• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.25-33
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• 2023

The liver, a multifunctional organ, plays a vital role in maintaining overall health and well-being by regulating metabolism, detoxification, nutrient storage, hormone balance, and immune function. Liver diseases, such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, fatty liver disease, and liver cancer, have significant clinical implications and remain a global health concern. This article reviews the therapeutic potential of silkworm larvae (Bombyx mori) and explores their underlying molecular mechanisms in protecting against liver diseases. Silkworm larvae are rich in proteins, vitamins, minerals, and n-3 fatty acids, making them a promising candidate for therapeutic applications. The anti-inflammatory mechanisms of silkworm larvae involve modulating the production of cytokine such as TNF-α and interleukins, inflammatory enzymes including cyclooxygenase-2 and macrophage polarization, thereby attenuating liver inflammation. Silkworm larvae also exhibit anti-oxidative effects by scavenging free radicals, reducing intracellular reactive oxygen species and enhancing the liver's antioxidant defense system. Moreover, silkworms have been reported to decrease the serum alcohol concentration and lipid accumulation. Understanding the therapeutic properties of silkworm larvae contributes to the development of innovative strategies for liver injury prevention and treatment. Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise signaling pathways involved in the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects of silkworm larvae, paving the way for potential therapeutic interventions in liver diseases.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.337-348
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• 2023

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of amprolium hydrochloride on detoxification process of olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus. A series of two experiment was performed based on the LD₅₀ value obtained for amprolium. First, thirty flounder (average weight 230.27 g; average length 27.99 cm) was randomly allocated into five groups. Treatment was carried out using intra-muscular injection of amprolium at the dose levels of 4, 8, 16, and 32 mg/kg body weight. At 8, 24 and 48 h post injection, liver and kidney were collected for expression assay of drug metabolizing enzymes and pro-inflammatory cytokine genes. We found that the interleukin-1β (IL-1β) mRNA level were induced at 32 mg/kg and CYP1A genes showed the opposite pattern, while UDP-glucuronosyl-transferase (UGT1A7) and GST were significantly reduced in the liver. Moreover, the suppression of drug metabolizing enzymes and cytokine gene in the kidney was observed after treatment. Another treatment was carried out using intramuscular injection with 4, 8, 16, and 32 mg/kg and 60, 80, 100, 120 mg/kg body weight. At 6 days post injection, liver was collected. The IL-1β expression was markedly induced in the experimental group treated with 4 mg/kg. In addition, glutathione S-transferase (GST) mRNA level was higher in the group with 4 mg/kg. In conclusion, our data suggests that amprolium seem to cause direct or indirect physical, or biological toxicity of flounders, although this drug is considered one of the safest synthetic anticoccidial drugs of the livestock industry.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.399-408
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• 2014

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are a superfamily of detoxification enzymes that primarily catalyze the nucleophilic addition of reduced glutathione to both endogenous and exogenous electrophiles. In this study, we isolated and characterized a full-length of alpha class GST cDNA from the abalone (Haliotis discus hannai). The abalone GST cDNA encodes a 223-amino acid polypeptide with a calculated molecular mass of 25.8 kDa and isoelectric point of 5.69. Multiple alignments and phylogenetic analysis with the deduced abalone GST protein revealed that it belongs to the alpha class GSTs and showed strong homology with disk abalone (Haliotis discus discus) putative alpha class GST. Abalone GST mRNA was ubiquitously detected in all tested tissues. GST mRNA expression was comparatively high in the mantle, gill, liver, and digestive duct, however, lowest in the hemocytes. Expression level of abalone GST mRNA in the mantle, gill, liver, and digestive duct was 182.7-fold, 114.8-fold, 4675.8-fold, 406.1-fold higher than in the hemocytes, respectively. Expression level of abalone GST mRNA in the liver was peaked at 6 h post-infection with Vibrio parahemolyticus and decreased at 12 h post-infection. While the expression level of abalone GST mRNA in the hemocytes was drastically increased at 3 h post-infection with Vibrio parahemolyticus. These results suggest that abalone GST is conserved through evolution and may play roles similar to its mammalian counterparts.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.150-156
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• 2002

Objectives: Most of human cancers may result from exposure to environmental carcinogens, and individual effectiveness in the detoxification of these chemicals will influence susceptibility to malignant disease. Glutathione S-Transferases(GSTs) enzymes are involved in the detoxification of active metabolites of many carcinogens from tobacco smoke and may be important in modulating susceptibility to smoke-related cancer. The purpose of this study is to determine the polymorphism of GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 in control group and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma group of Korean, and to investigate the effect of GSTs polymorphism on the risk of head and neck cancer. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based case-control study was performed with a group of 133 control individual and 136 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients. The polymorphisms of GSTs were analysed using polymerase chain reaction in GSTM1 and GSTTl, and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism in GSTP1. Results: The relative risk (odds ratio) of GSTM(-) genotype was 1.14(95% CI, 0.70-1.85) compared to GSTM1(+). The odds ratio of GSTTl(-) genotype was 0.91(95% CI, 0.55-1.50). In old age($65$) group, the odds ratio of GSTT1(-) genotype was 5.2(95% CI, 1.53-17.89). The GSTP1 Val/Val genotype conferred a 1.7-fold risk(95% CI, 0.40-7.34) of head and neck cancer compared with GSTP1 Ile/Ile genotype. Among the combined genotypes of GSTs, GSTM1(-)/GSTT1(+)/GSTP1 Val/Val and GSTM1(-)/GSTTl(-)/GSTP1 Ile/Val genotypes conferred a 2.6-fold and 1.3-fold risk(95% CI, 0.24-14.15 and 0.43-3.14) compared with the GSTM1(+)/GSTTl(+)/GSTP1 Ile/Ile genotype, respectively. Conclusion: Polymorphism of GSTs might modulate susceptibility to head and neck cancer in Korean population. The genotype of GSTP1 Val/Val and combined genotypes of GSTM1(-)/GSTT1(+)/GSTP1 Val/Val, and GSTM1(-)/GSTT1(-)/GSTP1 Ile/Val might be important risk factors to determine the individual susceptibility to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.214-222
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Glutathione S-transferase (GST) forms a multigene family of phase II detoxification enzymes which are involved in the detoxification of xenobiotics by conjugating substances with glutathione. The aim of this study is to assess the antioxidative status and the degree of DNA damage in the subclinical hypertensive patients in Korea using glutathione S-transferase polymorphisms. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We examined whether DNA damage and antioxidative status show a difference between GSTM1 or GSTT1 genotype in 227 newly diagnosed, untreated (systolic blood pressure $(BP){\geq}130mmHg$ or diastolic $BP{\geq}85mmHg$) subclinical hypertensive patients and 130 normotensive subjects (systolic BP < 120 mmHg and diastolic BP < 80 mmHg). From the blood of the subjects, the degree of the DNA damage in lymphocyte, the activities of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase, the catalase, and the glutathione peroxidase, the level of glutathione, plasma total radical-trapping antioxidant potential (TRAP), anti-oxidative vitamins, as well as plasma lipid profiles and conjugated diene (CD) were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 227 subjects studied, 68.3% were GSTM1 null genotype and 66.5% were GSTT1 null genotype. GSTM1 null genotype had an increased risk of hypertension (OR: 2.104, CI: 1.38-3.35), but no significant association in GSTT1 null genotype (OR 0.982, CI: 0.62-1.55). No difference in erythrocyte activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, or glutathione peroxidase, and plasma TRAP, CD, lipid profiles, and GSH levels were observed between GSTM1 or GSTT1 genotype. Plasma levels of ${\alpha}-tocopherol$ increased significantly in GSTT1 wild genotype (P < 0.05); however, plasma level of ${\beta}-carotene$ increased significantly in GSTT1 null genotype (P < 0.01). DNA damage assessed by the Comet assay was significantly higher in GSTM1 null genotype than wild genotype (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm the association between GSTM1 null genotype and risk of hypertension as they suggest that GSTM1 null genotype leads to an increased oxidative stress compared with wild genotype.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.616-621
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• 2014

This study was conducted to investigate the detoxification effect of extract from soy-sprout grown using high concentrated oxygen water extract (SE) against alcohol-induced hangover in male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. The rats were orally administered with different concentrations of SE beverage [26, 260 and 2,000 mg/kg body weight (b.w.)] and, after 30 min, with alcohol at a dose of 3 g/kg b.w. After 1 and 3 h of alcohol administration, blood was collected from the retro-orbital plexus, while after 5 h, blood was collected from the heart. In the 2,000 mg/kg b.w. SE group, the concentration of blood alcohol was significantly reduced after 1-5 h of alcohol loading as compared with that in the other groups. In addition, the blood acetaldehyde concentration was reduced by SE (2,000 mg/kg b.w.). These results suggest that SE beverage can alleviate alcohol hangover symptoms by stimulating the activities related to hepatic alcohol-metabolizing enzymes.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.2221-2224
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• 2013

The glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are a family of enzymes involved in the detoxification of a wide range of chemicals, including important environmental carcinogens, as well as chemotherapeutic agents. In the present study 294 acute leukemia cases, comprising 152 of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and 142 of acute myeloid leukemia, and 251 control samples were analyzed for GSTM1 and GSTT1 polymorphisms through multiplex PCR methods. Significantly increased frequencies of GSTM1 null genotype (M0), GSTT1 null genotype (T0) and GST double null genotype (T0M0) were observed in the both ALL and AML cases as compared to controls. When data were analyzed with respect to clinical variables, increased mean levels of WBC, Blast %, LDH and significant reduction in DFS were observed in both ALL and AML cases with T0 genotype. In conclusion, absence of both GST M & GST T might confer increased risk of developing ALL or AML. The absence of GST enzyme might lead to oxidative stress and subsequent DNA damage resulting in genomic instability, a hallmark of acute leukemia. The GST enzyme deficiency might also exert impact on clinical prognosis leading to poorer DFS. Hence GST genotyping can be made mandatory in management of acute leukemia so that more aggressive therapy such as allogenic stem cell transplantation may be planned in the case of patients with a null genotype.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.296-306
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• 2019

BACKGROUND: Temperature is known to be the main factor affecting development, growth and reproduction of organisms and also a physical factor directly related to insect survival. Insects as ectothermal species should be responsive to climate changes for their survival and develop various survival strategies under the unfavorable temperature such as low temperature. The purpose of this study is to identify genes contributing to adaptation of low temperature. METHODS AND RESULTS: To identify genes contributing to adaptation of low temperature, the transcriptomic data were obtained from fat body in Plutella xyostella larvae via next generation sequencing. We identified structural proteins, heat shock proteins, antioxidant enzymes, detoxification proteins, and cryoprotectant mobilization and biosynthesis-related proteins. Genes encoding chitinase, cuticular protein, Hsp23, chytochrome protein, Glutathione S transferase, and phospholipase 2 were up-regulated under low temperature. Proteins related to energy metabolism such as UDP-glycosy ltransferase, trehalase and trehalose transporter were down-regulated. CONCLUSION: When insect pests were exposed to low temperature, changes in gene expression of fat body could provide some hints for understanding temperature adaptation strategies.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.157-163
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• 2012

Objective: Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are multifunctional enzymes that play a crucial role in the detoxification of both the endogenous products of oxidative stress and exogenous carcinogens. Recent studies investigating the association between genetic polymorphisms in GSTs and the risk of adult brain tumors have reported conflicting results. The rationale of this pooled analysis was to determine whether the presence of a GST variant increases adult glioma susceptibility by combining data from multiple studies. Methods: In our meta-analysis, 12 studies were identified by a search of the MEDLINE, HIGHWIRE, SCIENCEDIRECT and EMBASE databases. Of those 12, 11 evaluated GSTM1, nine evaluated GSTT1 and seven evaluated GSTP1 Ile105Val. Between-study heterogeneity was assessed using ${\chi}^2$-based Q statistic and the $I^2$ statistic. Crude odds ratios (ORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to estimate the association between GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 polymorphisms and the risk of adult gliomas. Results: The quantitative synthesis showed no significant evidence to indicate an association exists between the presence of a GSTM1, GSTT1 or GSTP1 Ile105Val haplotype polymorphism and the risk of adult gliomas (OR, 1.008, 1.246, 1.061 respectively; 95% CI, 0.901-1.129, 0.963-1.611, 0.653-1.724 respectively). Conclusions: Overall, this study did not suggest any strong relationship between GST variants or related enzyme polymorphisms and an increased risk of adult gliomas. Some caveats include absence of specific raw information on ethnic groups or smoking history on glioma cases in published articles; therefore, well-designed studies with a clear stratified analysis on potential confounding factors are needed to confirm these results.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.114-119
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• 2013

Potassium is essential for the proper functioning of the ears. The inner ear's endolymph differs from all other extracellular fluids (in its positive potential) and in the ionic compositions in the various parts of the endolymphatic space. Ion concentration of the endolymph is 150 mM of potassium, which is comparable to the concentrations in other organs. Cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum II: CDDP) is one of the most effective anticancer drugs, widely used against various tumors. However, its clinical use is limited by the onset of severe side effects, including ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity. For ototoxicity, a number of evidences in cytotoxic mechanism of cisplatin, including perturbation of redox status, increase in lipid peroxydation, and formation of DNA adduct, have been suggested. Therefore, in this study, the author investigated the relationship between the potassium ions on cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity in HEI-OC1 cells associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS). KCNE1 gene expression by the concentration of intracellular potassium appeared in the plasma membrane and increased the concentration of intracellular potassium. Cisplatin decreased the viability of HEI-OC1 cells, but the KCNE1 gene increased. Also, the KCNE1 gene significantly suppressed generation of intracellular ROS by cisplatin. Western blot analysis showed that the KCNE1 gene increased phase II detoxification enzymes markers such as superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), superoxide dismutase (SOD2), NAD(P)H:quinine oxidoreductases (NQO1), which were associated with the scavenger of ROS. These results suggest that the KCNE1 gene for intracellular potassium concentration ultimately prevents ROS generation from cisplatin and further contributes to protect auditory sensory hair cells from ROS produced by cisplatin.