• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.363-370
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• 2016

Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in diabetic patients. Hyperglycemia is the primary characteristic of diabetes and is associated with many complications. The role of hyperglycemia in the dysfunction of human cardiac progenitor cells that can regenerate damaged cardiac tissue has been investigated, but the exact mechanism underlying this association is not clear. Thus, we examined whether hyperglycemia could regulate mitochondrial dynamics and lead to cardiac progenitor cell dysfunction, and whether blocking glucose uptake could rescue this dysfunction. High glucose in cardiac progenitor cells results in reduced cell viability and decreased expression of cell cycle-related molecules, including CDK2 and cyclin E. A tube formation assay revealed that hyperglycemia led to a significant decrease in the tube-forming ability of cardiac progenitor cells. Fluorescent labeling of cardiac progenitor cell mitochondria revealed that hyperglycemia alters mitochondrial dynamics and increases expression of fission-related proteins, including Fis1 and Drp1. Moreover, we showed that specific blockage of GLUT1 improved cell viability, tube formation, and regulation of mitochondrial dynamics in cardiac progenitor cells. To our knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate that high glucose leads to cardiac progenitor cell dysfunction through an increase in mitochondrial fission, and that a GLUT1 blocker can rescue cardiac progenitor cell dysfunction and downregulation of mitochondrial fission. Combined therapy with cardiac progenitor cells and a GLUT1 blocker may provide a novel strategy for cardiac progenitor cell therapy in cardiovascular disease patients with diabetes.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.352-356
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• 1986

A study was carried out to determine the effect of ginseng saponin an its related materials on aflatoxin production by Aspergillus parasiticus NRRL2999 in glucose-salts(GS) medium. Maximal growth of the mold and AF froduction in the medium occurred after 5 and 9 days at $28^{\circ}C$, respectively. When various concentrations of saponin added to the medium aflatoxin synthesis were significantly reduced (p<0.05) compared to the control after 9 days at $28^{\circ}C$. 0.05% of saponin inhibited aflatoxin production most effectively in the low concerntrations of saponin (0.01-0.2%) and the toxin synthesis reduced with an increasing concentrations of saponin in the high concentrations (0.03-5.0%). Various concentrations (0.01-1.0%) of saponin diol and triol in the media also caused to reduce aflatoxin synthesis by the mold (p<0.05). All saponin fractions were found to decrease aflatoxin production significantly. Saponin fraction numbers of 1,2,4 and 6 were shown to reduce aflatoxin production effectively, and the number 1 was the most effective. Addition of 0.05% of nucleic acid related materials to the medium reduced aflatoxin production (p<0.05). Aflatoxins could not be found in broth at all, but in mycelia when 0.05% of caffeine was added to the medium. Aflatoxin synthesis was well correlated with total lipid synthesis, growth and glucose uptake. When aflatoxin synthesis inhibited (5.0% of saponin) both total lipid synthesis and growth were stimulated and the efficiency of glucose utilization was reduced.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.1401-1406
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• 2007

The present study investigated neuroprotective effects Rehmanniae Radix on PC12 cells and hippocampal neural cells. PC12 cells were damage by $H_2O_2$ and nitric oxide and organotypic hippocampal slice cultures were damaged by oxygen-glucose deprivation. Then methanol extract of Rehmanniae Radix was treated with 0.5, 5, and $50\;{\mu}g/ml$ in culture media. Effects of Rehmanniae Radix were evaluated with cell viability assay, PI-staining, and TUNEL-labeling. Treatment of Rehmanniae Radix ($with\;5\;and\;50\;{\mu}g/ml$) produced significant increase of cell viability of PC12 cells damaged by $H_2O_2$ and by SNP-induced nitric oxide. Treatment of Rehmanniae Radix produced significant decrease of PI-uptake % in CA1 ($with\;5\;and\;50\;{\mu}g/ml$) and DG ($with\;50\;{\mu}g/ml$) regions of organotypic hippocampal slice cultures damaged by oxygen-glucose deprivation. Moreover, treatment of Rehmanniae Radix produced significant decrease of TUNEL- positive cells in CA1 ($with\;5\;and\;50\;{\mu}g/ml$) and DG ($with\;50\;{\mu}g/ml$) regions of organotypic hippocampal slice cultures damaged by oxygen-glucose deprivation. These results suggest that methanol extract of Rehmanniae Radix has neuroprotective effects on PC12 cells damaged by oxidative stress and on organotypic hippocampal slice cultures damaged by oxygen-glucose deprivation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.895-902
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• 2014

Adiponectin has been known to improve insulin sensitivity and elicit glucose uptake via increased glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) translocation. In the current study, mRNA expression levels of adiponectin and GLUT4 were measured in subcutaneous adipose tissue from C57BL/6 mice fed normal (ND) or high-fat diet (HFD) until 16, 26, 36, 47, or 77 weeks of age starting from 6 weeks of age. Expression levels were also measured in mice with calorie restriction (CR) and in thiazolidinedione (TZD) treated mice. Using quantitative real-time PCR, we demonstrated that GLUT4 expression in adipose tissue significantly decreased in HFD mice groups and increased in CR (p<0.05) and TZD (p=0.007) groups while there was no difference in adiponectin mRNA expression levels between experimental and control groups. General linear regression models were used to assess the association of gene expression levels between adiponectin and GLUT4 and to determine whether adiponectin affects GLUT4 transcription. mRNA expression levels of adiponectin and GLUT4 are significantly associated each other in mice fed a ND (p<0.0001) or HFD (p<0.0001), in groups separated into each age and diet, and CR group (p=0.002), but not in TZD group (p=0.73). These results demonstrated that gene expression of adiponectin and GLUT4 is strongly associated, suggesting that there is a common regulatory mechanism for adiponectin and GLUT4 gene expression and/or adiponectin has a direct role in GLUT4 gene expression in adipose tissue.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.1-19
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• 2006

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities and mechanisms of Acanthopanax senticosus (AS) herbal acupuncture. Methods : Anti-diabetic and anti-steatotic activity of the AS herbal acupuncture was investigated on C57BL/6J ob/ob mice. After random grouping at the age of 9 weeks, the herbal acupuncture groups were injected subcutaneously at the left and right Gansu (BL18) corresponding acupuncture points alternately on exactly the same time every day with 0.1ml of either 400 mg/kg or 800 mg/kg of AS (AS400 and AS800) for 8-week period. As a positive control, metformin was administrated at a dose of 300 mg/kg (MT300). Body weights were measured weekly, and on every other week blood was collected for blood glucose analysis. At the end of study, blood was also collected for determination of plasma insulin and lipid levels, after which they were killed and periepidydimal fat, liver, muscle, and pancreas were immediately removed. The removed tissues were instantly soaked in liquid nitrogen and stored at $-70^{\circ}C$ for morphological examination and mRNA analysis. Results : The AS herbal acupuncture significantly prevented weight gain on C57BL/6J ob/ob mice. The AS herbal acupuncture lowered blood glucose and improved glucose tolerance in C57BL/6J ob/ob mice. The increase of insulin response during the OGTT was inhibited by the AS herbal acupuncture. Insulin sensitivity of skeletal tissue was enhanced. Plasma lipid levels were significantly improved in the AS herbal acupuncture groups. The AS herbal acupuncture decreased hepatic lipogenesis and hepatic triglyceride production, and increased fatty acid (FA) transporter that involves in FA uptake. The AS herbal acupuncture inhibited the increase of liver mass by prevention of the accumulation of TG but did not inhibit weight gain of fat tissue on C57BL/6J ob/ob mice. Conclusion : In summary, we have demonstrated several unique properties of the AS herbal acupuncture in decreasing body weight, and reversing insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis in ob/ob mice. This AS herbal acupuncture acts as an insulin sensitizer and specifically decreases circulating glucose and lipids, and suppresses hepatic lipogenesis.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Bioinformatics Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.251-257
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• 2003

Metabolic engineering has become a new paradigm for the more efficient production of desired bioproducts. Metabolic engineering can be defined as directed modification of cellular metabolism and properties through the introduction, deletion, and modification of metabolic pathways by using recombinant DNA and other molecular biological tools. During the last decade, metabolic flux analysis(MFA) has become an essential tool fur metabolic engineering. By MFA, the intracellular metabolic fluxes can be quantified by the measurement of extracellular metabolite concentrations in combination with the stoichiometry of intracellular reactions and mass balances. The usefulness and functionality of MFA are demonstrated by applying to metabolic pathways in E. coli. First, a large-scale in silico E. coli model is constructed, and then the effects of carbon sources on intracellular flux distributions and succinic acid production were investigated on the basis of the uptake and secretion rates of the relevant metabolites. The results indicated that succinic acid yields increased in order of gluconate, glucose and sorbitol. Acetic acid and lactic acid were produced as major products rather than when gluconate and glucose were used carbon sources. The results indicated that among three carbon sources available, the most reduced substrate is sorbitol which yields efficient succinic acid production.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.1712-1718
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• 2001

An experiment was carried out to study the effect of monensin administration on mammary functions in crossbred Holstein cattle. Fourteen non-pregnant late lactating crossbred Holstein cattle, approximately 270 days postpartum, were selected for the experiment. They were divided into two groups of 7 animals each. Seven animals in the treated group were given sodium monensin orally in a slow-release capsule. Animals in both control and treated groups were fed the similar diet to maintain milk production and body score at 2.5. Rice straw was fed as a source of dietary fiber throughout the experimental period. After monensin administration, a significant increase in the molar percent of ruminal propionate (p<0.05) and a significant decrease in the molar percent of ruminal acetate (p<0.05) were apparent in comparison to the pretreated period. The ratio of acetate to propionate concentration decreased significantly after monensin administration (p<0.05), while it was maintained at the similar level throughout the period of experiment in the control group. Monensin did not affect the molar percent of ruminal butyrate and valerate. The concentration of milk allantoin between the control group and monensin treated group was not different. An excretion rate of allantoin in milk decreased in animals treated with monensin (p<0.05). Mammary blood flow did not show significant difference between control and monensin treated groups. The plasma glucose concentration, arteriovenous concentration difference and mammary gland uptake of glucose remained constant in both groups. Milk yield of the later stage of lactation in the control group declined during lactation advance while a tendency to increase in the milk yield was apparent after 21 days monensin administration. Milk compositions for concentration of lactose, fat and protein in both control group and monensin treated group did not change throughout the experimental periods. From these results, it can be concluded that the action of monensin could affect the ruminal fermentation pattern. Monensin could not increase milk yield in the late lactating period.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.48-54
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• 2000

The effects of thiamin on vegetative mycelial growth and fruit body formation of Lentinuia edodes were investigated in basal peptone-glucose liquid medium in relation to the uptake of thiamin. Thiamin was essential for fruit body formation, and the minimum requirements for thiamin were estimated to be approximately 10 ${\mu}g$/L. The vegetative mycelial growth was little influenced by the addition of thiamin in the range of 1.5 ${\mu}g$~1.5 mg/L. While the mycelium was successively transferred to fresh peptone-glucose-agar medium three times, the repression of mycelial growth was not significant. Even in cases using vitamin-free casamino acid or glutamic acid as a nitrogen source instead of peptone, a thiamin deficiency for mycelial growth did not occur as a result of transferring the mycelia to fresh media. Almost all of the thiamin contained in the media accumulated in the mycelia during the first 3 weeks of a 9-week incubation. These results suggest that only trace amounts of thiamin are required for vegetative mycelial growth in Lentinula edodes and that almost all thiamin added to a basal medium will be used for fruit body formation.

• CELLMED
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.27.1-27.5
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• 2014

Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth. (Scrophulariaceae) is a traditional Ayurvedic herb known as Kutki. It is used as a remedy for diabetes by tribes of North Eastern Himalayan region of India. Present study was conducted to explore the mechanism of antidiabetic activity of standardized aqueous extract of Picrorhiza kurroa (PkE). PkE (100 and 200 mg/kg/day) was orally administered to streptozotocin induced diabetic rats, for 14 consecutive days. Plasma insulin levels were measured and pancreas of rat was subjected to histopathological investigations. Glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT-4) protein content in the total membrane fractions of soleus muscle was estimated by Western blot analysis. Plasma insulin level was significantly increased along with concomitant increase in GLUT-4 content of total membrane fractions of soleus muscle of diabetic rats treated with extract. There was evidence of regeneration of ${\beta}$-cells of pancreatic islets of PkE treated group in histopathological examinations. PkE increased the insulin-mediated translocation of GLUT-4 from cytosol to plasma membrane or increased GLUT-4 expression, which in turn facilitated glucose uptake by skeletal muscles in diabetic rats.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.369-375
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• 2010

This study evaluated the protective effects of ginseng leaf extract (GLE) against high fat-diet-induced hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia, and explored the potential mechanism underlying these effects in C57BL/6J mice. The mice were randomly divided into four groups: normal control, high fat diet control (HFD), GLE-treated at 250 mg/kg, and GLE-treated at 500 mg/kg. To induce hyperglycemic and hyperlipidemic states, mice were fed a high fat diet for 6 weeks and then administered GLE once daily for 8 weeks. At the end of the treatment, we examined the effects of GLE on plasma glucose, lipid levels, and the expression of genes related to lipogenesis, lipolysis, and gluconeogenesis. Both GLE groups lowered levels of plasma glucose, insulin, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and non-esterified fatty acids when compared to those in HFD group. Histological analysis revealed significantly fewer lipid droplets in the livers of GLE-treated mice compared with HFD mice. To elucidate the mechanism, Western blots and RT-PCR were performed using liver tissue. Compared with HFD mice, GLE-treated mice showed higher levels of phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and its substrate, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, but no differences in the expression of lipogenic genes such as sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1a, fatty acid synthase, sterol-CoA desaturase 1 and glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase. However, the expression levels of lipolysis and fatty acid uptake genes such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-$\alpha$ and CD36 were increased. In addition, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase gene expression was decreased. These results suggest that GLE ameliorates hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia by inhibiting gluconeogenesis and stimulating lipolysis, respectively, via AMPK activation.