• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.248-251
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• 1995

정신분열병의 약물치료에서 중요한 역할을 하는 도파민의 기전은 지금까지 5종류의 수용체들이 발견되고 클론되면서, 새롭고 보다 근본적인 유전학적 접근을 통해 규명될 수 있게 되었다. 특히, 도파민 수용체 D4 (DRD4)는 막단백질의 세포질쪽 세번째굴곡에 48-bp반복 다형성배열을 가지고있다. 이러한 다형성 반복배열이 신호전달에 참여할 가능성이 높은 막단백질의 세포질쪽 굴곡에 있다는것은, 각 개인의 항정신병약물에 대한 민감성의 차이를 포함하여 정신분열병에 대한 개개인의 유전적 차이를 진단할 수 있는 가능성을 제시한다. 이러한 가능성을 검증하기 위하여 주로 손쉽고 빠른 중합효소연쇄반응(PCR)을 사용하여 DRD4의 아형들을 분류하게 되는데, DRD4의 PCR은 그 반복배열과 그 주변배열의 높은 GC함량(78% G+C) 때문에 일반적인 PCR 방법을 변형시켜 사용해야한다. DRD4의 아형을 분류하기 위해 변형된 PCR은 통상적으로 7-deaza dGTP와 10% DMSO를 사용하게된다. 이러한 DRD4 PCR은 대부분의 경우 성공하지만, 항상 모든 시료에서 PCR이 성공되는것은 아니었으며 반복적으로 시도하여 증폭시킬 수 있었다. 이러한 어려움은 대부분이 template DNA에 문제가 있을것으로 의심되며 DNA정제 또는 template DNA를 제한효소로 적절하게 무작위절단하여 성공율을 높일 수 있었다.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.62-70
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• 2001

Alzheimer's disease(AD) is associated with a characteristic neuropathology. The major hallmarks of AD are senile plaques (SPs) and neurofibrillary tangles(NFTs). ${\beta}$-amyloid protein($A{\beta}$) is derived from the proteolysis of amyloid precursor protein(APP) and then converted to SPs. Mature SPs produce cytotoxicity through direct toxic effects and activation of microglia and complement. NFTs are composed of paired helical filaments(PHFs) including abnormally phosphorylated form of the microtubule-associated protein(MAP) tau and increased tau level in cerebrospinal fluid may be observed in most AD. The aggregation of $A{\beta}$ and tau formation are thought to be a final common pathway of AD. Acetylcholine, dopamine, serotonin, GABA and their receptors are associated with AD. Especially, decreased nicotinic acetylcholine receptors(nAChRs) in AD are reported. Genetic lesions associated with AD are mutations in the structural genes for the APP located on chromosome 21, presenilin(PSN)1 located on chromosome 14 and PSN2 located on chromosome 1. Also, trisomy 21, Apo-E gene located on chromosome 19, PMF locus, low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein and ${\alpha}$-macroglobulin increase risk of AD. In this article, we will review about the neurobiology of AD and some newly developed research areas.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.253-258
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• 1999

The fluoxetine is one of the most frequently prescribed drugs for the treatment of depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD). This has been known as one of the most safest medication. But since the advent of this drug, there have been several reports of side effects-the mania and suicidal ideation-encountered during coadministration of fluoxetine with or without other psychotropic drugs. We experienced a case of 20 years old male OCD patient who developed into abrupt manic state and also was preoccupied with intense suicidal ideation following fluoxetine use. He was a only child in his family and his father had a history of alcoholism about 15years ago. Our patient's obsessive-compulsive symptoms have been occured since puberty. His OCD symptoms and anxiety were aggravated since joining the army. Beside these facts, we could not find any other psychiatric history such as depressive disoder and bipolar disorder. We used the fluoxetine starting dosage of 20mg and increased to 40mg at second week. About 3 weeks after the treatment, he developed sudden manic symptom and more aggravated suicidal ideation without any OCD symptoms. He felt vitalized and energetic without having enough sleep and food. These symptoms were ceased over two weeks by stopping medication. Up to this point, the reason why fluoxetine induces mania and suicidal preoccupation is unclear. But somehow the fluoxetine has effects on serotonin receptor and serotonin-dopamine regulations, thus we could make an assumption that fluoxetine can induce mania, extrapyramidal symptoms(EPS) and suicidal ideation in some part of the serotonin unbalanced patients. We think this would be the first report to remark on fluoxetine's suicidal and manic side effects in Korea. So here we present the case with the summary of reviewed articles.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.101-108
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• 2011

Objectives The aim of this study is to explore the association among DRD4 polymorphism, temperament and alcohol drinking behavior of Koreans in their early adulthood. Method Participants were 172 healthy Korean adults (mean age $28.1{\pm}0.8$). Their temperament was assessed with the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and their alcohol drinking behavior were evaluated with a self-reported questionnaire including the CAGE and the Korean version of Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT-K). DRD4 exon III 48 base pair variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) was genotyped by PCR. Results No significant association was found between DRD4 polymorphism and TCI temperament dimension (novelty seeking, harm avoidance, reward dependence, and persistence) as well as alcohol drinking behavior scales. However, novelty seeking was significantly associated with alcohol drinking behavior. The higher level of novelty seeking was associated with the higher severity index of drinking (B = -0.225, p < 0.001) and problematic alcohol use on the CAGE and AUDIT-K [Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.111, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.021-1.209, p = 0.015, OR = 1.087, 95% CI 1.009-1.170, p = 0.028]. Conclusion In our study, while there is no significant association of DRD4 polymorphism with temperament and alcohol drinking behavior, novelty seeking affects problematic alcohol use. Results suggest that novelty seeking may play an important role in problematic alcohol use in young Korean adults.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.995-1001
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• 2005

Morphine-induced analgesia has been shown to be antagonized by ginseng total saponins (GTS), which also inhibit the development of analgesic tolerance to and physical dependence on morphine. GTS is involved in both of these processes by inhibiting morphine-6-dehydrogenase, which catalyzes the synthesis of morphinone from morphine, and by increasing the level of hepatic glutathione, which participates in the toxicity response. Thus, the dual actions of ginseng are associated with the detoxification of morphine. In addition, the inhibitory or facilitated effects of GTS on electrically evoked contractions in guinea pig ileum (I-L-receptors) and mouse vas deferens $(\delta-receptors)$ are not mediated through opioid receptors, suggesting the involvement of non-opioid mechanisms. GTS also attenuates hyperactivity, reverse tolerance (behavioral sensitization), and conditioned place preference induced by psychotropic agents, such as methamphetamine, cocaine, and morphine. These effects of GTS may be attributed to complex pharmacological actions between dopamine receptors and a serotonergic/adenosine $A_{2A}1\delta-opioid$ receptor complex. Ginsenosides also attenuate the morphine-induced cAMP signaling pathway. Together, the results suggest that GTS may be useful in the prevention and therapy of the behavioral side effects induced by psychotropic agents.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.139-143
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• 2005

Periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS) have been diagnosed easily by nocturnal polysomnography (NPSG) and treated effectively with dopamine receptor agonist, benzodiazepine and opioid. However, few reports have objectively assessed the treatment responses. We treated a PLMS patient with clonazepam and pramipexole, and evaluated their efficacy with actigraphy. Clonazepam improved sleep quality without reducing frequency of limb movements, and pramipexole reduced frequency of limb movements without improving sleep quality, results which are consistent with previous study findings. Actigraphy proved useful in evaluation of treatment response of PLMS.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.254-259
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• 2011

Objectives The aim of this study was to assess variations in caudate volume according to dopamin receptor D2/ankyin repeat and kinase domain containing 1 (DRD2/ANKK1) Taq 1a polymorphisms in young healthy adults and to evaluate the relationship between caudate volumes and psychiatric symptoms as measured by the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. Methods Genetic information regarding DRD2/ANKK1 Taq 1a and T1-weighted brain magnetic resonance images were acquired from 30 young healthy adults. Automatic segmentation of caudate was performed using the FreeSurfer program. Results Individuals with A2 homozygotes of DRD2/ANKK1 Taq 1a polymorphisms (n = 10) had greater right caudate volumes compared to those with A1 allele (s)(18.4% greater ; p = 0.019). Right caudate volumes were negatively associated with total scores of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (${\beta}$=-0.50 ; p = 0.016). Conclusions Our findings suggest the possibility that DRD2/ANKK1 Taq 1a polymorphisms may underlie the psychiatric symptoms by influencing the structure of the right caudate.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.551-571
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• 2020

Nuclear receptor-related 1 (Nurr1) protein has been identified as an obligatory transcription factor in midbrain dopaminergic neurogenesis, but the global set of human NURR1 target genes remains unexplored. Here, we identified direct gene targets of NURR1 by analyzing genome-wide differential expression of NURR1 together with NURR1 consensus sites in three human neural stem cell (hNSC) lines. Microarray data were validated by quantitative PCR in hNSCs and mouse embryonic brains and through comparison to published human data, including genome-wide association study hits and the BioGPS gene expression atlas. Our analysis identified ~40 NURR1 direct target genes, many of them involved in essential protein modules such as synapse formation, neuronal cell migration during brain development, and cell cycle progression and DNA replication. Specifically, expression of genes related to synapse formation and neuronal cell migration correlated tightly with NURR1 expression, whereas cell cycle progression correlated negatively with it, precisely recapitulating midbrain dopaminergic development. Overall, this systematic examination of NURR1-controlled regulatory networks provides important insights into this protein's biological functions in dopamine-based neurogenesis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.1626-1639
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• 2020

In Caenorhabditis elegans, SHN-1 is the homologue of SHANK, a scaffolding protein. In this study, we determined the molecular basis for SHN-1/SHANK in the regulation of innate immune response to fungal infection. Mutation of shn-1 increased the susceptibility to Candida albicans infection and suppressed the innate immune response. After C. albicans infection for 6, 12, or 24 h, both transcriptional expression of shn-1 and SHN-1::GFP expression were increased, implying that the activated SHN-1 may mediate a protection mechanism for C. elegans against the adverse effects from fungal infection. SHN-1 acted in both the neurons and the intestine to regulate the innate immune response to fungal infection. In the neurons, GLR-1, an AMPA ionotropic glutamate receptor, was identified as the downstream target in the regulation of innate immune response to fungal infection. GLR-1 further positively affected the function of SER-7-mediated serotonin signaling and antagonized the function of DAT-1-mediated dopamine signaling in the regulation of innate immune response to fungal infection. Our study suggests the novel function of SHN-1/SHANK in the regulation of innate immune response to fungal infection. Moreover, our results also denote the crucial role of neurotransmitter signals in mediating the function of SHN-1/SHANK in regulating innate immune response to fungal infection.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.106-114
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• 2007

Objective : It is suggested that disturbance of dopaminergic system might be related to the possible mechanism of social phobia. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible association of DRD2 TaqI polymorphism and social phobia. Method : Fifty-one patients with social phobia and 200 comparison subjects were tested for DRD2 TaqI A polymorphism. The severity of social phobic symptoms was measured by self-report version of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale(LSAS-SR) and Hamilton anxiety scale(HAM-A). Results : There was no signigicant difference in the genotype, allele frequency, A1 carrier frequency, and heterozygote frequency DRD2 TaqI A polymorphism between the social phobia patients and the control groups. However, we found significant decrease in somatic anxiety of the HAM-A in the patients having A2A2 homozygotes(p=0.014). In addition, patients having A1A2 heterozygotes showed more anxiety in two subscales (p=0.042 in anxiety, p=0.019 in performance) of the LSAS-SR. Conclusion : These results suggest that DRD2 A2 homozygote might have a protective role against somatic anxiety, and molecular heterosis of DRD2 TaqI A polymorphism might be related with more severe anxiety in social phobia.