되었다. 뇌하수체내의 GtH 분비세포는 출산전의 황점볼락 및 성숙기의 조피볼락 개체에서는 AF 염색성이 약했으나, 출산후 황점볼락 및 조피볼락의 GtH 분비세포는 출산전 및 성숙기에 비해 AF 염색성이 증가하였다. 두 어종에서 출산전 난소를 가진 개체들의 GtH 분비세포와 핵경의 크기는 출산후(황점볼락)이거나 출산 이후 휴지기의 난소를 가진 개체(조피볼락) 보다 유의하게 컸다(P<0.01).

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제61권4호
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• pp.441-449
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• 2018

Objective : Notch receptors are heterodimeric transmembrane proteins that regulate cell fate, such as differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. Dysregulated Notch pathway signaling has been observed in glioblastomas, as well as in other human malignancies. Nerve growth factor (NGF) is essential for cell growth and differentiation in the nervous system. Recent reports suggest that NGF stimulates glioblastoma proliferation. However, the relationship between NGF and Notch1 in glioblastomas remains unknown. Therefore, we investigated expression of Notch1 in a glioblastoma cell line (U87-MG), and examined the relationship between NGF and Notch1 signaling. Methods : We evaluated expression of Notch1 in human glioblastomas and normal brain tissues by immunohistochemical staining. The effect of NGF on glioblastoma cell line (U87-MG) was evaluated by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. To evaluate the relationship between NGF and Notch1 signaling, Notch1 and Hes1 expression were evaluated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis, respectively. To confirm the effects of NGF on Notch1 signaling, Notch1 and Hes1 small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) were used. Results : In immunohistochemistry, Notch1 expression was higher in glioblastoma than in normal brain tissue. MTT assay showed that NGF stimulates U87-MG cells in a dose-dependent manner. RT-PCR and Western blot analysis demonstrated that Notch1 and Hes1 expression were increased by NGF in a dose-dependent manner. After transfection with Notch1 and Hes1 siRNAs, there was no significant difference between controls and 100 nM $NGF-{\beta}$, which means that U87-MG cell proliferation was suppressed by Notch1 and Hes1 siRNAs. Conclusion : These results indicate that NGF stimulates glioblastoma cell proliferation via Notch1 signaling through Hes 1.

• 한국진공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국진공학회 2009년도 제38회 동계학술대회 초록집
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• pp.44-45
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• 2010

We are currently conducting studies on culturing and biocompatibility assessment of various cells such as neural stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells(IPS cells) on carbon nanotube (CNT), on nerve regeneration electrodes, and on silicon wafers with a focus on developing nerve integrated CNT based bio devices for interfacing with living organisms, in order to develop brain-machine interfaces (BMI). In addition, we are carried out the chemical modification of carbon nanotube (mainly SWCNTs)-based bio-nanosensors by the plasma ion irradiation (plasma activation) method, and provide a characteristic evaluation of a bio-nanosensor using bovine serum albumin (BSA)/anti-BSA binding and oligonucleotide hybridization. On the other hand, the researches in the case of "novel plasma" have been widely conducted in the fields of chemistry, solid physics, and nanomaterial science. From the above-mentioned background, we are conducting basic experiments on direct irradiation of body tissues and cells using a micro-spot atmospheric pressure plasma source. The device is a coaxial structure having a tungsten wire installed inside a glass capillary, and a grounded ring electrode wrapped on the outside. The conditions of plasma generation are as follows: applied voltage: 5-9 kV, frequency: 1-3 kHz, helium (He) gas flow: 1-1.5 L/min, and plasma irradiation time: 1-300 sec. The experiment was conducted by preparing a culture medium containing mouse fibroblasts (NIH3T3) on a culture dish. A culture dish irradiated with plasma was introduced into a $CO_2$-incubator. The small animals used in the experiment involving plasma irradiation into living tissue were rat, rabbit, and pick and are deeply anesthetized with the gas anesthesia. According to the dependency of cell numbers against the plasma irradiation time, when only He gas was flowed, the growth of cells was inhibited as the floatation of cells caused by gas agitation inside the culture was promoted. On the other hand, there was no floatation of cells and healthy growth was observed when plasma was irradiated. Furthermore, in an experiment testing the effects of plasma irradiation on rats that were artificially given burn wounds, no evidence of electric shock injuries was found in the irradiated areas. In fact, the observed evidence of healing and improvements of the burn wounds suggested the presence of healing effects due to the growth factors in the tissues. Therefore, it appears that the interaction due to ion/radicalcollisions causes a substantial effect on the proliferation of growth factors such as epidermal growth factor (EGF), nerve growth factor (NGF), and transforming growth factor (TGF) that are present in the cells.